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Terrier group · Wales

Welsh Terrier

Also called Welshie, WT.

Small dog, high energy, trains well with consistency.

  • Friendly
  • Spirited
  • Alert
  • Intelligent
  • Game
AI-generated illustration of an adult Welsh Terrier
AI-generated illustration
Size
Small
Weight
9 to 10 kg20 to 22 lb
Lives
12 to 15 years
Energy
High
Trains
Moderate
Barks
Moderate

Training

Training a Welsh Terrier

Terrier breeds. Impulse control and a rock-solid leave it. Short, high-value sessions; they bore fast.

  1. Variety is Essential

    Start here

    Welsh Terriers get bored quickly. Keep training sessions short, fun, and varied.

  2. Positive Reinforcement

    Respond well to treats and praise. Harsh methods create stubbornness.

  3. Early Socialisation

    Can be reserved with strangers. Expose to many people and situations during puppyhood.

The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.

Add your Welsh Terrier and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, on video with Atlas and Shango.

Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.

At home

Living with one

Bred to go to ground after vermin. Fearless, quick, and not built to back down.

Gets on with

  • ChildrenHigh
  • Other dogsModerate
  • StrangersModerate
  • CatsLow

Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.

Exercise
1+ hour daily. Active exercise with opportunities to run and play.
Grooming
Hand-stripping 2-3 times yearly. Regular brushing between groomings.
Drool
Low
Coat
Wiry, Dense, Double coatBlack and Tan, Grizzle and Tan
In a flat
Can work, with enough exercise outside it.

Health

Things to ask a breeder or vet about

  • Lens Luxation

    Severe

    Eye condition where lens becomes displaced

  • Allergies

    Moderate

    Skin allergies to environmental factors and foods

  • Epilepsy

    Moderate

    Seizure disorder that can be managed with medication

Where they come from

History

One of the oldest surviving terrier breeds, originating in Wales over 200 years ago. Bred to hunt badgers, otters, and foxes. Previously called the Old English Terrier and Black and Tan Wire Haired Terrier.

  • Charlie · John F. Kennedy's Welsh Terrier who was one of several dogs at the Kennedy White House

Similar breeds

All breeds

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