The Welsh Terrier has a sturdy, athletic medium-sized body with a short, wiry coat. Composed of two colours, black and tan/brown, the welsh terrier looks like he is wearing a small tuxedo. His appearance is similar to the Airedale and also shares common characteristics with the Irish and Lakeland Terriers. 

The tail of the Welsh terrier used to be docked in the UK, but it is no longer. Legislation was passed that now prohibits this. This may not be true in other parts of the world where the tail is docked as it was traditionally, to create a 'square' looking dog. The American Kennel Club describes the docked tail in its' breed standard.

The welsh terrier temperament is bold, spirited, affectionate. They get along well with children, though young children should always be supervised around dogs.  With his handy size, fun attitude, and good temperament, he makes a wonderful household pet.

Welsh terriers are very agile and fast. They love to chase things - anything. But particularly things that move, such as cats and rabbits. Welsh terriers were used to control rats and vermin, and many were cross-bred with hunting dogs in their breed history. So, they have a strong prey drive. They should not be left alone with pets like cats and rabbits for this reason, unless you are very sure your Welshie will not give in to his hunting instincts with them.

As a puppy, this breed is sensitive to overbearing or rushed training methods.  Training a welsh terrier requires persistence and a positive, playful attitude. Make their training a game, and provide plenty of variety. They are considered easier to train than other types of terriers.

The welsh terrier can be reserved around strangers and has a high prey drive.  Welsh terriers need to be socialized with other dogs from when they are very young, otherwise they may not learn to get along well with other dogs. The problems with welsh terriers in relation to other dogs is that they don't back down. They don't necessarily pick fights themselves, but could end up in them if the other dog starts it by not backing down, irrespective of how big the other dog is.

As a youngster, the welsh terrier breed can be timid and requires lots of confidence-building and positive reinforcement.  Because he can be stubborn, he needs precise and persistent guidance.  He is a little slow in processing information and may get confused if pushed too fast.

Welsh Terrier Grooming

Welsh terriers require quite a bit of regular grooming as their coats don't shed.

They actually have a double coat when they are fully grown. There is a short undercoat that is very soft, and paler in color compared to the outer coat. The outer coat 'jacket' is quite wiry, thick, and hard, and it grows all the time. Thus welsh terriers need to be brushed several times a week, and hand stripped or clipped three to four times a year. Clipping is easier, although  hand stripping is preferable as the wiry texture and rich color is lost over time with clipping. But clipping is preferable to doing nothing, as without this regular grooming, the longer hair on his face and legs will matt.

Welsh Terrier Info At A Glance

Size:  This breed stands at 14-15.5in at the shoulder and weighs approximately between 18-22lb. 

History and origin:  The Welsh Terrier is a very old breed that was developed in Wales to hunt fox, otter, and badger.  His direct ancestor is the Black and Tan Terrier which is also the progenitor of many terrier breeds.  He is of the Celtic origin and a close relative to the Irish Terrier. 

In fact, 2 strains of this breed once existed side by side, one that evolved by the Welsh from a purpose-bred coarse-haired Black and Tan Terrier and an English type that was developed by crossing the Airedale and the Fox Terrier. 

The English type appears to have vanished and the true Celtic strain remained and was presented in 1885.  The Welsh Terrier Club was founded a year later.  The following year, the breed was awarded the championship status by the British Kennel Club.  The first Welsh Terriers were taken to the United States in 1888.

Feeding:  Recommended feeding for this breed is 1-1 ½ cans (13.3oz size) of high-quality meat product with added biscuit of the same amount or 3 cupfuls of complete dry food.

Exercise:  This breed was originally bred to run with a pack of hounds and would enjoy a nice run in a wide-open space.  However, he can easily adapt to apartment living as long as he is given plenty of walks and runs.

Grooming:  His coat has minimal shedding and requires regular brushing to keep it in good condition as well as regular trimming every 3 months.  During winter, the coat is usually left a little longer to provide additional warmth.  Show dogs require hand-stripping, which is a plucking procedure that preserves the texture and luster of the coat.