Dog Breeds > Sealyham Terrier

The Sealyham Terrier

The Sealyham terrier is the calmer, more docile of the bunch, but this particular trait does not mean that they are less of a terrier than any in the group. They are adventurous and will not hesitate to break into a run to give chase when they see fit, and will dig and play just like any of their terrier brothers. They are well mannered indoors, however, and will be great companions to both the adventurous and laid back types of people.

Energy Playfulness Intelligence Grooming Popularity

Fascinating Facts

The Sealyham terrier’s color is meant to be light to be able to distinguish them coming out of burrows and holes when they chase otters, badgers and foxes. They get their name from Sealy Ham, Haverfordwest in Wales where Captain John Edwards bred these dogs for hunting small animals.

Physical Appearance

The Sealyham terrier’s body is set low to the ground, with a height that does not go beyond 12 inches and weigh, at most, 20 lbs. They have thick, double coat wiry fur that cover their broad, long heads all the way down to their high-carried tails. They are generally white in color, as this is meant to make them easily distinguishable when coming out of fox holes and otter dens in the snow.

Grooming

Although they shed little to none, the Sealyham terrier’s wiry thick coat needs occasional stripping to keep it from matting, and needs to be combed at least two to three times weekly to get dead hair off their tangled, carefree mess of fur.

Mood

The Sealyham terrier is very affectionate to their owners, but could be wary to strangers and other new things presented to them. They tend to be very active while they are young and slow down when they are aging. Although they tend to be calmer as they age, they are still prone to bursts of energy when presented with something to chase and play with. They are very loving, but can be quite stubborn when presented with commands such as in training.

With Children

The Sealyham terrier, when socialized properly, get along well with the humans they are generally exposed to like children at home. They might not make very energetic and lively playmates when they are aged, but puppies of this breed will be powerhouses running around and chasing any moving object with intentions of playing. Although quite difficult to train, they can be good watchdogs and can keep watch even at an old age which could prove useful for making sure the little ones are safe.

Training & Exercise

The Sealyham terrier does not need that much exercise, as they are fairly independent dogs that can find activities alone if they are free to go to wide, unenclosed spaces all by themselves. This breed can be quite difficult to train and will absolutely not listen if you do not possess traits characteristic of being leader of the pack. Gentle but firm and constant training will make your Sealyham terrier a great hunt or play and watch dog.

Health & Life Expectancy

The Sealyham terrier prefers cold weather because of their thick, wire-like coats and genetic predisposition to the cold. Deafness is occasionally a case for this terrier breed and should be checked at the vet for any possibilities of this occurring to your dog.

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