Sealyham Terriers are small dogs with solid white, wiry, weather-resistant coats. Tan, lemon, or badger-colored markings are permissible on the ears and head. There is a dense and soft undercoat. The eyes are medium, oval, dark, and set wide apart, and the nose is black with large nostrils. These dogs have folded ears. Sealyham Terriers ideally measure 10.5 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh about 24 pounds.
They love being outdoors and hunting on rural lands, but they can be happy anywhere with enough love, attention, and mental stimulation.
This breed makes a great companion animal, especially for those interested in a spirited dog with a lot of personality. Sealyham Terriers are charming, curious, and loving, and they are happiest when busy. They love being outdoors and hunting on rural lands, but they can be happy anywhere with enough love, attention, and mental stimulation.
Sealyham Terriers are easily differentiated from other terriers by their rectangular body shape and long, broad head.
Laid-back, mellow, and devoted to family, Sealyham Terriers may look like other terriers, but they don't act much like them. The breed gets along well with other pets, including cats and other dogs, and they enjoy the company of children. Sealyhams are well suited to city apartments or rural farms, and they are known for being the couch potatoes of the terrier universe.
These dogs have a well-developed sense of humor and love being the class clown. They equally enjoy chilling on the couch, watching TV, and chasing chipmunks and other wild beasts around the backyard. These curious, playful dogs are a lot of fun and make great playmates for older children, but they also have a tendency to bark and may play too rough on occasion. These dogs should always be supervised around small animals and children.
Always ready for action, the Sealyham Terrier needs daily exercise to remain physically and mentally healthy. A good walk or play session in the yard is usually enough to satisfy the breed's activity needs, but restless dogs may require a bit more activity. These dogs should be kept on a leash or confined to a securely fenced yard to keep them from running off after the scent of a squirrel or rabbit.
Sealyham Terriers are one of the healthier dog breeds, but that is not a guarantee that any individual dog will be free of health problems or genetic illness. Adopting or purchasing dogs only from a reputable source is a good first step in ensuring a healthy puppy.
This breed is known to be affected by deafness, and this can negatively affect quality of life. Additionally, Sealyham Terriers are prone to certain eye conditions, including retinal dysplasia and primary lens luxation. In dogs with lens luxation, the lenses of the eyes dislodge. This requires surgery to correct. Fortunately, a genetic marker for the condition has been discovered and a DNA test is available.
Sealyham Terriers typically live a long and full life of up to 17 years, provided they receive routine veterinary care, regular exercise, timely canine vaccinations, and a healthy diet.
Sealyham Terriers are independent and stubborn dogs, and they can be challenging to train. Their tenacious spirit responds best when training is consistent and firm and when positive reinforcement techniques are used. Praise works especially well when training Sealyhams, and it should be used in abundance. Training sessions should be kept as short and interesting as possible in order to hold the attention of this easy-to-bore breed.
Fortunately, these dogs are generally well behaved, unless they become lonely or bored. Some bark and dig a lot, and even lifelong training may not completely correct these behaviors. Patience and a sense of humor are key when living with and training these dogs.
Sealyhams, like most dogs, benefit from early and continued socialization. Introducing these dogs to a variety of sights, smells, sounds, people, and animals from the first few months of life will help them grow into confident and tolerant adults. Puppy kindergarten, trips to the local dog park, and walks around town are all good methods of keeping Sealyham Terriers socialized.
Sealyham Terriers need brushing and combing every other day to keep tangles and mats at bay. It is wise to keep a stainless steel Greyhound brush, slicker brush, and pin brush on hand at all times. Trimming and shaping about once each month is also important, although dogs that are strictly pets can get away with shaping every three months or so. These dogs shed minimally.
Brushing regularly will remove most loose dirt and debris picked up while exploring the backyard or digging in the garden, but Sealyhams that end up muddy, stinky, or sticky need bathing with a pH-balanced canine shampoo. It's essential to rinse the coat and skin thoroughly to prevent irritation and drying. Additionally, these dogs have beards that may need brushing or rinsing after meals.
The nails need trimming every week or two; nails allowed to click against the floor or become caught in carpeting can snag, tear, and cause pain. The breed's teeth should be brushed daily to prevent bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease, and weekly ear checks and cleanings will keep ear wax under control and allow ear infections to be treated before they become serious. Odor, pain, discharge, redness, or other signs of ear infection should be reported to a veterinarian right away.
Developed in Wales, Sealyham Terriers were bred from a mix of Dandie Dinmont Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, Bull Terriers, and Wirehaired Fox Terriers. Other breeds may have contributed, as well. Sealyham Terriers take their name from the estate of Captain John Edwards in Sealyham, Haverfordwest, Wales. Edwards developed the breed to hunt fox, badger, and otter.
The breed may have existed in some form long before Edwards began developing it during the mid-1800s. There is some evidence that white, small, long-backed terriers came to Wales during the 15th century. These dogs were likely the foundation for today's breed.
Sealyhams first entered the show ring in 1903, and demand for the dogs quickly grew. Today, they are primarily kept as family pets, although the breed still excels in the ring and in earthdog competitions.
The American Kennel Club officially recognized the Sealyham Terrier in 1911.
