Welsh Terrier

In Wales this is one of the oldest terrier breeds, used to hunt fox, badger and otter across rugged terrain. The black and tan coloring gives it a resemblance to the Airedale Terrier, of which it's considered a smaller relative. The frame is compact, up to 9.5 kilograms, tough and built for long days working the fields. The wiry coat doesn't shed on its own and needs periodic hand-stripping, which makes it a reasonable option for people sensitive to dog allergens. It's curious and energetic, needing steady engagement or it turns to digging and escape attempts. Friendly with family, but caution is warranted around small pets given the hunting instinct. Life expectancy runs 12 to 15 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Welsh Terrier: how old in human years?

39–39 cmHeight
8–9.5 kgWeight
12–15 yrsLife expectancy

Australian Terrier

FCI group: Terriers
FCI section: Section 1: Large and medium sized Terriers
FCI: 78
Country of origin: United Kingdom

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

3/5

At a glance

Height

Males not specified

Females not specified

Weight

Males 9–9.5 kg

Females 8–9 kg

Life expectancy

12–15 yrs

Coat

wiry, dense (wire-haired)

Temperament & Family Life

Welsh Terrier's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Welsh Terrier's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 4/5
Apartment friendly 3/5
Prey drive 4/5
Hunting instinct 4/5

Guarding & Alertness

Welsh Terrier's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 4/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

Welsh Terrier's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 3/5

Living with the Welsh Terrier

Throw a ball once and a Welsh Terrier takes it as a contract for the rest of the evening. Bred in Wales to hunt fox, badger and otter, it still has that fire: it needs long walks, running, tug games and jobs that occupy its head as well as its legs. It is clever and keen to learn when lessons are short and interesting; a bored terrier will soon invent its own entertainment, such as excavating the flowerbed.

The hunting instinct hasn't gone anywhere. A cat, a squirrel or a bird rustling in the corner of the garden can matter more than your voice, so keep it on a lead in open spaces and make sure the garden fence has no gaps. It usually gets on with other dogs but isn't always inclined to back down, and it will gladly report every passer-by outside the door.

In the family it is cheerful and devoted, and to children a playful friend that tires later than they do. It can live in a flat if it gets a proper outlet outdoors every day. And in the evening, worn out, it curls up beside you on the sofa looking so serious that you'd never believe it was tunnelling towards the neighbour's garden an hour ago.

Grooming and coat

A Welsh Terrier's coat is wiry and dense over a softer undercoat, which makes it excellent at shrugging off rain and brambles. To keep it that way, the dead hair is hand-stripped a few times a year, by a groomer or, once you've learned, by you. Clippers are quicker, but they leave the coat softer, paler and less weatherproof. Shedding is light, and a brush once or twice a week, plus a comb through the beard and eyebrows, keeps the dog looking sharp.

The beard is a full archive of dinners and puddles, so wipe it with a damp cloth after meals before the skin underneath gets irritated. When you check the coat, part it down to the skin and look for redness. Check the small, forward-folding ears once a week, and the eyes whenever the eyebrows start to droop over them; take a red or watering eye to the vet.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

Under that tidy black-and-tan jacket is a sturdy, tireless little dog that can live twelve to fifteen years. A few conditions are linked to the Welsh Terrier, touching the joints, eyes, skin and nervous system, and they show themselves through small things you are best placed to spot: a few hopping steps, a scratch that never stops, a squint in one eye. When in doubt, talk to a vet, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

The top of the thighbone loses its blood supply and slowly breaks down, which makes the hip painful. It shows up in young, small dogs, so watch for an adolescent Welsh Terrier that starts limping on a hind leg or holding it up, or minds you touching the hip. A terrier will put up with pain for a long time, so take a limp that hasn't gone in a day or two to a vet.
Hip dysplasia

The hip joint forms loosely, so the ball doesn't sit snugly in its socket and the joint wears over time. You might notice stiffness after a rest, reluctance to jump into the car, or a bunny-hop with both hind legs together at a run. For a Welsh Terrier that would happily run all day, sound hips matter, so ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.
Patellar luxation (slipping kneecap)

The kneecap slips out of its groove and the leg briefly locks. You may see your terrier skip for a few strides with a hind leg held up, then carry on as if nothing happened. Mention that skip to your vet, who can judge how much the kneecap moves.
Eye problems

This covers several different eye problems linked to Welsh Terriers. Look out for cloudiness, redness, squinting, watering, or a dog that starts bumping into things at dusk. An eye that is painful, red or suddenly cloudy should go to a vet quickly: with eyes, waiting doesn't pay.
Atopic dermatitis

This is an allergy to things in the environment, such as pollen, dust mites or moulds, that shows on the skin. Your dog licks its paws, rubs its face along the carpet, scratches its belly or armpits, and the skin turns red, sometimes only at certain times of year. Under a dense wiry coat that redness is easy to miss, so part the hair when you check, and let a vet work out what is behind the itch.
Epilepsy and seizures

Epilepsy means repeated seizures: a dog may fall over and paddle its legs, drool, or simply freeze with a blank stare and twitch. It is frightening to watch, and only a vet can work out what kind of episode it was. If your Welsh Terrier has a seizure, it needs a vet immediately.

Food for small breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (10 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 150 g of dry food a day, from €8,33 a month For a neutered, normally active 8,9 kg dog. Calculate for your dog