With ancestors who were a breed of tenacious terriers, most often used for ratting (hunting vermin), today»s Sealyham Terrier is an adaptable breed that has become a friendly companion and faithful watchdog.
The early 1900»s give testament to this, with such famous people as Alfred Hitchcock and Princess Margaret owning the Sealyham Terrier as their pet of choice. This popularity held for about a half a decade, but the rarity of the breed has lent to a wane in Sealyham ownership.
There has likely always been a limited number of the Sealyham Terrier, from its 1850 breeding by John Tucker Edwardes of the Sealyham Estate in Wales (to assist him and others in hunting badger, foxes, and stoat) to its existence predominately in Australia and New Zealand today.
But undeterred folk still appreciate this breed because of its intelligence and adventuresome ways and because it still has the inherent ability to be trained»as it has a high learning curve (though it has a lower obedience rate, as it is fairly strong willed). Also, since the Sealyham Terrier is a compact dog»at 10 to 12 inches in height and 18 to 20 pounds in weight»that can fit into the country lifestyle or the city apartment, it is ideal as an inside pet.
While it loves naps as much as the next terrier, the Sealyham Terrier also is active enough that it will frolick outdoors, accompany the people it is closest to on hikes and walks, and has a gift for entertaining with its performing skills. This clearly indicates that it should not be locked up in a house or small pen for hours at a time, as it needs»with its free will»to move about quite a bit.
The Sealyham terrier is also an «asthma-friendly» dog, with a double coat that does not shed. At the same time, it needs to be groomed by weekly hand-stripping and brushing, to prevent matting of the dead long, hard, and wiry coat hairs.
This rare Sealyham terrier, then, possibly a cross»some say»of the Welsh Corgi, the now extinct Cheshire Terrier or White Bull Terrier, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, the Wire Fox Terrier, the West Highland White Terrier, and the Jack Russell Terrier, is a special breed that while willful and needful is also a devoted watchdog and companion.
