Welsh Terrier Breed Origins and Caracteristics

The Welsh Terrier belongs to one of the oldest breeds of dogs raised in the British Islands. It is known from ancient times in Wales where it is much appreciated as a guard dog but it is also used for hunting. The mountains and rivers had a lot of animals for hunting. Foxes and others animals were mainly hunted that is why the packs were mixed with small Welsh terriers and big otterhounds. The first pack of this type, which is known a little, was that of the king John without land, by 1212. The breeding of Welsh Terriers as a pure breed only started mid 19th century. This breed expanded and during a long time only to the British Islands and until 1920, the Welsh Terriers did not appear in the European countries where it was rapidly appreciated as a pet dog. Right after that, the hunters started to value its outstanding qualities for hunting; its natural and quiet character differentiated it from the fox terrier used until them.

The Welsh Terrier is a passionate dog but obedient and easy to dominate that keeps good relationships with children. Its small size and dark color made it the ideal partner for urban agglomerations where dogs of lighter color need to be washed and bathed frequently. Its hard, abundant and thick hair needs to be cut regularly.

Unlike the Welsh Terrier, the otterhound has not become popular never as a pet dog. It is true that it is a nice companion but its thick, greasy hair impregnated of secretions of sebaceous glands that make it resistant and impermeable is not convenient to live in an apartment. It is classified as tracker dog.

Welsh Terrier (1). The size should never exceed 40 cm high. Weight: 9-9.5 kg approximately. Colors: black and tan or blackish grey and tan. A black coloration on the metatarsus and toes is a defect.

Otterhound (2). Size: 61-66 cm. Weight: 30-32 kg. Colors: different ranges of blue and white, black and tan of brown; the colors must be more or less delimited. The skin between the toes has to be well-developed that is why the dog is a good swimmer.

Dog Breeds Descriptions by Breed Neapolitan Mastiff Tibetan Mastiff Mastiff German Shepherd Groendaell or Belgian Shepherd Collie Shetland Shepherd, Shetland or Sheltie Bobtail Pembroke Welsh Corgi Briard or Brie shepherd Pumi Affenpinscher or Monkey Pinscher Doberman Miniature Pinscher Schnauzer Boxer Bulldog Bullmastiff German Mastiff or Great Dane Bordeaux Mastiff Mastiff or English Mastiff Neapolitan Mastiff Rottweiler Hovawart Leonberger Pyrenean Mastiff Newfoundland Saint Bernard Great Swiss Mountain Dog Airedale Terrier Bedlington Border Terrier Fox Terrier Irish Terrier Jagdterrier or German Terrier Lakeland Terrier Manchester Terrier Welsh Terrier Dandie Dinmont Terrier Norwich Terrier Scottish Terrier Sealyham Terrier Skye Terrier West Highland White Terrier Boston Terrier Bull Terrier Yorkshire Terrier Kerry Blue Terrier Teckel Siberian Husky Alaskan Malamute Spitz Chow-Chow Basenji St. Hubert Hound or Bloodhound Foxhound Beagle Basset Hound Bavarian Red Dog German Short-Haired Pointer Stichelhaar, Pudelpointer and Spinone Weimar Pointer Hungarian Pointer or Viszla Large Munsterlander Brittany Spaniel Pointer English Setter Gordon Setter Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever Wachtelhund American Cocker Rhodesian Ridgeback Cocker Clumber Spaniel Springer Spaniel Irish Water Spaniel Maltese Caniche or Poodle Belgian Griffon Hairless Dogs Lhassa Apso Shih Tsu Chihuahua Dalmatian King Charles Knight King Charles Spaniel Chin or Japanese Spaniel The Pekinese Spaniel French Bulldog Pug Barzoï Whippet