The Welsh Terrier (Welsh: Daeargi Cymreig) originates from Wales and was originally bred for hunting fox, rodents and badger, but during the last century, it has mainly been bred for showing. Despite this, it has retained its terrier strength of character. The Welsh Terrier has been claimed to be the oldest existing dog breed in the UK according to research.
The Welsh Terrier was a latecomer to the British show-ring (being primarily a working dog) and was not officially registered as a breed until the 19th century. It is currently on the UK Kennel Club’s list of breeds that are in danger of dying out, having as few as 300 or so pups registered annually, as compared to the nation’s most popular breeds that are registered in the tens of thousands each year.
The Welsh Terrier may look like a mini Airedale Terrier but was developed separately the Welshie being the older of the two breeds by a few hundred years. Originally called Black and Tan Wirehaired Terriers, Welsh Terriers were developed in Wales to hunt fox, badgers, and otters—and though small, they’re sturdy enough to tackle the job. As the Welshie’s development continued in Britain, they were still used mainly as a rugged hunting breed rather than in the show.
History
The Welsh Terrier originated in the late 1700s, nestled in the heart of Wales. There isn’t too much detail about the origin of this breed, but it is believed that the grandfather dog of the Welsh Terrier was the Old English Black and Tan Terrier. This is a medium-sized breed that stands around 15 inches with an average weight of about 20 pounds; females are slightly smaller than males. When the Welsh Terrier was developed, it was bred with some really desirable traits, such as hunting ability, agility, and personality. All of these came together to create the Welsh Terrier that we know and love today. This breed started to be shown in England during the 1800s and at first, was commonly categorized as an Old English Terrier. As time went on, however, the Welsh Terrier became his own breed when the Kennel Club of England recognized it in 1885. In 1901 the Welsh Terrier finally made it to the United States and his popularity only rose from there. These dogs are now used, not only for hunting and tracking but also as wonderful family dogs and companions. Because the Welsh Terrier is an athletic breed, he will need a lot of extra exercises, at least an hour a day. This amount of exercise is rarely a suggestion when it comes to Terriers, as when they are bored it’s nearly impossible for them to hold still and they will most likely become destructive. If you are going to bring one of these sporty dogs into your home, be sure that you are ready to commit to the amount of work it will take to train him correctly and wear him out.