Once a star in its native country, the Sealyham Terrier is a breed that seduces with its physique and character. Once used as a hunting dog, it is now appreciated as a family companion for its joie de vivre and its balanced and affectionate character. What do we know exactly about this English breed?
Characteristics of the Sealyham Terrier
Behind its small size, the Sealyham Terrier is striking for the impression of power and energy it gives off. This supple and very vigorous dog measures less than 31 cm and weighs 8.2 kg if it is a female and 9 kg if it is a male. It is recognizable by its head with a domed skull with a strong, square jaw and a black nose. Usually, he wears a mustache that gives him a British dandy look. His eyes express vivacity through their round shape and dark color with pigmented lids. However, unpigmented lids are not an eliminatory defect. The ears are medium sized, with rounded tips and fall to the sides to frame the face. The Sealyham Terrier has a muscular neck, thick and more or less long. The beauty of the Sealyham Terrier comes from its long, hard coat. The coat must be uniformly white and single-colored. The standard also tolerates white coats with brown, lemon, blue or badger notes on the ears and head.
History of the Sealyham Terrier breed
The Sealyham Terrier was born during the 19th century in Wales. It owes its creation to the gentleman-farmer John Owen Tucker Edwardes who wanted to develop a breed with predispositions to hunting small game. He then made a cross between white English Terriers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Corgis, West Highland White Terriers and Fox Terriers. He selected mainly the white subjects which were easier to distinguish from the game. We can say that the work of the founder of the breed paid off, because the Sealyham Terrier was an extremely popular dog. All the Hollywood stars like Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant, Jean Harlow, Elizabeth Taylor and even Princess Margaret were seduced by the charm of this breed. Unfortunately, this breed is threatened with extinction today.
Living requirements and behavior of the Sealyham Terrier
Friendly and sympathetic, the Sealyham Terrier is a dog appreciated for its good character. It is cheerful, lively, loyal, intelligent and has a good sense of humor. However, it does not have a tendency to overflow. Because of its origins as a hunting dog, it is very energetic, which is why it will never give up a walk or a few play sessions. It can perfectly share life with children. Beware, when young, the Sealyham Terrier is very active, but as he gets older, he becomes slightly lazy. It needs a firm education, because it tends to be stubborn. Good candidate for an apartment life, he will also be happy in the countryside.
Diet and main health problems of the Sealyham Terrier
The Sealyham Terrier may suffer from some diseases such as retinal dysplasia or glaucoma. It is also subject to some intestinal tumors. The follow-up of health must then be rigorous to guard against all these diseases. Moreover, as he easily gains weight, which can cause diabetes and joint problems, he needs a very strict diet.
