Last Updated: March 31, 2023
The leggy, fierce, and royal Welsh Terrier is one of the oldest among the Terrier clan to be officially recognized by the AKC in 1888.
Their signature black and tan coat, a goofy mustache, and long furry legs perfectly add to their independent spirit.
Bred to hunt badgers, vermin, and foxes, Welsh Terrier resembles a miniature Airdale with more determination and excitement.
Besides exhibiting an independent persona, these royal Terriers are outgoing and loyal family dogs.
Because of their unique traits and impressive persona, the Welsh Terrier is ruling the hearts of many global celebrities and dog lovers.
Let’s learn more about this dog breed in detail.
How much does a Welsh Terrier cost?
The costs of Welsh Terrier puppies range from $600 – $3,000 based on various factors.
If you are rooting for a purebred, be ready to pay a hefty price, excluding the grooming needs and nutrition.
Buying a superior lineage Welsh Terrier can cost you a bomb based on the breeder’s reputation, location, and availability of the purebred.
If you are really eager to buy a purebred but can’t locate an authorized breeder near you, visit the AKC Marketplace or the Welsh Terrier Club of America to connect with ethical breeders.
Always remember not to compromise on quality to save a few bucks.
How to select Welsh Terrier breeders?
Finding one superior lineage, Welsh Terrier, is super challenging and pocket denting at the same time.
So, if you are determined to welcome home this rare breed, mind these important factors below:
- Gather as much information as possible about the breed to make an informed investment.
- Always trade your pup from a reputed breeder registered with the AKC or the elite Welsh Terrier clubs and rescues.
- Asses the breeding facility to check the ambiance and the health of your puppy’s parents.
- Ask the breeder about their feeding frequency, health, and immunization updates to confirm your happy parenting journey ahead.
When does a Welsh Terrier get full size?
Parenting a Welsh Terrier can be the most rewarding experience to see your fur baby grow fast in 36 weeks.
After that, its growth slows down as a normal process to gain more weight and endurance and reach full size in 11 months (45 weeks).
To ensure your Welsh Terrier grows within the recommended duration, feed your dog vet-recommended dog food, besides offering a happy and stress-free ambiance at home. Both male and female Welsh Terriers exhibit a similar growth pattern unless they suffer from any underlying condition or a lack of proper nutrition.
On getting its full size, a male Welsh Terrier can grow up to 15 inches with an average weight of around 21 pounds, while the height and weight of the female are slightly lesser.
To maintain healthy growth and weight, avoid overfeeding your dog, which is the leading cause behind most canines’ premature death.
How to care for your Welsh Terrier puppy?
Caring for Welsh Terriers when they are puppies
Before welcoming your energetic Welsh Terrier home, make sure to puppy-proof your home off sharp edges, electrical appliances, and other valuables because of their high chewing drive.
As you know, the Welsh Terrier is an independent dog; it’s your responsibility to shape your puppy into a well-behaving pet by starting early socialization and teaching basic commands.
Besides consistent training at home, you must pay special attention to your pup’s daily nutritional intake.
As they exhibit a fast growth rate in the early 36 weeks, feed your fur baby a vet-recommended diet and strictly avoid table supplies to keep your dog in shape.
Also, taking your high-energetic pup out on a daily stroll is a step forward for the next phase of high-intensive workouts.
Caring for Welsh Terriers when they grow up
Caring for a full-grown Welsh Terrier takes a drastic turn as your pup grows into a healthy adult.
The double-layered coat of the Welsh Terrier surprisingly sheds less and is easy to manage.
Depending on your dog’s activity level, you only need to brush its coat weekly or daily.
You can also use your hands to detangle their matted hair.
Besides daily coat care, check their ears, tooth, and between the paws daily for any build-up and clean them as needed.
Feed your adult Welsh Terrier high-quality dog food, split into balanced portions as directed by the vet.
As they are prone to allergies and weight gain, avoid feeding them table food and consult a veterinarian immediately in case of an allergic reaction.
How to groom a Welsh Terrier?
Grooming a Welsh Terrier is simple, and you can do it yourself at home.
After welcoming your brave-heart puppy home, invest in coat and skin care to prevent infections and allergies.
Begin with routine care at home by gently brushing your dog’s hair to keep it sleek and lustrous.
Though brushing once a week would suffice, you can alter it based on your dog’s daily activities.
If your dog has an intensive outdoor routine daily, regular brushing is a must to keep its dual-layered coat free of dead skin and dirt.
Brushing regularly would also help evenly distribute the natural oils, which is essential to promote their coat health.
Besides daily coat care, give special attention to their signature mustache that is prone to trap dirt and germs while your dog is busy eating.
Bathe your Terrier only if badly needed to keep their water-proof coat clean and shiny.
How much exercise does a Welsh Terrier need?
The Welsh Terrier is a powerful hunting dog that thrives on intensive daily workouts.
Depending on its age, the vet would recommend a specific workout for a particular duration to ensure your dog doesn’t get exhausted.
For a healthy adult Welsh Terrier, it is recommended to involve your dog in at least 45 minutes of high-intensity workout daily.
These outgoing hunters prefer exercising outdoor on the lawn, park, or open field.
Unique trait of this energetic dog is digging, which is supposedly one of the ways to channel its high-energy flow.
However, don’t let this habit become a behavioral concern later.
These hunting dogs have a high preying drive to get curious and start chasing any moving objects instantly.
So, put a leash on your furry mate while strolling in the park or jogging.
You must also include some brainstorming games to keep this intelligent dog breed interested and free of boredom.
Does Welsh Terrier shed a lot?
If the nightmare of dog hair mess bothers you as a pet parent, then Welsh Terrier is the ideal choice for you.
This double-coated Terrier hardly sheds and hence is a perfect choice as a family dog.
However, they shed a bit seasonally, once a year during the spring.
So, you can consider the Welsh Terrier, a low-shedding dog, to be a perfect choice for your squeaky-clean home.
Contrary to their normal shedding, if you notice your dog shedding excessively, consult a vet immediately.
You must also brush your dog’s coat daily to lower hair fall and keep it frizz-free.
Are Welsh Terriers hypoallergenic?
All thanks to the low-shedding double-coated fur of the Welsh Terrier, they are the best choice for people sensitive to pet allergies.
This hypoallergenic dog barely sheds and hence is a safe choice to keep home clean and your flares in control.
Though they shed less, the trapped dirt and dander in their coat are the main factors to trigger your flares.
So, keep your Welsh Terrier clean by grooming your pet at home and feeding them proper nutrition.
Brushing their coat daily also helps evenly distribute the natural oils, promoting their coat health, and keeping it flowy and lustrous.
Understanding Welsh Terrier Temperament
This dog breed is a powerhouse of energy to drive you crazy and keep you entertained all day long.
Though their hunting spirit can sometimes make you feel otherwise, in general, a Welsh Terrier temperament is primarily friendly, loyal, and highly spirited.
They are quite playful and enjoy a great time digging a hole, which is a way to vent their high energy level.
Don’t commit the mistake of judging this hunting breed by its size.
Being a top-tier hunting dog breed, they can exhibit their strong-willed nature if felt threatened by you or the home ambiance.
Though a hunting dog, it prefers not to pick a fight with another dog but defend its territory if threatened.
Start early socialization from its puppyhood to raise your Welsh Terrier into a friendly and well-behaving dog.
This is one of the key hacks to help your dog grow into a happy and friendly soul without tantrums.
If you want to see your Welsh Terrier wagging, don’t abandon this energetic dog for a long time to prevent it from getting aggressive and howling for your attention.
How intelligent are Welsh Terriers?
The Welsh Terrier is a highly intelligent breed that makes parenting easier and tricky for you.
Based on their ability to learn and obey commands, the dog experts have rated them 3 out of 5 on intelligence level, which is quite impressive.
They learn new commands and tricks quickly and will obey you most of the time.
Because of their impressive IQ, they make great family dogs and a trusted hunting companion.
However, it is for the same reason you will spot your Welsh Terrier being irresponsive and completely ignorant of the same monotonous routine in quest of something new and exciting.
Thanks to their superior intelligence level, these dogs adapt to city and country life, making your parenting journey more manageable.
If you want to make a cordial bond with this hunter, follow the easygoing route than being unnecessarily strict.
This smart determined dog doesn’t respond well to harsh approaches, which can ruin your impression in the very first place.
Instead, try being more empathetic and gentler while dealing with a Welsh Terrier.
If you are a beginner, don’t take its quirky personality for granted based on its size, and consider other easygoing breeds.
How easy is it to train Welsh Terrier?
These intelligent dogs are undoubtedly the easiest to train, and you would certainly enjoy it.
On a consistent training of teaching commands and early socialization since puppyhood, this breed shows some exceptional fastest learning abilities to make you feel proud and happy.
Since they are extremely intelligent, boredom is a part of this breed if you make them train through the same monotonous regime every day.
So be a competent parent and learn some unique dog training tips and tricks to make things more interesting for your curious Welsh Terrier.
To ensure a cordial equation between you and your dog, start early training with basic commands at home and offer treats as a reward to keep them hooked.
These hunting dogs thrive on adequate outdoor exercise to stay physically and mentally fit.
Besides fetching, include different types of ball games, tug-of-war, and other high-intensity workouts in your dog’s daily routine.
You can also include some brainstorming games to keep the training entertaining for your dog while supporting its brain development.
However, avoid being forcible with this breed and manage things in a gentle way for hassle-free training sessions.
What type of hunting is best for Welsh Terrier?
As one of the oldest hunting breeds, Welsh Terrier hunting mainly includes foxes, badgers, and other smaller games.
With changing times, this breed is now one of the most popular family dogs and stays at peace chasing rabbits, cats, birds, and squirrels in the yard and park.
But you can see your dog in its natural action mode when unleashed in the wild.
Though they are small but sturdy enough to challenge and take down a fox.
Because of their mixed traits, these dogs are loved as family watchdogs and hunting companions.
These free-spirited dogs are in their best form when raised in adequate open spaces and in the countryside, where they can exhibit their high-energy level of shooing away foxes and intruders and digging holes.
If you are a city dweller, take your Welsh Terrier on weekly trekking or hunting to keep up their hunter’s spirit.
Welsh Terrier Lifespan
The sturdy, cheerful, and strong-willed Welsh Terrier is one of a kind breed with an average life expectancy of 13 – 15 years.
To own an independent-natured Terrier, you must exhibit an overpowering yet compassionate side.
As mentioned earlier, this dog breed thrives on high-quality dry dog food and daily activities, which is the key to increasing its lifespan.
To prevent this strong-willed dog from developing a destructive nature, start early socialization training from puppyhood and leave them open in the yard and garden so that they can release their energy.
Mental fitness and healthy living are of utmost importance for your precious Welsh Terrier over everything else.
Common Health Issues Associated With Welsh Terrier
The classic and strong Welsh Terriers generally hold a safe health history than most popular breeds but are still not totally immune.
However, obtaining one from a licensed breeder can ensure a safe and disease-free life for your Welsh Terrier.
Certain diseases to affect this breed are atopic dermatitis, glaucoma, hip dysplasia, Legg-calve-Perthes disease, and seizures.
Atopic dermatitis is an itchy skin condition that mainly happens because of food allergies or inhaling allergens.
Be cautious of what you feed your Welsh Terrier, and don’t hesitate to consult your vet in case of severe itching and rash breakout.
Final Thoughts
After knowing so many unique traits, it would be unfair to consider the Welsh Terrier a fiercely independent soul.
If trained with kindness and patience, they can be the best family watch dog you will ever meet.
Needless to say, this strong-willed breed isn’t for everyone, especially not for beginners.
So, don’t judge their small size, as you might encounter an overpowering soul taking charge.
To strengthen the bonding between you and your Welsh Terrier, be patient when teaching new commands and do a couple of activities together, like taking your furry pal with you when you go hiking or jogging.
We hope that all your doubts about this hunting dog breed are now clear. Let us know how it goes with your Welsh Terrier.
About the Author
I am Chhavi Kumari, a digital marketer, blogger & parent of two mischievous rabbits (Cookie & Snow). I have a passion for writing, a love for entertainment and a zeal to learn something new every day. If I were ever to be stranded on an island, I would probably have a pet bunny.
