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Sealyham Terrier Overview
| Official Name | Sealyham Terrier |
| Common Name | Sealyham Terrier |
| Pet Height | 10 to 12 inches |
| Pet Weight | 22 to 25 pounds |
| Lifespan | 12 to 14 years |
| Good With | children, families, seniors |
| Temperament | affectionate, friendly, outgoing, playful, protective, sociable |
| Intelligence | high |
| Shedding Amount | normal |
| Exercise Needs | medium |
| Energy Level | active |
| Vocal Level | when necessary |
| Drool Amount | low |
| Breed Group | terrier |
| Breed Size | small (0-25 lbs.) |
| Coat Length | medium, wiry |
| Colors | white |
| Patterns | spotted |
| Other Traits | apartment-friendly, friendly toward humans, friendly toward strangers, tolerates being picked up |
The Sealyham terrier is a solid, headstrong, and smart terrier breed that originated in Wales. The small white dogs with wiry hair love their humans—so much so that they consider themselves as equals with their family members.
With the long hair that descends down from their forehead and a fluffy beard, a Sealy is easily recognizable. But all that hair does require frequent trips to the groomer or a well-stocked supply of brushes and clippers.
Overall, Sealyham terriers make great pets—adorable, loving clowns who will never want to leave your side. Just do your best to train them out of their more stubborn tendencies. Here's everything you need to know about Sealyham terriers.
Appearance
The Sealyham terrier is easily recognizable. Just look for the "fall" of hair that occupies this small dog's forehead, oftentimes obscuring their eyes. They're plenty hairy elsewhere, according to the American Kennel Club. They wear a double coat, a dense undercoat beneath a wiry top layer. That top layer can grow long, almost reaching the ground from the Sealy's belly and chest.
Sealyham terriers are small but not slight. They stand hardly 1 foot tall but will weigh more than 20 pounds. That long, coarse hair is white, though some Sealys have darker markings on their faces and heads.
Their eyes are usually dark, and their ears are folded, according to their breed standard. Show dogs feature docked tails.
Temperament
The club goes on to describe these little white terriers as charming clowns who love to be loved. They'll use that confidence to play and explore their worlds, but they're still devoted to their human families.
Now because they're so brave and outgoing, they can be a little stubborn. The AKC says they're also protective and prone to barking, so delivery people and other doorbell-ringers should beware of these fierce little protectors: They make excellent watchdogs.
Living Needs
Like all pet dogs, Sealyham terriers need daily exercise: a couple walks or playtime in the yard. The AKC recommends getting them "moderately tired" so they're calm when you wind down for the day. (Just be careful exercising too much in the heat. Their long hair can lead to them overheating.) They're small enough dogs that you can live with them in an apartment.
Remember how they can be stubborn? You'll want to start with positive reinforcement training as soon as you can, teaching your dog to sit, stay, and come when called. You'll want to ensure your Sealyham is well socialized, too. That means heading to puppy kindergarten as soon as your young Sealy is up to date on their vaccinations.
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Care
Keeping up with your Sealyham's grooming can be a big task, especially if you want to keep their coats long. In fact, keeping a long "show coat" is invasive enough that it comes with an entire guide.
If you're not showing your dog, you'll still need to invest in a good brush. The AKC recommends brushing every few days to prevent matting. Then you'll need someone to clip and strip the hair regularly. (You may also need to make sure you keep your dog's eyebrows trimmed so the hair doesn't hurt their eyes.)
Want to keep the grooming to a minimum? Ask your groomer to keep your Sealyham terrier's hair as short as possible.
On top of all the hair maintenance, Sealyham owners also need to keep their dogs' nails trimmed, teeth brushed, and ears cleaned.
Health
Sealyham terriers, who live around 12–14 years, are prone to a variety of health conditions according to the AKC and Sealyham club. Those include:
- Primary lens luxation (PLL) and other eye problems: PLL affects many terrier breeds and occurs when ligaments in the eye fail, causing the lens to become fully dislocated. The lens can be removed and medication can decrease pain and inflammation. Sealyham terriers suffer from other non-genetic eye problems—often because their long face hairs can cause infection or injury.
- Intervertebral disc disease: This occurs when the discs in dogs' spines fail to work, causing pain and even paralysis. It can be caused by old age or injury. It can be treated through surgery, medication, physical therapy, or even acupuncture.
- Allergies: Yup, dogs have them, too, and they show signs of allergies like we do: with skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal signs. There are a variety of treatments available depending on the dogs' allergies.
- Ear infections: This can occur because of the weight and location of the Sealyham's ears, according to the AKC, but all you need to do to prevent it is keep your pups' ears clean.
Regardless of any potential health issues your Sealyham may experience, make sure you have a good veterinarian lined up before you bring your new dog home.
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History
The name Sealyham denotes the Sealy Ham estate in Wales where this breed was first developed, according to the AKC. That's where Army Capt. John Edwardes became the "father of the breed," trying to create a tough terrier who could extract pesky otters out of their dens.
How he created the Sealyham is unclear. Breed scholars hypothesize the breed shares lineage with bull terriers, Dandie Dinmont terriers, West Highland white terriers, fox terriers, and even Pembroke Welsh corgis.
The breed reached its heyday in the 1930s and '40s when Hollywood celebrities owned the small terriers, but the Sealyham has since faded in popularity. They were first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1910.
Fun Facts
- Today, the Sealyham terrier is a rare breed, ranking No. 164 out of 200 in registrations with the AKC.
- Movie stars like Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Bette Davis, and Elizabeth Taylor owned Sealyhams in the '30s and '40s.
For all their rarity, the Sealyham terrier has excelled at America's most famous dog show: the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The breed has won Best in Show four times, tied for the fifth-most wins by a breed. Ch. Dersade Bobby's Girl was the latest to win (1977).
