Sealyham Terriers aren’t a common dog breed.
These Welsh dogs have seen their numbers dwindle over the past 20 years.
Sealyham Terriers were at the height of their popularity during the Prohibition era in the USA.
They were also popular amongst Hollywood royalty, with famous owners including Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant.
Although they’re considered a vulnerable breed in the UK, the Sealyham Terrier still has one big draw.
These Terriers are hypoallergenic.
In this article, we’ll learn more about Sealyham Terrier, whether they shed, they’re grooming requirements and basic care needs.
We’ll break the article into the following sections:
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What are Sealyham Terriers?
Eddie the Sealyham Terrier (Photo: @sealyhameddie / Instagram)
Sealyham Terriers are a member of the Terrier group.
These dogs are considered one of the more robust types of Terrier due to their low centre of gravity but broad frames.
Sealyham Terriers can grow to a height of 10.5 inches and can weigh around 23 or 24 pounds.
They’re known for their “dry sense of humour”, according to the American Kennel Club.
Sealyham Terrier history
Sealyham Terrier (Photo: @sealyhamadventurers / Instagram)
Sealyham Terriers originated in Pembrokeshire in Wales in the 19th century.
Some suggest the exact date the first Sealyham Terriers appeared was in 1851.
While that’s open to debate, the Sealyham Terrier did originate from the Sealy Ham estate on the Seal River located in southwestern Wales. Hence their name, Sealyham Terrier.
Described as the “father of the Sealyham Terrier”, former British soldier John Edwardes dedicated his post military life to creating and developing these dogs.
Their initial function is also debatable. Some sources suggest Mr Edwardes created the Sealyham Terrier to hunt badgers and other perceived pests on the estate.
However, it’s also been suggested the Sealyham Terrier joined Mr Edwards’ Otterhound pack to hunt local otters in the Seal River.
The American Kennel Club explain that Mr Edwardes bred his terrier to be strong and tough enough to dig out an otter from its lair.
It’s unclear exactly what breeds were used to create the Sealyham Terrier.
The Daily Telegraph published an article that suggested Welsh Corgi, Fox Terrier (Wire) and the now extinct English White Terrier played a part in the Sealyham’s development.
According to the AKC, Bull, Dandie Dinmont, and West Highland White terriers were used.
The modern Sealyham Terrier
Sealyham Terriers (Photo: @sealyhamadventurers / Instagram)
Moving into the 20th and 21st centuries, the Sealyham Terrier has experienced contrasting fortunes.
The Sealyham Terrier was recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1911. By 1913, both the UK and the USA had their own Sealyham Terrier clubs.
As we touched upon above, the Sealyham Terrier became increasingly popular in the Prohibition Era. They were a hit with a number of Hollywood icons.
But their numbers dwindled towards the end of the 20th century and the start of the 21st century.
By 2008, the Kennel Club declared the Sealyham Terrier a vulnerable breed with as little as 43 of these Terriers in the UK.
The Sealyham Terrier has a rich history when it comes to winning best dog in show at the Westminster Dog Show in the USA and Crufts in the UK.
The AKC lists the Sealyham Terrier as the 164th popular dog breed in the USA.
Sealyham Terrier breed standard
The Sealyham Terrier has been recognised by the American Kennel Club since 1911.
They’ve set out their breed standard for these Welsh Terrier for breeders to strive to achieve:
The Sealyham should be the embodiment of power and determination, ever keen and alert, of extraordinary substance, yet free from clumsiness.
You can read the AKC’s full breed standard here.
Do Sealyham Terriers shed?
Sealyham Terriers are considered a hypoallergenic dog breed. While the American Kennel Club outline on their website that there’s no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog, some breeds are more hypoallergenic than other breeds.
Both the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club endorse the Sealyham Terrier as a breed with hypoallergenic qualities.
This means that these robust Terriers are less likely to trigger a person’s dog allergies than most other canines.
Sealyham Terriers are low shedding dogs that don’t leave a lot of hair around the house. As a result, there’s less hair on your clothes and furniture carrying allergens such as dander and pollen.
The breed have what is described as a weather resistant double jacket. It is comprised of a soft, dense undercoat and hard, wiry outer coat.
Allie the Sealyham Terrier (@sealygram) told hellobark.com:
Yes… no shedding ever! She does require regular grooming since her coat can get matted, but not having to deal with furballs in the house/cars is fantastic.
Sealyham Terrier grooming
Eddie the Sealyham Terrier (Photo: @sealyhameddie / Instagram)
These low shedding dogs will require a substantial amount of care to maintain the health and quality of their coat.
Sealyham Terriers will need brushing every two or three days to ensure their coat doesn’t become tangled.
The AKC recommend that a Sealyham Terrier’s coat is hand-stripped or clipped on a regular basis. They add that Sealyhams can be kept trimmed short with minimal furnishings, which makes their care easier.
Eddie the Sealyham Terrier (@sealyhameddie) wrote in their question and answer article on hellobark.com:
We can be handstripped which produces a wiry coat or clipped like my good self and have a soft, fluffy and slightly curly coat. Show Sealyhams often have longer hair on the face and tummy, but I am kept shorter for ease of care. We are also hypoallergenic and don’t tend to smell too ‘doggy’!
It’s a good idea to bathe a Sealyham Terrier at least once a month to maintain the quality of their coat.
Sealyham Terrier care
Aside from the coat, Sealyham Terriers have other basic care requirements. For example, their nails will need to be trimmed regularly.
Sealyham Terriers can be prone to ear and eye problems. Therefore, responsible Sealyham Terriers should regularly check and clear their ears.
These Welsh dogs can be prone to obesity issues if they’re overfed or don’t get enough exercise.
Although the American Kennel Club suggests most types of dog food can be used as part of a Sealyham Terrier’s diet, you may want to opt for a high-quality option.
You can check out our reviews of the best dog food delivery companies here.
Sealyham Terrier require regular exercise to keep them happy and stimulated.
Dog walking website WAG suggest around 30 minutes of exercise a day or up to six miles a week.
Anything else to consider?
If you’ve got any questions about Sealyham Terriers, you could always contact some owners on Instagram.
In our experience, they’re usually more than willing to offer advice to fellow dog lovers.
You can check out some Sealyham Terriers to follow on Instagram here.
Wrapping up – Our final thoughts
Eddie the Sealyham Terrier (Photo: @sealyhameddie / Instagram)
Sealyham Terriers don’t shed much at all. So if you’re looking for a low shedding or hypoallergenic dog, they could be a good option for you.
While they don’t shed, Sealyham Terriers do have a lot of grooming requirements to maintain the condition and health of their unique coats.
You could carry out their grooming needs yourself or set aside a budget to go to a professional groomer.
