Allie is a member of the rare Welsh breed called Sealyham Terrier.
These are robust terriers that originated in Wales in the 18th century.
Sealyham Terrier have been owned by some big Hollywood names, including Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant.
Nowadays, they’re classified as a rare and vulnerable dog breed.
In a bid to learn even more about Sealyham Terriers, we spoke to Allie (@sealygram).
She’s a Sealyham Terrier who loves her family, food and her favourite stuffed lemon toy.
Follow our dogs Copper and Skye on Instagram here (@lifewithkleekai).
1) How did you first hear about the Sealyham Terrier?
We were introduced to the breed by family members. When we determined that we wanted a dog of our own, we met with a breeder who brought along puppies… and the rest is history. Sealy puppies are some of the cutest puppies you’ll ever see.
2) What attracted you to the breed?
The Sealyham Terrier is considered to be a big dog in a small body, and that is exactly how they carry themselves. Allie is only 22lbs, but her attitude (and bark) are that of a much larger dog. We also enjoy the spunkiness and fearlessness of terriers.
3) Did you find it difficult to find a Sealyham Terrier breeder?
Sealyham Terrier dog Allie (Photo: @sealygram / Instagram)
No, we were familiar with breeders through our family’s experience with the breed, so we did not have a difficult time finding a reputable breeder.
4) Can you give us an insight into Allie’s personality?
Sealyham Terriers are supposed to be “the couch potato of the terrier world” – not the case with Allie. She is extremely energetic and requires a lot of mental/physical exercise to keep her (and us) sane. Luckily, we own a house with a large enclosed backyard where she can romp and race to her heart’s content. Once this energy is gone, the couch potato comes out, and she loves to snuggle on the couch or curl up on one of her beds. Sealys are the class clowns of the dog world but you have to be laughing with them not at them.
5) Are Sealyham Terriers difficult to train?
As with any terrier, patience is required since terriers need to approve of any command they are given before they will actually follow it! Allie, in particular, is very food-motivated so teaching tricks is relatively easy with a food reward. However, she has been working on her agility titles, and since food is not permitted on the course, it’s proven to be a bit more difficult to train.
6) Are Sealyham Terriers good companion dogs?
Yes, there is nothing we enjoy more than sitting on the couch with her curled up next to us, or waking up to find her snuggling on our pillow. She’s completely devoted to us.
7) Are Sealyham Terriers hypoallergenic?
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.
8) Do Sealyham Terriers suffer from separation anxiety in your experience with Allie?
When we are home, Allie is usually not too far from us, but she seems to enjoy her alone time when we leave the house. She is crate-trained so she spends her weekday mornings/afternoons sleeping in the crate while we are at work. When we are home for lunch, Allie usually lets us know that we’ve overstayed our welcome by going back into her crate and waiting there until we leave.
9) Do Sealyham Terriers like to swim?
Allie seems to enjoy swimming – with her large front paws, she can really get moving in the water. She enjoys standing on our pool stairs when it’s hot outside. She doesn’t jump into the pool on her own but will come to us and make it clear that she wants to be put into the water.
10) How much do Sealyham Terriers cost?
You can expect to pay $1500-3000 for a puppy from a reputable breeder. This should include a health screening to make sure that the puppy doesn’t have any Sealy-specific health issues. You want to make sure you do your research when getting any breed of dog to make sure you are making the right decision for your household.
11) What questions do you get asked by people who meet Allie out and about?
Sealyham Terrier dog Allie (Photo: @sealygram / Instagram)
• What type of dog is that?
• Is that a Scottie/Westie?
• How does she stay so white?
12) What is your favourite story/memory with Allie?
Allie has a favorite toy (a stuffed lemon) and also has a classification system for her toys. The specific criteria she uses are not fully known, but any chewing toy (rawhide, bone, antler, etc.) remains on the first floor of our house. Any toy that is either plush, has a squeaker, or both, is taken up to the second floor. If we swap the places of these toys, she will rearrange them to be back in the proper location. Very strange!
13) Would you recommend a Sealyham Terrier to a first-time owner?
We are both first-time owners (grew up with dogs but never owned one), and as long as you can assert your authority early and maintain a consistent disciplinary approach, a Sealy is a perfect first-time pet. Just keep in mind you need to have a sense of humor with a terrier.
14) Is there a tightnit Sealyham Terrier community?
Yes, the American Sealyham Terrier Club is a great community for all Sealy owners. Since the breed is relatively rare, the community is very close and most owners know each other personally.
15) What other Sealyham Terrier accounts would you recommend?
All Sealy accounts! In particular, we enjoy the posts from @humphreyfergus and @sealyhameddie – Fergus is Allie’s littermate, and Eddie and Allie are nearly identical. We’re hoping to do a cross-the-pond collaboration someday!
Sealyham Terriers pros and cons
Sealyham Terrier dog Allie (Photo: @sealygram / Instagram)
Pros
• Terrier attitude – Sealys are fearless and willing to take on any challenge.
• Devotion – Sealy are completely devoted to their owners.
• Hypoallergenic – no shedding means no hair cleanup.
• Size – their relatively small size means they can adapt to any home.
Cons
• Terrier attitude – the same spunkiness can translate into stubbornness if they don’t agree with what’s being asked of them.
• Grooming – no shedding means that the coat can get matted and regular grooming is required.
• Hard to find – Sealys are a rare breed which means that finding a puppy/dog can be difficult.
