This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, September 2013 issue.
I purchased my first Welsh Terrier in 1976 and have always had at least one, often two, and sometimes three (or more, especially if there are puppies) living with me and my family at any given time. People call and ask about the breed, wanting to know what a WT is like to live with.
I have to say that, like people, all WT’s are different, but generally you can count on a fairly active, healthy dog that is black & tan and around 20 lbs. Most WT’s that I have known are easy keepers and love people. They don’t always get along with other dogs, especially those of the same sex and breed, but sometimes they do.
They can be trained to tolerate cats and other animals, sometimes, especially if this training starts at a young age. I don’t recommend that families with very young children (under 3) get a puppy of any breed, but many WT’s that I know love kids and tolerate being poked, hugged, and even dressed up. However, there are also Welsh Terriers that aren’t so tolerant!
I tell folks that in my experience, WT’s are not easy to house train, but that could be the trainer’s fault, because other people find this a fairly easy task. I also tell them that it’s important to establish yourself as pack leader right away since Welsh Terriers are first & foremost terriers, and that implies a very outgoing, self-assured, and often bossy dog who needs to know the rules and needs firm and consistent training.
WT’s are interesting and fun to live with. Over the years, I have competed in performance events with my Welsh Terriers. I have found that they seem much happier when they have a job to do, and they are a lot easier to live with when they are happy (and tired!).
My favorite event is Earthdog. Most of my WT’s hunt rodents, rabbits, woodchucks, and snakes in our yard with obvious joy and limited (thankfully) success. Earthdog trials, which are set up to test a dog’s natural hunting instincts, are a fun way to spend time with others who enjoy sharing their lives with a terrier. The dogs really love it.
A bit of training is usually a good idea if titles are your goal, and WT’s generally catch on to the game quickly. Obedience with a WT is not for the person who expects perfect scores and a polished performance, but it’s a great way to get your dog socialized with other dogs and an opportunity to teach your dog manners and basic skills for everyday living.
But if you want to compete, WT’s are SMART! They learn the exercises quickly and are happy to perform for you as long as the reward is in sight. Once learned and executed, you’d better have some tricks up your sleeve to keep them interested.
I know some WT’s that consistently get near perfect scores, but my dogs were never in that elite group. I often felt a certain amount of compassion from the obedience judges, and I had a couple of judges comment that they had been looking forward to judging the terrier that day. I guess they needed some comic relief!
The only other performance event I have personally competed in with my WT’s is Agility, and I strongly recommend training your WT to navigate a basic agility course, even if competition is something in which you have no interest. The dogs love it, it’s great exercise for the handler, and it builds a bond between dog and handler that really feels good.
It’s a good idea to have some obedience training before beginning agility work, especially a solid recall, since most agility is done off-lead.
