Breeds / Small
Sealyham Terrier puppies
Calm for a terrier but firmly self willed, the Sealyham is a short legged white Welsh working terrier that is affectionate at home and slow to back down.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin Great Britain
- Adult weight 10.4 to 10.9 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 23 to 24 lb
- Adult height 27 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium double and wiry
- Typical lifespan 12 to 14 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
About the Sealyham Terrier
The Sealyham Terrier was created in Wales for badger and otter work, wanted short, powerful and white so that it could be seen clearly and never mistaken for quarry. It weighs 10.4 to 10.9 kg and stands about 27 cm, low slung and heavily built for its height, with a weatherproof double jacket and profuse leg and body furnishings. It is calmer and more equable than most terriers, though the stubbornness and the enthusiasm for digging are entirely intact.
Moderate exercise suits it: a safely enclosed area to run in and enough activity to tire it without exhausting it, taken in the early morning or evening because it overheats in hot, humid weather. The coat mats easily and needs combing every two or three days, plus hand stripping or clipping on a schedule. It is rated four out of five for barking and three with children, so supervision and socialisation apply. Owners often let the grooming slide, then face a badly matted dog.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Sealyham Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Primary lens luxation, detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Retinal dysplasia and other inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Skin allergies, which are fairly common in the breed and diagnosed by veterinary work up
- Eye irritation and tearing caused by the long eyebrow fall, reduced by keeping it trimmed shorter on pet dogs
- Ear infections from the weight and set of the ears, prevented by regular cleaning
- Congenital deafness, detectable by BAER testing
From Sealyham Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/sealyham-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Sealyham Terrier puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Sealyham Terrier.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 10.4 to 10.9 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other small breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.