Grooming
Don’t be fooled by their scruffy appearance; in comparison to other double-coated breeds, the Welsh Terrier hardly ever sheds a wiry curl and is considered a hypoallergenic breed. Regular brushing with a long-bristled pin brush and three or four annual professional groomer visits for a haircut and beard trim are all you’ll need to keep their coat tidy.
For a special Welsh Terrier grooming treat, book a hand stripping session where the groomer removes unruly hairs by hand. (This is how the pros prep their Welsh Terriers to compete in dog shows.)
Unless your Welshie has stepped in something foul, bathing them three times a year with a mild shampoo will more than suffice. Between baths, a 50/50 mixture of medicinal mouthwash and water will kill germs and promote healthy skin and coat. Plus, they’ll smell good, too.
Clipping your Welsh Terrier’s nails is more than an aesthetic chore. Long nails can cause pain and trigger irreversible damage to your dog. In fact, they can turn a sound paw into a splayed foot, reduce traction, cause deformed feet and even injure the tendons over an extended period. You should trim nails once a month or as needed. When you hear them tapping on the floor, it’s time to trim! If your dog fidgets, a groomer might prefer to grind the nails to sand them down slowly.
Like most dogs who enjoy spending time exploring outdoors, Welsh Terriers need regular ear inspections—once a week is a good bet— to keep them clear and free from infection. If you see redness, swelling or debris, call your vet. They may advise you to clean your dog’s ears.
Welshie teeth need brushing daily (best to start from puppyhood, so they get used to toothbrushing early) with a proper toothbrush and dog toothpaste. Best Bully 12-inch sticks are both entertaining for your pet and will keep their molars clean. Finally, keep their teeth in top form and avoid tooth disease and decay with annual teeth cleanings at the vet.
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Training
Quick-learning and alert, but with a ridiculously high prey drive (we can’t stress this enough), Welsh Terriers need significant amounts of obedience training to resist going after potential prey.
Positive reinforcement methods (treats, toys and praise for a job well done) tend to work well for the easily distracted Welshie. So the first step after bringing home your Welsh Terrier puppy should be to hire a certified trainer who can motivate your dog and set them up for success.
Despite being the friendliest of all the dogs in the Terrier group, these furry friends are also the most sensitive, with an attention span that wanes pretty quickly. Therefore, you need to commit to short but effective Welsh Terrier training sessions, five minutes at a time, multiple times a day.
Socialization, aka introducing your dog to new people and experiences, is important to bring out the naturally friendly qualities of your Welshie. Start taking your puppy on walks around the neighborhood to meet new friends and enroll in puppy preschool where they’ll learn to play nicely with other puppies and meet new people all in one location.
Ultimately, success will depend on your dog’s unique personality combined with your ability to exude confidence. Your Welshie loves you, but make no mistake, they will try to run your household if you let them. If all else fails, thank goodness for sturdy dog leashes and a giant dose of patience. It’s a virtue, you know.
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Diet
A healthy Welsh Terrier’s food diet consists of high-quality commercial dog food and thankfully, there are plenty of great options available. Before buying, be sure to factor in your dog’s lifestyle and stage in life (puppy, adult or senior).
Despite their active life, Welsh Terrier weight can easily increase if their diet is not carefully monitored. The struggle is real, even for dogs, it seems. Therefore, a high-protein, well-balanced diet will best suit their needs once or twice per day. At snack time, be creative with low-calorie treats—ice cubes are a favorite. But remember, healthy is best. Carrots, anyone?
Overall, to keep them in tip-top shape and add years to your Welsh Terrier’s lifespan, be sure to consult with your veterinarian about your diet or weight concerns. After all, a professional is in the best position to determine the perfect diet and lifestyle to meet your dog’s unique dietary needs.
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Exercise
Welsh Terrier energy levels are sky-high, particularly when young. They’re not the type of dog you can take on a brisk walk around the block then leave alone to snooze the afternoon away. Welshies benefit from lots of exercise and, when supervised—that is, on a long line or in a fenced area—they should be allowed to practice the hunting-related activities (i.e., flushing out and chasing vermin) for which they were bred.
To stay out of trouble, Welshies must be busy. You know what they say about idle hands (or, in this case, idle paws). They’ll find a rousing game of backyard fetch or Frisbee toss particularly entertaining. They also can’t get enough of toys that squeak (perhaps reminding them of prey). Toy brands that can hold up to a Welshie’s strong teeth include Kong Toys, JW Pet Toys and Outward Hound. Apart from casual playtime, Welsh Terriers excel at dog sports, including rally (similar to obedience courses), flyball, lure coursing and barn hunt.
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Environment
As with most breeds, Welsh Terriers can get along with kids and other dogs provided they have all been raised together from a young age and with consistent training. Still, there’s always the possibility their strong prey drive will show up—so you might want to cancel those plans to babysit your sister’s new kitty. For a Welshie, the best-case scenario would be to live with active singles, couples or families ready to keep a close eye on their pet.
Their ideal living situation would be in a large house or farm with plenty of yard space for the fun, frolicking freedom to be their impish selves.
The perfect match for these unpredictable pets is an equally energetic pet parent with the experience, patience and good humor to know when to correct bad behavior with positive reinforcement (aka rewarding their good behavior with treats, toys and praise), and when to let these little clowns get away with harmless larks.
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