Welsh Terrier Care

The Welsh Terrier, like other terrier breeds, is intelligent, active, and loyal to its people--but also in true terrier fashion, these dogs (nicknamed "Welshies") can be stubborn and hard to train, and they'll dig, bark, and chew excessively unless taught from an early age not to do so. Overall Welsh Terrier care and maintenance won't take too much work, but will need to include daily exercise and some early training and socialization.

Below you'll find details on caring for a Welsh Terrier, including info about puppy development, exercise needs, and shedding and drooling tendencies. Find answers to your questions about raising a Welsh Terrier in the following sections!

Though not the largest of breeds, these dogs are active and curious--so Welsh Terrier exercise requirements are moderately high. Welshies are also intelligent, so they'll need activities that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports).

Adult Welshies, depending on their age and overall activity levels, will need at least 45 minutes of dedicated exercise per day. You can start exercising your Welshie puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Welsh Terrier exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're nine months old
• A leash is required when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Possible separation anxiety; exercises should be done together with people
• Sensitive to temperature extremes; don't exercise in sweltering or freezing temps

It's important to exercise your Welshie every day. These energetic, smart dogs are easily bored, so without consistent activity they'll make their own "fun"--like digging, barking, and destructiveness! Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind. A few Welsh Terrier exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 20-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: Welshies love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Canine Sports: These dogs can excel at obedience or agility trials and other events
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, your Welshie will enjoy the company of other dogs
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors, give your Welsh Terrier access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

These little dogs don't need too much maintenance. Welsh Terrier shedding is pretty light, but they'll need a fair amount of grooming overall; drooling isn't an issue.

Welshies have the typical terrier coat: medium-length, wiry, and double-layered. The coats don't shed much--but owners will still need to brush their Welshies 3-4 times per week with a slicker brush, both to keep the shedding low and to keep the coats mat- and tangle-free. It's also good to have the coats hand-stripped every few months, either by a groomer or by the owners themselves, to keep them looking their best. As long as the coats are regularly maintained, the shedding will stay minimal, and hair cleanup won't really be necessary.

A Welshie almost never drools, either. If your Welsh Terrier is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

Welsh terriers can live indoors or out. Their homeland of Wales has seasonal to cool weather so this breed should be adaptable to a variety of temperatures.