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Breed profile

Sealyham Terrier

A sturdy, short-legged white terrier from Pembrokeshire. Affectionate and comical at home, stubborn on walks, and rarer than it deserves to be.

A white Sealyham Terrier with a long beard sits on mossy, lichen-covered ground in a pine forest
A sturdy Welsh terrier, at home outdoors.Photo: Tuomas Palonen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Weight
8–9 kg18–20 lb
Height
25–31 cm10–12 in
Lifespan
12–14 yrs
Group
Terrier
Origin
Wales
Popularity
#163 US#101 UK · 2025

Known for: Low sheddingFlat-friendly

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Affectionate, Strong-willed, Loyal, Vocal.

Health problems to know about

  • Primary lens luxation
  • Degenerative myelopathy
  • Atopic dermatitis

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Up to an hour of walking a day. The coat needs daily brushing and regular hand-stripping or trimming. Check the skin for itchiness, and keep training short and fun.

A good fit for

Town or country homes, people who want a small dog with a big-dog bark, owners happy to groom.

Probably not ideal for

People wanting a quick learner or a low-maintenance coat, homes with small pets, very quiet buildings.

Sources

  1. Royal Kennel Club: Sealyham Terrier
  2. Wikipedia: Sealyham Terrier

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

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Scottish Terrier

Dignified, stubborn little terrier with a beard and opinions. Loyal at home, reserved with strangers.

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Cairn Terrier

A shaggy, game little Scottish terrier. Cheerful, sturdy and curious, with a strong urge to dig and chase.

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American Hairless Terrier

A hairless offshoot of the Rat Terrier from Louisiana. Lively and bright, with bare skin that needs sun cream and a coat in winter.

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Bedlington Terrier

Looks like a lamb, moves like a whippet, and still has a terrier's grit. Gentle at home.

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