Sealyham Terrier

The breed was created between roughly 1850 and 1891 by Captain John Edwardes at Sealyham House, near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Edwardes wanted a small white dog with the courage and jaw strength to draw badger and otter and the leg length to follow a pack of hounds, and he culled ruthlessly for working ability. The exact crosses were never recorded, but Dandie Dinmont, Corgi, West Highland White and Fox Terrier blood are commonly credited.

White was deliberate. A pale dog underground or in cover could be distinguished from its quarry, which mattered when the hunter was digging or reaching in. The breed was shown from 1903, the Sealyham Terrier Club was founded in 1908, and The Kennel Club granted recognition in 1911, with the American Kennel Club following in the same year.

The Sealyham then enjoyed an extraordinary run of fashion. Between the wars it was one of the most popular show and pet terriers in Britain and America, kept by Hollywood figures including Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant, photographed constantly by Alfred Hitchcock with his own two, and favoured by members of the British royal family. Registrations ran into the thousands a year.

The fall was equally dramatic. Post-war changes in fashion, the decline of working terrier use and the labour of maintaining the coat pushed numbers down steadily, and by the twenty-first century The Kennel Club had placed the Sealyham on its list of vulnerable native breeds, with annual UK registrations sometimes in the low tens. Dedicated breed clubs in Britain and the United States are working to rebuild the population.

This is a small dog with real substance. A Sealyham stands no more than about ten and a half to twelve inches at the shoulder but weighs around eighteen to twenty-four pounds, dogs somewhat heavier than bitches - the body is long, deep and muscular on short, straight legs. The breed standard describes a dog of tremendous substance for its size, and a correct Sealyham feels considerably heavier in the hand than it looks.

The head is long and broad with a powerful jaw, large teeth and heavy eyebrows and beard, topped by the fall - the mass of hair over the forehead that is one of the breed's most recognisable features. The ears fold forward against the cheek and the expression is alert and good-humoured.

The coat is a hard, wiry outer coat over a dense weather-resistant undercoat. It is predominantly white; lemon, tan, brown, blue or badger-pied markings on the head and ears are correct, while heavy body markings are not. Show dogs are hand-stripped, which preserves the harsh texture, while pet owners often choose clipping, which softens the coat and dulls the colour but is far less work.

For a terrier bred to face badgers, the Sealyham is remarkably even-tempered at home. It is affectionate, comic and companionable, and it settles far more readily than most small terriers - many owners describe a dog that is up for anything for an hour and then asleep on the sofa for three. That quality is a large part of why the breed suits family life so well.

It is bold and self-possessed rather than nervous, and it has a strong, deep bark that makes it a good alert dog. With strangers a Sealyham is usually friendly but not effusive; it will take a moment to decide about you. Early socialisation smooths this considerably.

The terrier core is still there. Sealyhams are strong-willed, dig with enthusiasm, and possess a serious prey drive - rodents, rabbits and cats not raised with them are at genuine risk. They can be assertive with other dogs, particularly of the same sex, and they were not bred to back down from anything. Careful introductions and supervision are sensible.

They are good with considerate children and generally patient, though like most terriers they prefer children old enough to leave them alone when they want to be left alone. They tolerate being alone better than many breeds, but they are happiest as a full member of the household.

The original job was working underground: drawing badger and otter, and bolting fox, alongside hounds. Very few Sealyhams are used that way now, but the instincts remain, and the breed does well in earthdog and barn hunt events where those instincts can be exercised safely and legally.

As a modern dog the Sealyham is primarily a companion and a very good one, with a size and energy level that suit town flats as well as country houses. Its confident, steady temperament has made it a successful therapy dog in some programmes, and it can do agility and rally competently if not spectacularly. It also remains a striking show dog, and its rarity means a well-presented Sealyham attracts attention wherever it goes.