Plate 205 · British Isles
Welsh Terrier
威尔士㹴
“The black-and-tan terrier of north Wales.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- North Wales
- Region of origin
- Bred to hunt in the mountains of north Wales; the marker is Gwynedd's reference point.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- From the 1700s
- Today
- Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
North Wales
A square, black-and-tan wire-coated terrier from the mountains of north Wales.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Hunting fox, otter and badger.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
It descends from the old wire-haired black-and-tan terriers. A late arrival in the show ring, it was registered as a breed in the 19th century and has won Best in Show at Crufts four times.
04 · Today
Companion
A friendly companion.
Personality
- Intelligent
- Friendly
- Spirited
- Playful
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- High energy: running time in a fenced area and a long walk.
- Grooming
- Hand-stripping, or for a pet, clipping every 8–12 weeks.
- Training
- Friendly but needs socializing around other dogs.
Living with one
- Size
- Small
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Tight-fitting black-and-tan coat
Field note
It has been claimed as the oldest surviving dog breed in the UK.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Terrier Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 3, standard 78), The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Terrier Group, recognized 1888.
AKC registrations: ranked 114 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Welsh Terrier — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/welsh-terrier/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Welsh Terrier — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_Terrier
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Believed origin in Wales in the 1700s, hunting uses in north Wales, 19th-century registration, Crufts wins, at-risk status and UK registrations.
- Welsh Terrier — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/WELSH-TERRIER-78.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Great Britain; Group 3, section "Large and medium sized Terriers"; accepted 1954.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Bred to hunt in the mountains of north Wales; the marker is Gwynedd's reference point.
