WELSH TERRIERS

Reading around the history of the breed shows that there is little doubt that the Welsh Terrier is indigenous to Wales. An old Welsh poem written about 1450 describes the hardy little terrier with some accuracy as " . . . a good bitch, a black red-bellied terrier bitch, to throttle the brown pole-cat,” Dating back to 1737, residents of Carnarvonshire took pride in the purity of the breed for the purpose of hunting.

There is often reference to ‘The Old English Broken-Haired Black and Tan Terrier’, but it is arguable that these themselves originate back to Welsh origin. Of course, the argument was counter made, but the Kennel Club registered the Welsh Terrier before their English counterpart and eventually the English Black and Tan disappeared.

Welsh Terriers worked within packs of Fox Hounds and Otter Hounds and equally worked at foot with gamekeepers, and of course, it was said to be a favoured hunter of poachers.It was documented that John Jones, the Squire of Ynysfor ran a pack of Otter Hounds and specialised in the use of Welsh Terriers, and along with the records for the Otter Hound pack, the use of Welsh Terriers within the pack was also documented for nearly two centuries. 

The breed has always been known as an enigma to live with, described historically as: rarely shy, gay disposition, affectionate, loyal, good all around ability, intelligent, volatile, hardy, robust, tenacious, game, fearless. The Welsh Terrier has also been documented as obedient, easily trained and controlled - which will always make breed specialists smile! But of course, this is in the context of hunting, which is what they excel at - dispatching vermin, game, fox, otter, and badgers. Working to gun, or as the poachers lethal allies, going to ground to finish their conquest. The breed is at ease working above ground, underground or working waterways.