Orlovia
The Sealyham Terrier belongs to the FCI group 3 of terriers and has its origins in the UK country of Wales. It takes its name from the Sealyham estate near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where the breed originated in the second half of the 19th century as part of a breeding program meticulously carried out by a single man.
Wanted Sealyham Terrier
The current standard for the breed provides for optimal size of a maximum of 31 cm, the weight should be between 8.2 and 9 kg if possible. The Sealyham Terrier’s coat consists of a long, harsh, and wiry topcoat with a dense and weatherproof undercoat made up of soft hairs.
Fur
The predominant colors of the coat are pure white or white with lemon yellow. In addition, there may be brown, blue, or badger-colored markings on the ears and head. Daily care of the coat is an absolute must, especially for dogs that are to be shown.
In addition, the Sealyham Terrier requires frequent brushing and regular visits to a professional groomer to have the coat trimmed into shape. The Sealyham Terrier’s hind legs are surprisingly well developed given the animal’s small size. It is also known for its longevity.
Story
Although it is certain that the Sealyham Terrier was developed by John Edwardes, it is no longer possible to determine exactly how this breed came about, as John Edwardes, unfortunately, did not keep any records of his breeds.
When he approached the homestead with his aggressive older dogs, he expected the young dog growing up there to immediately and courageously defend his territory. If he gave in and backed down or even fled, he would be shot dead on the spot and without batting an eyelid by John Edwardes “for cowardice”.
The young dogs that survived this extremely rigorous “aptitude test” were subjected to another “test” of this special kind as one-year-olds: A still-living polecat was dragged through the area in a sack over a certain distance and then released in a cave.
The yearlings set on the track of the polecat now had to follow the track as quickly and spiritedly as possible to the opening of the cave, then enter the cave without hesitation and kill the angry, wild and dangerous animal there.
John Edwardes waited at the entrance of the cave with his rifle at the ready for the dogs who either waited too long or were too cowardly to crawl into the cave and shot them without hesitation. The dogs that left the cave without the dead polecat suffered the same brutal fate.
But the other young dogs that were not “fit” enough for John Edwardes because they might not have had enough strength or reflexes that were too slow were “eliminated” in a natural way by the polecat. Through this extremely brutal and today hardly comprehensible “breed selection” it was very easy to understand that the dogs bred by John Edwardes were extremely brave, but at the same time extremely aggressive.
Although they were originally bred to hunt badgers, foxes, and otters, they will prey on just about anything that comes their way: polecats, weasels, rabbits, and even wildcats. Sealyham Terriers also hunt in packs and are therefore not aggressive. Since the Sealyham Terrier was bred by a single male, after the death of John Edwardes other enthusiasts of the breed took over the breeding.
Despite the very extreme history of the breed, the successors of John Edward succeeded in calming down the character of the modern Sealyham Terrier. One of these people, Fred Lewis, earned the honorific “Father of the Breed” for his tireless efforts to promote the Sealyham Terrier and found a breed organization, although there is no doubt that John Edwardes is the real “father” of the breed.
Sealyham Terrier Creature
He is very confident, brave, and extremely self-assured, but fortunately far more peaceful than his ancestors. Despite its small size, the Sealyham Terrier is not afraid, it is very trusting and curious.
He is the ideal break clown: humorous, cheerful, and always ready to play or go for a walk. The Sealyham Terrier has a full and deep voice for its small size, which suggests a much larger dog behind the door, making it an excellent watchdog.
Despite this, he is friendly and teachable. Originally a hunting dog, the bearded dog has remarkable stamina and a still strong hunting instinct, so that it may even pursue potential prey underground. In addition, it is robust and tough enough to endure a fight with determination. To prevent any difficulties that may arise with regard to aggressiveness and obedience, a fair but firm upbringing is still the best way.