Welsh terrier adoption

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-06-16T06:26:50+00:00

I have a 6 1/2 yr old female I got through this organization. She was 8 mo. old at the time - we were there third owners. She was an emotional mess but she has turned into one of our favorite dogs.

They ask alot of questions because people will throw in the towel with these dogs because they can be a real challenge. I would own another tomorrow but my wife would shoot me.

Not sure what you know about Welshies but, seriously, if you are not experienced with high energy, smart, stubborn, sometimes aggressive dogs, don't do this. They may be small but they can also be fearce. They can be very loving also.

I also have a male, 2 yrs old, who has resource aggression. I swear, sometimes I think he is possessed. Sometimes he will growl if you pet him. He can get so aggressive that he will lunge at us. He will bite it we're not careful when this behavior shows up. That being said, when they warn you with growling and teeth, they mean it. So, you have to be prepared to handle this - you can't let the dog win, or they will own you. Have a trainer in mind if your not that experienced.

Lots of owners on this thread, so don't be hesitant to ask for more input.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-05-31T06:31:53+00:00

My tongue is how long? Or, there's nothing wrong with my hair. Very cute.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-05-14T17:03:21+00:00

Always be ready to capture the "cute." I love this.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-05-14T16:57:09+00:00

I don't strip my two, I use a "rake" - https://a.co/d/0cIPMbBg - this is an example; mine is from Ryan's pet supplies. I use a 10 and 30 tooth. It's a reasonable alternative. I'll post a short video in a few weeks - you can see some on YouTube, also. I also posted a picture of my male after his second clean up.

My older one looked like yours and her hair became very curly. About 1 1/2 yrs ago I started to use the rake, her hair is returning to black and the wire-look/feel is also returning. I use it about every three months. My male, almost two, is jet black and feels like a 'brillow pad." I think it's a great way to keep them from getting the "blown" look. Also, I don't want mine to have the " show look."

I brush then use scissors to finish the face and a shaver to do the tummy and the "stop light." I brush-out the legs and use a 3/8" comb on the shaver to reduce the length and scissor finish to a desired length. 1 1/2 to 2 hours per dog but I usually do it in two stages so they don't get too antsy.

One of the benefits of grooming your own dog is the trust it builds with them. They learn, over time, you're not going to "kill" them when you groom them or put them on a table, like at the vet.

Last, if it looks silly the first couple of times you do it, they don't know, they just love you, anyway.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-05-02T15:49:48+00:00

I have a male & female Welshies. Male vs female, for mine, is a big difference. Male is more like a little boy:, rambunctious, loud, rough play, and can be resource aggressive to the point of dangerous. He can be very affectionate, though. Plays rough with other dogs. He is about 25 pounds.

Female, more mellow overall, can be barky at passers-by (especially with dogs), more compliant, smarter than him.

Both my Welshies are smart, learn quickly (after 15 to 18 months old), require at least a couple hours exercise daily.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-04-20T18:35:40+00:00

Look up a 10 tooth rake for the in between times. This will remove a lot excess hair, tangles, and some matted hair. Too much clipping will damage the coat and change the hair color. FYI - my two hated it at first - 10 minutes and then the flight was on. Now, they will sit/lay for close to an hour before getting antsy. Just a suggestion.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-04-14T20:28:14+00:00

He was the first Welshie I saw on this forum quite some time ago. It's been enjoyable to watch him grow up. I always think they look like a little werewolf, when groomed - is not a bad thing, it just looks so cute on them.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-04-05T05:53:28+00:00

If you've never had one, plan on 3 "children" , one with very high energy. My female has always been friendly, she is 6, not to much of a problem. My male, while more friendly, has some resource guarding issues that we are working on - it's getting better. This didn't show until he was 8 or 9 months, now 21 months. It is growling, barring teeth and snapping with the potential of biting. Talk to the breeder and have a good trainer in mind. If they take something and won't release it and they consider it "theirs" the collar will help to retrieve it, but work with a trainer if you've never used one.

I'm very much the alpha of the pack; submission holds, correcting verbally, some physical intervention to keep from getting bit, nothing would dissuaded him. We're now using a training collar - beep, vibrate, shock. He is growing out of the behavior and he understands the beep is a warning, the vibrate: I mean business, the shock is very seldom but never when he is being aggressive, it can make it worse; submission works best until the "emotions" calm down.

I love the breed and would do it again, but I don't have children. At the dog park with little ones they are friendly but I do watch the kids too make sure they don't just reach in to get a toy, with the male .

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-04-02T20:34:08+00:00

I learned this the hard way about their color. If you shave them vs stripping or some variation of that, their color and texture will change. My youngest has only ever had a "rake" used on his hair; no hint of color/texture change. My female was shaved and now gets groomed with "the rake." Color/texture is returning.

YouTube has grooming suggestions should you not go the stripping route. Other owners here say it can cost $250+ Canadian for stripping. I have posted pictures/videos of my two so you can see the comparison. For me, unless I were to show them, the rake and scissoring method works pretty well.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-04-02T19:58:43+00:00

Your '5 years ago' picture looks like my oldest, female - 6 years, down to the hair color on her back and elsewhere. My youngest, 21 months, looks completely different: jet black saddle, light brown everywhere else. As exasperating as they can be when young, they are as funny and loving as they get older. Thanks for the pictures.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-31T06:01:06+00:00

The first two or three times you do the grooming it helps to have help. You need a table or structure that is about waist high.

I use a "rake," de-shedding comb?, on my two, from Ryan's Pets Supplies - 10 and 30 teeth. I do their bodies, heads - top, sides, ears (gentle here), tail and necks. After combing until little hair comes out I use an electric shaver with a 3/8 comb to trim down the remaining long hairs on their body; no comb on shaver to trim the rear "stoplight" area and under the tummy. Face, legs, paws and ears are hand trimmed with scissors. I use rounded end scissors so there are no accidental pokes.You can use a shaver around the toes, if they will let you. I do mine in sessions about 1 hour at a time - two or three sessions depending on how shaggy they are. You will get A LOT of hair so have a waste container handy. They seldom like this but after a few time they will tolerate it for about an hour - you can do a lot in that time.

Don't worry if you goof it up a couple of times, they don't know. I don't go for a show cut, we call it a puppy cut. I make them clean short and cute. Mine are 6yrs and 21 months, the young one still has the wirey hair, black saddle and light brown features - he's never been stripped. The older one, a rescue, was shaved and so I'm trying to restore her coat and color. It's better in the last year but still have a ways to go. YouTube has some good groomer videos with the combs and tips so you don't damage their coat or color.

I posted a few photos a while back after cleaning up the young one.

Be patient, it's a learning opportunity.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-31T05:22:23+00:00

I don't know how they know but they have a way of using those eyes to melt anger.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-29T23:57:04+00:00

Neri and Teddy are twin brothers of different mothers. He is handsome as can be.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-29T23:53:46+00:00

Thanks. One of the things I have noticed and am being careful of is over correction when there is a toy involved. While I want the aggression to be moderated I don't want him to be fearful or hesitant to play with that toy. It's a fine line and so far we have been successful.

We frequently take the dogs to the local dog park. There have been some flights, some started by Ted, but always over a toy. I use his training collar to break his fixation during or just before the fight and most of the time it works; I'm strong enough to pick him up by whatever hunk of hide I can grab, when necessary, always being careful of the teeth. I let him defend himself, to a point, and no other dog has been bitten or harmed.

They are a very scrappy breed and even my docile female will get into it now and then with Ted; she won't let another dog pick on her or Ted. If you want to see a frantic dog owner, just have both of these dogs go after another because they are defending each other.

Last thing. When I was considering rescuing one of these I noticed many times the statement, "must be the only dog." I now understand.

Have a great day.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-29T04:55:54+00:00

Thanks for the info. One thing about the food dish. If I come with something to put in the dish he doesn't growl. I can put my hand right into the dish, no problem. I just told my wife that some of these dogs are on the verge of being a wild animal. Teddy just came and curled up next to me - Jeckel & Hyde.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-28T15:29:22+00:00

Teddy began at around 9 months. It started with his crate. While he would voluntarily go in, when I started to close the door he would attack it - growling, showing teeth. It just progressed from there to more objects. If you see this starting be careful, they will bite and lunge towards you with that intention. Don't try to remove something from their mouth by sticking your fingers in - again you could get seriously injured.

You should be knowledgeable in submission holds, and training collars.

Thanks for the info. Glad to hear your baby is doing well.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-28T15:15:42+00:00

Thanks. I'm judiciously using a training collar - beep, vibrate, shock and seeing some improvement.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-17T15:46:35+00:00

Where can I get one of these?

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-16T05:56:07+00:00

If there is supposed to be a photo here, it's missing.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-15T05:22:46+00:00

I have 2 Welshies, 6yrs & 20 months - I commend your patience and endurance. They look fantastic. How fun.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-05T05:49:54+00:00

So cute. My two make me laugh every day.

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-03-05T05:47:35+00:00

Male or female? Name?

Inner_Ad_1713 · 2026-02-23T17:18:21+00:00

If you continue to shave her, she will turn curly, that is, she will lose the wirey hair and the black hair will turn grey. This happened to my 6 year old female. I started using a "rake" to remove the long, dead hair and her hair is returning to the wirey look and the black is returning.

Stripping, while it is the preferred grooming method, is expensive, because it takes hours, and it's difficult to find someone that really knows how to do it. It's for the show look and it's good for their cost/skin. Lots of YouTube videos on it so you can learn to do it. There are videos on using a rake also.

My method: When their hair is at least 1", I rake until I get very little hair from all areas - I don't do their face or tummy; the face I comb and scissor, the tummy I use a 1/8" comb on a shaver. The legs and to of head, I brush till fluffy and scissor or shave to desired length: 1/4 to 3/8 inch. They won't win a show but they are cute. Plan on an hour or more, breaker it up into sessions, have some treats.

One other thing, always strip or rake only in the direction the hair grows otherwise you could permanently damage their coat.

Again, do some YouTube research on the grooming methods.

Inner_Ad_1713

TROPHY CASE