At first glance, the Welsh Terrier might be mistaken for a black and tan Wire Fox Terrier or a miniature Airedale, but he is neither of these. The head of a Welsh, in proportion to his body, is more powerfully made than either the Fox Terrier or the Airedale, being boxy rather than wedge shaped. He is bred for power and endurance instead of speed which gives him a broader, compact "cobby" shape. Since early fanciers used terms familiar to breeders of the horse, it would be appropriate to compare the Welsh to a working horse, while the Fox Terrier is more like a hunter or racer. The Breed Standard is a word picture of the ideal Welshman which has been adopted by breeders and registry associations.
Often described as the least quarrelsome of the Terriers, the Welsh has all the gaiety, fire and courage of a true terrier combined with the common sense and dignity of the larger working breeds; this happy blend of temperaments makes him easy to train and ideally suitable as a family companion or children's pet.
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