If you haven’t heard of the Sealyham Terrier, you’re missing out. These brave and outgoing dogs are so amenable to any type of living that it’s hard to say a bad word about them. But if you have allergies to contend with you’ll want to know, are Sealyham Terriers hypoallergenic?

This breed takes the word companion to a whole new level — with a similar clinginess of a small child, good luck trying to sit down in peace. You’ve got to be a certain type of person to welcome this canine into your home.

Is a Sealyham Terrier Dog Hypoallergenic?

If you’re looking for a hypoallergenic dog, the medium-long double-coated Sealyham Terrier is an ideal candidate. Their top coat is hard and wiry with a surprisingly dense and soft undercoat that’s low shedding and low-dander producing. However, make sure you meet one of these friendly fellows beforehand, to make sure they’re allergy-friendly for you.

do sealyham terriers shed.

What Do Sealyham Terriers Look Like?

Imagine a white Scottish Terrier with floppy ears and a better goatee than Uncle Sam, and you’ve got yourself a Sealyham Terrier. This breed has long leg and body hair that flows majestically with the right grooming regime (more on that later). The hair around their face grows very long, which is what gives them their unique beard that looks so hilarious on such a short and stocky little body. Usually, you will only see a Sealyham in white, but they’re known to have patches of lemon, chocolate, or blue.

Is the Sealyham Terrier Right for Me?

If you’re not one to shy away from a challenge, the Sealyham is a strong and loyal character who will never fail to make you laugh. The goofy Sealyham can be suspicious of strangers and become vocal about it, but try not to get mad — they’re only trying to protect you! 

The Sealyham Terrier temperament is super playful and energetic. However, their small size means you don’t need to spend hours exercising them to keep them in check at home. If you’ve got young kids, you may find the Sealyham isn’t the most gentle and nurturing breed. That said, for older children who can respect and appreciate a furry friend, you may have just found your new family member.

Top 10 Best Traits of the Sealyham Terrier

  1. Their hunting background means you’re guaranteed a fun-loving and brave little character from any Sealyham. 
  2. Small but mighty, the Sealy won’t back down when it comes to protecting your home!
  3. Their high playfulness will provide constant hilarious entertainment as they goof around.
  4. Don’t worry about rigorous walkies or playtime. Their small build means they’re pretty easy-going on exercise.
  5. Whether you want to enter a dog show or just entertain the kids, high intelligence levels make them easy to train.
  6. With the Sealyham in your home, thanks to that high prey drive, rest assured you’ll have no unwanted vermin visiting your home. 
  7. Even with all their playful energy, you’ll still be able to have cuddles together — the Sealyham enjoys their owner’s affection.
  8. Minimal shedding means that allergy sufferers don’t need to worry about this breed sparking off the itchy eyes, runny noses, and sneezing. 
  9. Despite their playful nature, they’re surprisingly calm when they get to know their home surroundings.
  10. Who wouldn’t want to own a dog breed that’s considered one of the rarest to find?
sealyham terrier dog breed.

Top 10 Worst Traits of the Sealyham Terrier

  1. Their feisty nature means you might find their independence difficult to tame when it comes to training.
  2. If your neighbors love to moan, they may not appreciate how vocal the Sealyham Terrier can be when they’re protecting you and your home.
  3. With a hunting history, and being a Terrier, this breed may wish to dig — a lot. This isn’t good news if you work hard on your precious flower beds. 
  4. Although they don’t shed, regular stripping or clipping, and trimming is needed to keep them looking and feeling their best.
  5. Training a Sealyham isn’t the easiest job — they need a lot of positive reinforcement and repetitive training to minimize their barking and digging.
  6. Their high prey drive leads to unpredictable behavior. If they catch a sniff or sight of a smaller animal, they may dart off. On-leash walking is advisable.
  7. Weight gain and obesity are common for the Sealyham. So, you may want to stick to a strict diet and avoid too many treats.
  8. If you already have pets, or imagine yourself with a larger pack in the future, rethink. The Sealyham might act up in the presence of other pets.
  9. Their extreme rarity means you’ll have a challenge on your hands to locate this breed.
  10. Finally, the Sealyham Terrier isn’t for someone who is on a tight budget — a pup can set you back up to $3000.

How Energetic Is the Sealyham Dog Breed?

If you want a fun and playful pet, the Sealyham will happily join in, they love to play and spend time with their owner(s). Yet, this high energy doesn’t mean you can expect constant mania in your house, they’re usually calm unless there’s a reason not to be. 

The thing is, they only have little legs, and although they’re not the smallest breed in their class, they’re still classified as small. Hence, an hour’s run/walkabout per day should be sufficient. If you’re looking for a running or hiking companion, the stumpy dog category isn’t a good fit.

Are Sealyham Terriers Easy To Train?

If you have any experience with a Terrier, you’ll probably already know what I’m about to say. The Terrier personality is strong in the Sealyham, so get ready to deal with a sassy, independent dog with a similar personality to a toddler during their “I can do it” phase. 

The Sealyham responds well to positive reinforcement and needs plenty of exposure and socialization to minimize the chances of aggression. Speaking of which, these little guys love their food and who can blame them. However, you want to make sure their food guarding doesn’t turn nasty and lead to confrontational behavior. Nip that in the bud straight away.

Do Sealyham Terriers Shed?

Who would have thought these cool little dudes would come with a built-in jacket? Also known as their weather-resistant double-layered coat, their fur has a dense and soft undercoat that is topped with a wiry layer that’s prone to knotting. However, Sealyhams are low-shedding dogs. 

You should aim to brush a Sealyham three times a week. Maintaining their appearance is a part-time job in itself, with regular hand-stripping or clipping also required every couple of months.

Can a Sealyham Terrier Live in an Apartment?

The Sealyham Terrier dog breed is a lot like us, they want nothing more than to relax when they get home and put their feet up, well, paws. 

Scoring highly as an apartment pup, the Sealy’s small size works in limited space. But you need to train them well to make sure they don’t bark constantly when you’re away. Establish good boundaries for high-rise living with a Sealyham Terrier.

sealyham terrier dog.

How Healthy Are Sealyham Terriers?

To ensure a healthy Sealyham dog your chosen breeder must provide a good health report for the pup and their parents. But generally speaking, you don’t see any significant health problems from a Sealyham. If we’re being picky, they could be prone to:

  • Eye health issues — lens luxation (dislocation) or retinal dysplasia. 
  • Dog allergies.
  • Eye infections — due to their long eyebrows.

How Much Does a Sealyham Terrier Puppy Cost?

Limited numbers mean prices are high. You can expect to pay between $1800 and $3000 for a puppy.

Where Can I Find a Sealyham Terrier Puppy?

To find more information on where to locate a reputable breeder for your Sealyham Terrier, take a look at The American Sealyham Terrier Club.

Sealyham Terrier — Similar Breeds

If you’re keen on the Sealyham, why not check out these breeds too:

Playful, lively but loveable, and good with kids, that is the Norfolk Terrier. Now they don’t bark much less than the Sealyham, but these hilarious little clowns make everything brighter without the big dog attitude.

You might also like the super cool Basenji. This breed has a similar personality thanks to their hunting history, but in a sturdier and high-energy fashion. This makes them perfect for active and outdoorsy couples. However, they may not be as good in a family setting.

Another dog you could consider is the Dandie Dinmont, who comes second to the Sealyham in the best-bearded dog competition. They’re raised as hunting dogs too, so have a lot of the same traits, are hypoallergenic friendly, and sport a calm personality to match their looks.

Conclusion

It’s tough to understand why this breed is classed as an endangered doggy species in some parts of the world. These funky little characters sport the best beards, funny personalities, and a playful energy that can brighten up any house or apartment. 

With numbers in decline, apart from trying to find one, what’s stopping you from welcoming one of these adorable little guys into your home?

Are Sealyham Terriers Hypoallergenic? They certainly are — so there is no reason not to consider this breed a great addition to your family.

Sealyham Terrier Hypoallergenic FAQs

Are Sealyham Terriers Aggressive?

You might find the Sealyham is aggressive towards other dogs if they haven’t been trained correctly. Like many other Terriers, they seem to think they’re a big dog in a small body.

Why Is the Sealyham Terrier Rare?

The Kennel Club announced that the Sealyham Terrier has become highly rare over the years as families are favoring other small breeds.

How Much Does a Sealyham Terrier Cost?

You can expect to pay anywhere up to $3000 in the US for a Sealyham Terrier.

Are Sealyham Terriers Good Family Dogs?

Like most Terriers, the Sealyham can be headstrong, so you might find they aren’t the ideal candidate for families with small children or other pets.