The power of the dog/The Sealyham Terrier
". . . . But his zeal
None seconded, as out of season judged,
Or singular and rash;"
Milton—Paradise Lost.
SEALTHAM TERRIER
"Peer Gynt"
Owned by Mr. Harry Jones
THE SEALYHAM TERRIER
"These be but jests to that he shall do;
he shall prove a noble knight of prowess,
as good as any is living, and gentle and
courteous, and full of good parts, and
passing true of his promise."
Malory.
ONE might have thought that we have terriers in abundance, and of sufficient diversity in shape and size to gratify all tastes, and cope with any kind of work that may come along. England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have all furnished their quota, yet the late Captain Edwardes of Sealyham, Pembrokeshire, a kinsman of the present Lord Kensington, was not altogether satisfied with those already in existence. Deeming that a combination of the virtues of several old breeds would be useful, some seventy or more years ago he addressed himself to the task of bringing another race into being. Primarily, it is to be presumed, he sought for courage and stamina in a small body. He wanted a terrier that would hold fox or otter, or stay underground with Mr. Brock until the diggers could reach him. Although as the world goes seventy years make but a brief period, these seven decades have been sufficiently long to obliterate the evidences as to the dogs used by the gallant Captain for his hybridising purposes. The inference is, from the shape and the occasional silkiness of the hair on the top of the head, that the Dandie Dinmont played a leading part; from the pluck and colour, as well as the stamp of the terriers of thirty years ago, that Bull Terrier blood is also prevalent. Authorities, however, are by no means agreed as to the Dandie Dinmont, Mr. Fred W. Lewis, for instance, writing: "This is all a matter of speculation, and I am disposed to think that the Welsh cur or cattle dog—-a very sturdily built, short, crooked legged dog, used by cattle drovers—-was the means adopted to shorten the legs of the Sealyham terriers. The cur in most cases possessed plenty of pluck, and an inherent taste for hunting. That the majority of Sealyham terriers were very crooked in front is a well known fact, which can be verified by those of us who are old enough to remember Captain Edwardes and his dogs."
In his pursuit of gameness Captain Edwardes had inevitably to meet with disappointments here and there, not all the puppies he bred conforming to the exacting standard which he had set up in his own mind. Like the sensible man he was he decided that if his object were to be achieved, no pusillanimous dog must be allowed to live and aid in perpetuating the race. So it came about that a certain number had to be put under from time to time, with the result that the survivors more nearly approximated to the requirements of their owner. If all breeders were content to take measures as drastic their end would be attained with more ease, no matter what it might be, but wretched pecuniary considerations intrude themselves to prevent such a policy of perfection becoming common.
Naturally, a certain number of the terriers in course of time passed beyond the bounds of the home kennels into other hands, and when Captain Edwardes' strain came to an end on his death in the seventies, enough were in being to ensure the perpetuation of the race. Unfortunately, those that remained were not bred from with as scrupulous care as was exercised by the founder. A few were kept on by the Captain's niece. Miss Borrowdaile, the remainder being distributed far and wide. Until the last few years, the Sealyham had but a local reputation, occasionally one appearing at shows in South Wales, without attracting much notice. About eight years ago a dog called Peer Gynt, bred by Mr. G. H. Morton, became prominent, experts considering that he approached more nearly than any other to Captain Edwardes' ideal, as he had the type as well as a reputation for subterranean exploits. From him have sprung many of the terriers which are to-day being exhibited with success, and he has rarely been beaten in the show ring. His purchase by Mr. Harry Jones for £50 at the Kennel Club show of 1910 marked an epoch in the history of the variety.
It was only necessary for Sealyhams to be seen in order for them to gain admirers, and in the course of quite a short time they have become one of the features of any large show. Opinion is agreed that Sealyhams are useful-looking terriers, hard bitten, and fully capable of acquitting themselves as staunchly as their supporters aver. That the type is not yet altogether characterised by uniformity is a matter for no surprise, and any differences that are apparent can easily be adjusted. All that we can hope is that in the future he will remain in the right hands, and not be made a pawn in the game of commercialism, or be allowed to degenerate into a carpet knight.
A reference to Miss Earl's picture will give one a better idea of the style of terrier required than any pen portrait can convey. It may be noted that he should have a long and powerful jaw, squarer than that of the fox terrier. The drop ears are V-shaped, and the eyes, set wide apart, are round and large, of a dark brown or dark hazel colour. The broad chest should be well let down between the forelegs. The body is long and supple, ribs well sprung, hindquarters very powerful. The legs should be as short and straight as possible, and the feet round and cat-like. The colour is mainly all white, or with lemon, brown, or badger-pied markings. 