When the number of Sealyham Terrier puppies registered with the Kennel Club in the UK fell below 50 in 2010, it got noticed by Country Life magazine. The publication launched a campaign to save the breed and starting by putting a picture of a Sealyham on its cover and sending an “SOS” – “Save our Sealyhams” – to its readers. “If we can save the rhino or tiger,” the editorial read, “we can surely save this useful and charming breed of dog.” In an interview appearing in a different publication, Harry Parsons, founder of the Working Sealyham Terrier Club, said, “To sustain a breed I think you need between 300 to 500 pups a year.”
Did Country Life’s magazine attention help the breed? Difficult to say, but the more salient question is why breed numbers fell in the first place. The Kennel Club blamed the decline partly on the popularity of continental dogs, and partly on the ban on tail docking in 2006 (a Sealy’s tail was traditionally docked to the strongest point so farmers could pull the dog out of holes). It begs the question: If a dog can’t look the way its breed has traditionally looked, is that enough not to own the dog? And if that’s the case, at what cost was the ban of cropping and docking in the UK successful? Was it worth the extinction of some breeds going back centuries? (having said that, not every breed on the Kennel Club’s Vulnerable Breeds list is one that is cropped or docked).
A year after the Country Life story was published, there was a steady rise in breed registration numbers, and last year, 113 Sealyhams were registered, a positive trajectory, but far short of suggested 300-500 puppies it takes to sustain a breed. Still, it was much needed assist to a breed that’s been described as “rarer than a tiger.” As it happens, in 2016, the magazine once again brought needed attention to the breed.
Would it help if American publications took a similar tact to help breeds as risk of vanishing in our lifetime, or would it prompt its readers to get a dog for all the wrong reasons? We don’t have the answers, but we’re interested in yours.
The anti docking and cropping supporters should be spayed and neutered immediately …..last thing this would needs is more humaniacs and government control
Docking is cruel and unnecessary. If that were the reason for the decline in the breed then that shows how shallow people are. If the breed disappears then so be it. Owning a dog is about having a doggy soul join your family not what they look like!
Appreciate your thoughts, Jane. We’re not inclined to debate the merits of docking here beyond mentioning that it has applications for working breeds and earth dogs. More than one terrier has been pulled out of harm’s way by the tail, and one need only see the bloodied and battered tail of a hunting dog once to see why many of those breeds have docked tails. Bramble and bush are not “tail-friendly” to the dog who wags his southern end a lot. Far kinder to dock the tail of a newborn than to have the adult suffer the pain whip-lashed tail, we think. Thank you for writing!
Yes, if American publications would publicize the breed more, it would certainly help. Most people just do not know the breed even exists unfortunately. To own a Sealy is to want no other breed.
We’re big fans of Sealys, Justin! Perhaps we start suggesting the idea to different publications?
I was on holiday in London ( from Canada) when I saw this article. I had to do my part. I went out and got a Sealyham! A year later I flew back to England to shake Harry Parson’s hand ( clearly an email or phone call would not do!) these dogs are wonderful. I can not imagine having another breed. Best move ever.
Your comment gives us goosebumps, Carina, truly it does. We’re delighted to hear that you found a great fit for yourself and that it turned out to be an endangered breed – well done, you! Picture?
Here is a photo of my beloved Amber 2 minutes after I brought her home. She is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted an adult dog. I got a retired show dog. We are never apart. Best move EVER!!!
Carina, what a wonderful picture!
I just got my first Sealyham and am totally in love with the breed. Like potato chips you can’t stop at one! They have a great terrier personality, but are smart and willing to learn. We need to do more to expose the breed to the world. It would be a huge loss to the dog world if the were to go extinct.
Bobbi, we completely agree! It’s why we urge owners to get out with their Sealys (and Dandies, and Skye terriers, etc) and be seen!
I have the biggest population of Sealyhams in Ireland I have 7 Sealyhams they come from different countries such as Slovenia Russia and Ukraine. Because the Sealyham is an unusual dog it doesn’t mean everyone can understand their little ways . My purpose with my little population is not hunting nor breeding . Is understanding the way they think and how they do things of their own accord. We have a profile on Facebook Celia Ham . Where Celia the Sealyham tells their daily adventures.
But in reality Sealyhams are dogs that need a lot of grooming attention and they are not for everyone. Breedingwise the reason they will disappear is a very simple . Most sealys are now a days related and subsequently yes it will come to an end . It is a man made breed require a breed back program and decades of work to strengthen its gene poll if anyone really want to save the Sealyhams.
As for docking is a NO the Sealyham speaks with his tail apart that docking can cause other problems to its health .
As for portraying the Sealyham just as a hunting dog dirty and covered in mud does not do it any favours either to its image .
A Sealyham will do a lot or nothing at all it all depend on your own life . Mine do what they like and ah yeah they like to travel and love food and new places but no they do not kill any thing .
They only argue each other . Sealyham in our house are friends with cats and smaller dogs . Celia has chihuahuas and crested “crew” and Thor has cats of his own .
So killing is not in every one .
I also have a Sealyham who dislike all of the others: Medeia . She likes policemen.
So they are as different as people . ( photo Medeia and I .
A really interesting comment, Wilhelmina, and we’re glad you shared it with us, though we’re disheartened by your view that the breed will indeed vanish if someone doesn’t seriously set about saving it. To your knowledge, no such effort exists as yet?