From 'It' dog to 'What is it?' dog: The Sealyham Terrier loses steam

From Alfred Hitchcock to Humphrey Bogart to Elizabeth Taylor to Cary Grant, old Hollywood loved the Sealyham Terrier.  (Grant even named his Archie Leach, after himself.)  Sealyhams were owned by royalty and among the world's most popular breeds.

But the Sealyham ("a proud, compact sturdy little dog that makes an ideal companion for young and old in today's modern world, adapting well to both city and country living" according to the American Sealyham Terrier Club's website) has fallen out of favor in recent years, according to the Independent:

...the breed is declining so fast that extinction beckons. More than 1,000 Sealyham puppies a year used to be registered with the Kennel Club but, in 2008, there were just 43.

Originally bred in Wales in the 19th century as a working terrier, the Sealyham appears to have become the victim of what propelled it to fame in the first place –- fashion. Between the wars, and up to the 1960s, it was almost a must-have accessory for your pooch-loving celeb, especially in the movie industry.... But fashions change. "These days Hollywood stars like little continental dogs such as Chihuahuas and shih-tzus in their handbags," said Paul Keevil, formerly of the Kennel Club's vulnerable breeds committee. "This is one reason why their numbers are dwindling."

Beyond just the evolving whims of dog buyers, why the fall from favor?  One theory suggests that increased regulation in Britain over the docking of dogs' tails may play a role.  (Sealyhams' tails are traditionally docked at a young age, the rationale being that short, stocky tails are better engineered to help owners pull their terriers out of the holes into which they're fond of following small prey animals.)

The AKC recently noted a few other breeds whose popularity has waned in recent years; among them were the Rottweiler, the Basset Hound and the Lhasa Apso. 

Any breeds you wish would lose their popularity?  Let us know in the comments.

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Matt Rourke / Associated Press

Comments

[Sal B]

"Any breeds you wish would lose their popularity? "

How about snarky columnists?

[Justin Griffith]

There is no better breed than a sealyham. Help save the breed, think about getting a sealyham. The American Sealyham Terrier Club lists breeders. Contact them and let them know of your interest.

[Sara]

Many breeders of quality, lovely, family pet dogs are stopping because of restrictive regulations and laws, costs in a difficult economy, and the preponderance of people who would rather adopt a questionable dog from a shelter and end up accepting whatever difficulty they end up having.

Also because most responsible breeders will not give one of their dogs to someone who is not a responsible dog guardian, so many of the "purebred" dogs you see in pet homes came from questionable sources due to lack of public education.

The hallmark of a responsible breeder is membership in the National and Local breed clubs. They must be nominated by someone else in the club and then they must agree to only breed to improve upon the breed, must take care of their dogs like their own children and must be judicious in placing their dogs with responsible dog guardians.

[Diane Carole]

I have a Sealyham, and wouldn't contemplate having another breed. I'm just lucky that my mums aunt had one when she was little, and had such fond memories of her, that when we decided the time was right to get a dog, a Sealyham was our choice. We were lucky to be able to get one, puppies are few and far between, and that was 35 years ago now.
If you want a compact (but not small, yappy, handbag size), characterful, cheerful, clown of a family dog, then consider a Sealyham. Think the character of a lab, but smaller in size, not sheding fur all over the place, not needing 2 hours of walks everyday, but willing if your are! Doesn't bark unless someone is at the door/in the garden/she feels you need protection. Great with children and people, and a great talking point with strangers.