Weltador -- Welsh Terrier X Labrador Retriever

		Weltador
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Great Britain <> Canada -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Weltador

The Weltador is a mixed hybrid breed, whose parents are the Welsh Terrier and the Labrador Retriever. The Labrador Retriever is the larger of the two breeds, originally used as a water dog, but today the Labrador Retriever is often used as a therapy dog and pet. The Welsh Terrier was originally used to hunt small animals, but again is often used as a pet or companion. The Welsh Terrier is a breed originally from Wales, while the Labrador Retriever originated in Canada. Both breeds have a lot of energy and need regular exercise. Both parent breeds are known to be gentle with children and humans, as well as eager to please, which means they are easy to train. The Weltador is also likely to have a fiery temperament and needs to be supervised when in the presence of other dogs, just like its parents. The Labrador Retriever's morphology gives the impression that it would make a good watchdog, but the Labrador Retriever and Welsh Terrier, although loyal breeds, are far too friendly to be watchdogs. The Labrador Retriever was formerly known as the St John's Water Dog, and is a direct ancestor of this breed. The Welsh Terrier is thought to have descended from the English Black and Tan Terrier, so it's interesting that both the Weltador's parent dogs are direct descendants of its ancestor. Labrador Retrievers are large, heavy dogs, but the Welsh Terrier is much smaller, so the size of the Weltador will vary, and the hybrid as a whole could be made up of a range of characteristics from both parent breeds.

History of the Weltador

The parent breeds that make up the Weltador are recognized by the American Kennel Club, but the hybrid itself is not. Both Weltador breeds are loyal and friendly. They are known to be lively and energetic, but easy to please, which often makes training easier. Previous links with hunting and retrieving mean that these dogs are intelligent and need plenty of mental stimulation, as well as physical exercise. When they're bored, it's almost impossible for them to stand still. So you have to make sure they've spent their energy, which means they can be hard to work with. Nevertheless, they are very affectionate and make an ideal family pet.

	A little of the Welsh Terrier
	Although the history of the Welsh Terrier is poorly documented, it is thought to have originated in the late 1700s as a relative of the now extinct English Black and Tan Terrier, but the earliest written records date back to 1450. As a result, it is not only considered one of the oldest breeds in the UK still in existence, but is also one of only two breeds thought to have originated in Wales. Originally bred by farmers to hunt and clear their land of otters, foxes, badgers and other small to medium-sized prey, their courageous character is still evident today. In the late 1800s, the breed was finally recognized by the English Kennel Club and, in 1900, the Welsh Terrier Club of America was founded. Although generally a highly recognizable breed thanks to its coat color and gait, it is considered an endangered breed, as only a few hundred dogs are registered with the American Kennel Club each year.

	Standard of the Welsh Terrier


	A little of the Labrador Retriever
	The Labrador Retriever was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917, but before that it was known by another name, the St John's Water Dog, which dates back to the 1800s. The Labrador Retriever is a direct descendant of this breed and originated in Canada. They often helped fishermen by retrieving fish that had escaped through fishing nets. Although the Labrador Retriever was originally used as a water dog, today it has many uses and is still used today as a working dog, therapy dog or guide dog for the blind. Labrador Retrievers make excellent pets and companions, being excellent with children, a characteristic they share with the Welsh Terrier breed.

	Standard of the Labrador Retriever

Appearance of the Weltador

The Weltador is most likely colored according to the colors of its parent breeds. The Labrador Retriever and Welsh Terrier are both black and brown, but the Labrador Retriever can also be cream-colored. It may also have a black or brown nose, and the eye color may be brown, hazel or amber. A Weltador's coat is likely to be of medium length. While a Labrador Retriever's coat is very dense and straight, a Welsh Terrier's is wiry and of normal density. Both breeds are surprisingly double-coated, but the Welsh Terrier has a short undercoat and a long, hard topcoat, while the Labrador Retriever has a thick, dense, waterproof undercoat with a fine topcoat. As there are many differences between the parent breeds, the Weltador will be made up of different characteristics from each parent breed, so it's difficult to determine exactly what the Weltador will look like. The Labrador Retriever has a broader, rounded head, but the Welsh Terrier is often described as square. Both have powerful jaws, with a scissor or flat bite. Labrador Retrievers are a larger, heavier breed than Welsh Terriers, so size and weight may vary. Ears can also vary, as Welsh Terriers are quite small, while Labrador Retrievers are medium-sized. Both dogs have floppy ears on the side of the head, but the Welsh Terrier's ears are generally much hairier. The Welsh Terrier has been described as having the appearance of a hairy old man, as it is known to have a beard, moustache and bushy eyebrows on its face. The tails of the Welsh Terrier and Labrador Retriever are quite similar, hanging low and curving a little at the base. The Welsh Terrier has been known to have its tail docked at an early age if permitted.

Temperament of the Weltador

As a hybrid, temperament is generally difficult to predict due to the difference between parent breeds. However, the Welsh Terrier and Labrador Retriever have similar temperament traits. Both are said to be lively, people-oriented and good with children of all ages, suggesting that the Weltador has the ideal temperament required for a family pet. Both are also intelligent and active, with lots of energy. This means they need regular exercise and mental stimulation, and will become bored if not given this time and attention, which can lead to negative and destructive behavior. The Weltador is said to respond well to positive reinforcement. Both breeds are reasonably easy to train, as they are eager to please. The Weltador should be supervised in the presence of other dogs, as suggested for the two related breeds. The Labrador Retriever and Welsh Terrier, although they tend to bark on occasion, are recognized by the American Kennel Club as friendly and wouldn't necessarily make good guard dogs, but they are very affectionate and make excellent companions. Don't forget to train your dog on leash, as obedience can be a problem with the Labrador Retriever breed. They don't always listen, as they like to follow their noses. They can also be greedy for food and will eat almost anything to fill their stomachs. This isn't necessarily what's best for them, so they need plenty of supervision, especially when out and about.

Needs and activities of the Weltador

The two parent breeds that make up the Weltador are energetic and need plenty of exercise. To expend their energy, they need around 60 minutes of exercise a day. As this is an intelligent breed, mental stimulation is needed in addition to physical exercise, so train your dog and teach him tricks too. Obedience training may be a good idea for this breed, as is often suggested for the Labrador Retriever breed. Having a double coat often means that both parent breeds adapt well to most weather conditions. Of course, extreme heat and cold can be a problem for all breeds. Although it's possible to live in an apartment, a house with a large enclosed yard would be the ideal environment for the Weltador.

Maintenance of the Weltador

Weltador maintenance can vary, and again depends on the breed's characteristics. While the Welsh Terrier tends to shed only seasonally, but has a long, hard coat, even though the Labrador Retriever's coat is short, it tends to shed regularly. Daily brushing is recommended due to the Labrador Retriever's double coat and shedding rate. You can use a detangling brush, a pin brush or a smoothing brush, depending on your Weltador's coat type. Both parent breeds are prone to ear problems, so make sure your Weltador's ears are cleaned regularly and dried properly after bathing, so they need to be checked regularly. Bathing is recommended for both breeds, once every 1-2 months should be sufficient. Labrador Retrievers can be quite sensitive to food, as bloating is common. A high-quality food, served in several small meals throughout the day, rather than one large meal, is therefore preferable for this breed. Keep your Weltador's nails trimmed, and don't forget that this breed's teeth need to be brushed daily to prevent tartar build-up. To keep your Weltador in good health, exercise regularly and make sure you devote time to training and play to avoid boredom.