Lakeland Terrier vs Welsh Terrier

A Lakeland Terrier
Photo: adam w
A Welsh Terrier
Photo: Shleiderbmx

Side by side

Lakeland Terrier
Welsh Terrier
Adult weight
Males 6.9–8.5 kg (15–19 lb); females 6.1–7.5 kg (13–17 lb) (estimated: ±10% around FCI 70's ideal weights of 17 lb for dogs and 15 lb for bitches)
9–9.5 kg (20–21 lb)1
Lifespan
Median 14.2 years2
Median 13.8 years2
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes3
Group
Terriers4
Terriers5
Coat
Wire or harsh coat4
Wire or harsh coat5
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
No sourced figure
Mouth melanoma (more likely); Skin melanoma (more likely)6
Class
Companion
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Welsh Terrier is a little larger: about 9.3 kg (20 lb) as an adult, against 7.3 kg (16 lb) for the Lakeland Terrier.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Lakeland Terrier: affectionate on its own terms; Welsh Terrier: likes its own space).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Lakeland Terrier
Terriers · Small

Lakelands are bold, lively and self-assured, friendly with people and quick to act on their own judgement.

Welsh Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament the Welsh Terrier is lively, friendly and quick to learn, with a terrier's independence and keenness to dig and chase. It is often described as steadier than many terriers.

The Lakeland Terrier page →The Welsh Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Lakeland Terrier
Welsh Terrier
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Lakeland Terrier
Welsh Terrier
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Lakeland Terrier
Welsh Terrier
Sensitivity
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Welsh Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 9.3 kg against the Lakeland Terrier's 7.3 kg. The Lakeland Terrier's weight is not a published figure.
Lakeland Terrier
Welsh Terrier
02.557.5102m4m6m9m12m18m
02.557.5102m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Lakeland Terrier with
Wire Fox Terrier vs Welsh TerrierAiredale Terrier vs Welsh TerrierIrish Terrier vs Welsh TerrierAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·