We are very pleased to introduce our new Sealyham Terrier health database (SealyHealthGuard). This site was originally set up for the use of all Sealy owners to track the prevalence of Primary Lens Luxation in our breed, utilizing all the information collected by GDC in our SIGHT Registry. A major breakthrough occurred in September 2009 when Dr. Gary Johnson at the University of Missouri isolated the mutated gene which causes PLL and a DNA test was devised. Working through OFA, over a hundred Sealy owners have had their dogs tested, and these results have been added to the SealyHealthGuard site.

It's designed to track and provide information for any and all diseases and anomalies that plague our breed - skin problems, epilepsy, back problems, cancer, deafness and others. We need complete health information on our dogs so we can see where the major problems are and invest our research dollars accordingly, so if you love our breed and want to help it for the future, go in and sign up. It's free to ALL Sealyham lovers. And it has a number of other great features -- you can download a photo of your dog and his pedigree. You can access a write-up of most of the diseases that plague our breed in the "Library" section, and you might even see your dog when you log on in the "Photo of the Day" on the front page.

Share with all of us the health problems you have had. (Your responses are completely confidential.) Just log onto the OFA website: www.offa.org Look in the column in the center that says "health surveys". Scroll down to "Sealyham Terrier". Click on it and fill out the survey. We need a separate survey for each Sealy you have owned in the past five years. The results will be tallied automatically and immediately posted to the site. Deadline is June 1, 2010.

The Sealyham Terrier.....
... is 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. He expects the attention which he considers his due and enjoys a brisk walk to investigate the new smells in the neighborhood. He is very inquisitive and a delightful clown and surveys the world with supreme self-confidence and good humor.

Sealyhams are most charming and lovable, giving their owners endless love and devotion. While devoted to his family, he is never servile, even when being disciplined. He will rarely, if ever, cower, for he is possessed with an indomitable spirit and immense pride. He owns, he is not owned by his family. Once he has taken his place in the household, he is virtually assured of equal status.

• The Sealyham Terrier was originally bred in Wales.
• The English Kennel Club first recognized the Sealyham breed in 1910 when Sealyhams were first shown in a Kennel Club sponsored Championship dog Show.
• The Sealyham Terrier was recognized by the AKC in 1911.
• The Sealyham Terrier derives its name from Sealy Ham, Haverfordwest, Wales, the estate of Captain John Edwards, who developed from obscure ancestry a strain of dogs noted for their prowess in quarrying badger, fox and otter.
• Sources believe the Sealyham was produced from crosses between the Corgi, Dandie Dinmont, West Highland White, Wire-Haired Fox Terriers, the Bull Terrier and perhaps even some hounds.
• The Sealyham's first recorded show appearance was in 1903 at a local affair in Wales and the breed was first imported to the U.S. in 1911.

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Check out these articles concerning Sealyhams in Performance Events. These are great ways to interact with your special Sealyham.