Harry Parsons and his partner, Gail Westcott, have worked tirelessly over the past few years to highlight the plight of the working Sealyham terrier. They own 10 Kennel Club-registered dogs, which they work as a hunting pack along with a few Jack Russells. The working Sealyham was bred not only for its physical attributes but also for its intelligence. In addition, it was developed to work in a pack, and therefore is not aggressive - although it is still very "game" when hunting. The breed was developed between 1850 and 1891 at Sealyham House, near Wolfscastle in the Welsh county of Pembrokeshire. Originally, it was used for pest control, hunting small game and eliminating vermin. In the 1920s and 1930s, Sir Jocelyn Lucas used the dogs to hunt badgers, otters, stoats and squirrels. His pack of Sealyham terriers travelled all over the country and hunted on some very prestigious estates, including the prime minister's country residence, Chequers, in Buckinghamshire. During this period, the Sealyham was one of the most popular native breeds of terriers, with more than 2,000 puppies registered in 1920. Today, however, the Kennel Club lists it as among the most endangered native breeds. In 2008, registrations dropped to just 43 puppies and, in 2011, the figure was 49, keeping it within the bottom three on the most endangered list. To read the full story buy the 25th September issue of Shooting Times.
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