Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

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• Breed Origin: The Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier is a dog breed originating from Ireland. The four coat varieties are: Traditional Irish, Heavy Irish, English, and American. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, also known as the Irish Wheaten Terrier, the Wheaten Irish Terrier, the Wheaten Terrier and the “poor man’s wolfhound,” is a medium-sized, sturdy terrier that originated in Ireland several centuries ago as an all-around farm dog for poor tenant farmers. He is an alert and happy dog, with his silky, wheat-colored coat being a hallmark of the breed. The Wheaten is less “terrier-like” than most other terriers, with a much softer coat and a less aggressive or “forward” disposition. It still has a strong instinctive desire to chase smaller animals, especially cats, and it can be strong-headed. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier was fully admitted to the American Kennel Club in 1973, as a member of its Terrier Group.

• Coat Colors: Wheaten

• Description: The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized, hardy, well balanced sporting terrier, square in outline. He is distinguished by his soft, silky, gently waving coat of warm wheaten color and his particularly steady disposition. The breed requires moderation both in structure and presentation, and any exaggerations are to be shunned. He should present the overall appearance of an alert and happy animal, graceful, strong and well coordinated.

• Exercise Requirements: Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers need moderate exercise to maintain health, happiness and their outgoing personality. Wheatens who are kept indoors can become anxious and high strung. Daily walks and a few games of ball will meet its daily exercise requirements. They are sturdy little dogs, however, and can also accompany people on long hikes.

• Grooming: A well-kept Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a glamorous sight, with soft, flowing hair falling in gentle, cascading waves. A well groomed Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers adult coat can be simply stunning. But without regular Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier grooming the coat will become dull, matted and smelly, with an increased risk of developing skin problems. Any Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier allowed to get into this state and condition will be very unhappy indeed and will not, at all resemble the true breed. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier grooming - To keep the coat of your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in healthy, clean condition it is recommended that you begin a grooming routine when your dog is a puppy. As a puppy your Soft Wheaten Terrier grooming will need to be done daily. The puppy may not like this at first, and you may think it unnecessary as there may be little coat, but it is necessary that this daily grooming routine is maintained. By the time your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy reaches seven or eight months there will more coat and your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier will have already learned to stand still whilst being groomed. At about six months onwards the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy blows it’s puppy coat, to reveal the adult coat and this is the most difficult period as far as grooming is concerned. There may be a lot of ‘fluffy coat’, which can mat very quickly and easily and if left for a day or two and can cause difficulty in removal. Many breeders recommend investing in a grooming table as this will ensure that the puppy learns that when on the table it is not play time but ‘work time’; grooming the puppy on the floor may cause problems as the puppy cannot distinguish the floor from play time and work time and hence will play up. It is also important to teach your puppy, when being groomed, that the feet will need to be trimmed and the hair cut between the pads, the ears need to be trimmed and the hairs within the ear plucked out - so play with feet, pick them up, touch the ears, remove a couple of hairs from each ear each day better a couple than trying to remove a matted wad of ear hair or taking your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier to the vet to be sedated to have the hair removed because infection has set in.Dog hair that does not shed all over the house and onto your clothes may sound too good to be true. This is only true if your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier grooming is regularly maintained. If you leave your Soft Coated Wheaten for even a week, the mats and tangles will have formed and grooming will become uncomfortable and painful for the dog. Another downfall of a long coated, non-shedding breed is the amount of dirt which it collects especially on the feet, legs and undercarriage when out walking and which of course is trailed back into the house. Non-shedding coats may mean less housework but it does mean increased grooming.

• Hereditary Disorders: Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are prone to the following disorders. Von Willebrand’s disease, Addison’s disease, Hypoadrenocorticism, Hypothyroidism, Allergies, Intestinal malabsorption, Protein losing enteropathy, Allergies, Atopy, Dermatitis, atopic, Cataract, Optic nerve hypoplasia, bilateral, Persistent pupillary membrane, PRA - Rod-Cone Dystrophy Type 3, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (X-linked), Retinal dysplasia, Allergies, Protein losing nephropathy, Renal DysplasiaWhile the listed ailments may be common in this breed, not all members of the breed suffer from these conditions. Responsible breeders screen for orthopedic and genetic diseases. Click For - More Info On Disorders Affecting Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers
  

• Height: Male: 18–19 inches (46–48 cm), Female: 17–18 inches (43–46 cm)

• Hypoallergenic: Yes

• Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

• Living Area Requirements: Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers can be suitable for apartment life and city dwellers. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are considered somewhat active indoor dogs and do have need for a least a small fenced yard. Ideally it is recommended that you take your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier on a nice long walk on a daily basis. The consequences of not exercising your Wheaten Terrier are digging, barking and becoming the neighborhood pest.
  

• Temperament: Playful, Affectionate, Intelligent, Faithful, Energetic, Spirited. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are puppies for life. They are happy, energetic and affectionate and never lose their love of play. They are more friendly and easy going than other terrier breeds and generally get along well with other dogs. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very people-oriented and enjoy the company of well-behaved children. Wheatens expect to be invited along for all outdoor family activities, and love to participate. If they aren’t included in a game, expect them to do their best to snatch the ball and invite themselves into the mix. Wheatens can adapt to city life or country life, as long as they are properly exercised. They will run around the house, park or back yard with great eagerness and excitement for as long as you let them, but they are just as happy to curl up on your lap and relax for a while. Wheatens will greet you at the door every day as if you’d been gone for years, and they will usually give you the trademark Wheaten twirl. For people who like the size and energy of terriers but are put off by their temperaments, the Soft Coated Wheaten is the breed may be just for you.
  

• Weight: Male: 15.9–18.1 kg, Female: 13.6–15.9 kg

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