The Irish soft coated wheaten terrier stands out from their other terrier counterparts in terms of their soft, silky coat covering their body, resembling the shade of ripened wheat as its hue range from pale beige to shimmering gold. These square-bodied dogs with sturdy, well-muscled built abound in cuteness mainly due to their coat, and adorable looks. No wonder dog enthusiasts often label them as an iron fist in a velvet glove.
Temperament-wise they are a perfect delight to have owing to their playful, friendly, loyal, and devoted nature, developing a great rapport with kids. They do well with other dogs, too, especially if brought up with them. However, when it comes to cats, rabbits, squirrels, or other smaller pets, the soft coated wheaten would surely get into their chasing mode quite inherent in them, perhaps because of the work they were employed to do in the past as herders, hunters (of vermin), and livestock guardians.
Recognized by the Irish Kennel Club
Gained recognition by the British Kennel Club
Brought to the United States by Lydia Vogel of Massachusetts’
Shown for the first time in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Breeding of the Wheaten in the United States began
Formation of the Soft Coated Wheaten Club of Great Britain
Development of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America, Inc.
The first strains of the wheaten reached Australia via the Anubis Kennel
Attained the American Kennel Club’s recognition
Gained acceptance by the American Herding Breeding Association or AHBA
The wheaten terrier has high exercise needs due to their increased activity levels. About two 15-minute walks a day teamed with ample playtime outdoors or indoors would for sure help keep these little fellows in good shape. Don’t miss the leash when taking them out on a joy walk; as the chasers they are, they would waste no time in running after anything on the move, be it a squirrel, cat, or even a car.
The soft, silky coat that enhances the dog’s charm and elegance needs proper grooming to retain its shine and texture. Use a slicker or pin brush to remove the loose hair and dirt. Then, comb it thoroughly with a metal comb having a fine-tooth to untangle any matts. This brushing and combing schedule should be done at least twice or thrice a week to yield good results.
Also, take care of its dental hygiene and brush its teeth twice or thrice a week to combat any bacterial infection. Cleaning its eyes and ears regularly and trimming the nails at least one or two times a month are the other hygiene measures you ought to follow on a routine basis.
Like any other breed, the soft coated wheaten terrier also needs high-quality dog food to stay healthy. You could prepare a homemade meal of rice, meat, and vegetables after consulting your dog’s veterinarian. If going for store-bought food, you may opt for brands like Natural Balance L.I.D and Taste of the Wild.
Their smart, willful nature often compels these dogs to do things their way instead of listening to others. So training them would for sure not be a cakewalk. Be firm but not harsh to get things done out of them. Introduce positive reinforcements in the form of treat and praises in between training sessions for additional motivation.
Keeping their independent nature in mind training the wheaten puppies on obedience should be the first thing on your list. Teach them commands like ‘stop’, and ‘stay’, so that they eventually learn to hold on upon listening to your firm command the moment they are on the verge of doing something undesirable.
Leash training and socialization should also go hand in hand to help them grow into well-behaved dogs with decent mannerisms.
