The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a happy-go-lucky breed, originally bred as an all-purpose farm dog. Today he thrives equally well with farm-life as well as city-life (including apartments). He loves people and enjoys showing his affection by jumping up and giving kisses. His soft coat differentiates him from many other terrier breeds, as well as the fact that he is not as confrontational towards other dogs. He makes a good family pet as well as watch dog (without being overly noisy).
The coat of the Wheaten needs regular care. Without regular grooming it can become tangled and matted up. Debris such as leaves, grass and sticks seem to stick to the coat like velcro, and later become deposited all over the house. He will need to be brushed and combed out 2-4 times a week, and more often when he is transitioning to his adult coat from his adolescent coat. Bathing every 1-2 weeks, plus use of a conditioner, will help keep the coat silky and clean. The beard may need to be bathed more often, as he tends to get dog food and other such grossness stuck in his facial furnishings. Finally, the dog will need to be scissor-trimmed in order to get the “show look”. This is definitely a high-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming! The good news is that this single coated terrier only sheds minimally.
Because he was bred for many purposes, the Wheaten has a true working personality combined with the tenacity (and sometimes stubbornness) of the terrier. While he can take well to training, extra work will need to be devoted to stopping his jumping and leash-pulling behaviors. These are common behavior problems in the breed. Wheatens are also prone to exercising dominant behavior, and regular obedience training is one of the best ways to manage this so that it doesn’t get out of hand. Once owner and dog get the hang of “this training thing”, Wheatens are very trainable and even enjoy competing in dog events. This intelligent breed is capable of doing well in all manner of dog sports including flyball, tracking, agility… and even herding!
Daily exercise is essential for this breed. Without a physical outlet for their energy, Wheatens can become a lot to handle. They have a medium to high level of activity level around the house even without exercise, so it is easy to imagine how one might act if his physical needs weren’t being fulfilled. Prospective owners must be aware that Wheatens retain this high energy level throughout most of their life, and parents of very young children are sometimes cautioned to wait until their kids are older – lest they be completely overwhelmed. Owning a Wheaten can be akin to having a toddler.
A high fence is recommended for this breed, as Wheatens are prone to wandering and fence-jumping. They are also prone to chasing things that move, especially small animals (while usually ok with indoor cats, outdoor cats are often a different story). Although one of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier’s favorite activities is digging holes, they normally aren’t trying to escape – rather, digging is in their blood. Although yard time is ok, Wheatens prefer to be inside the house as much as possible, especially on days which are exceptionally hot. An indoor Wheaten is a happy Wheaten… especially if his owners are home. He doesn’t like to be left home alone for long periods of time and can suffer from separation anxiety if that is the case.
Wheatens tend to get along well with other dogs for the most part, although same-sex aggression is not unheard of in the breed. They also love people – whether family, people who they’ve met before, or perfect strangers! They are incredibly affectionate dogs that enjoy the company of almost everyone.
Photo By Flickr user Srinayan Puppala (TigerPuppala)