Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Dog Breed

Wheatens have a rectangular head and a compact body. Puppies have coats of red, brown, white or mahogany. The coat matures into a wheaten color as they grow older, though it may still contain brown, black or white hairs. Their soft, silky hair doesn’t shed but keeps growing, which makes them a good choice for people with allergies. It does however mean that they need regular trimming. A black nose is accompanied by almond shaped, brown eyes.

Adaptability

Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers can make good apartment dogs. But it does depend on the dog, and you need to bear in mind that they have a lot of energy and may become destructive if you leave them by themselves for too long. However, if they get a good amount of exercise this will help curb any tendencies in that direction.

It has a thick and soft coat which helps protect it in cold and wet weather, and they enjoy playing in the snow. They shouldn’t be left outside or exercised in hot weather though, because they may overheat or dehydrate. They make good dogs for novice owners because they train quite easily, so long as they are prepared for how hyperactive they are!

Friendliness

Very friendly dogs, Wheatens get on well with children and like to be around their families, to the point of jumping up and licking their face to greet them. They do have a strong prey drive so may chase cats and small animals, although if they are raised with other pets they should do OK. Other dogs aren’t usually a problem, and strangers will probably get barked at, but they don’t tend to show aggression.

Grooming

With their constantly growing silky hair, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers do need quite a bit of maintenance. A daily grooming session is recommended, with a pin brushing to remove any dirt or loose hair. Then a thorough combing should be given, and any mats taken apart with a brush, comb, or fingers. Nails should be trimmed regularly, and teeth brushed weekly. Generally bathing should be done one month, alternating with trimming the next month. The coat is usually clipped to about 3 inches long.

Trainability

Early socialization and obedience classes should be given to help your puppy round out into a well balanced dog. Wheaten Terriers train well, but do have a wilful streak, so they can be challenging at times. Patient and firm consistency is needed, along with positive training methods.

They can get bored and will walk away and ignore you if they’ve had enough, so sessions are best kept short and interesting, with rewards at the end. They should be kept on a leash when out and about, and in a fenced yard at home because of their prey drive. Otherwise they might run away after a rat or squirrel.

Exercise Needs

A moderate amount of exercise is needed for these Terriers. A daily walk and a few games will usually satisfy their needs. If they have too little exercise they may develop anxiety and become destructive. Some activities that they do very well include agility, tracking, herding and flyball. They also enjoy hikes outside, and love accompanying you on outdoor activities. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are known for their high energy level, which doesn’t tend to decrease as they get older. So make sure you set aside some time and energy every day to play with them.