What is the difference between a wheaten terrier and a soft coated wheaten terrier?Wheatens typically have one of two coat types: Irish or Heavy (American). The Irish coat is generally silkier and wavier than the Heavy, or American coat, which is thicker and fuller. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is named for its silky, wheat-colored coat. The Wheaten was bred in Ireland for over two hundred years to be an all-purpose farm dog whose duties included herding, watching and guarding livestock, and vermin hunting and killing. They share a common ancestry with the Kerry Blue Terrier and the Irish Terrier but were not owned by gentry.Other Names The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier is also known as the Irish Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, the Wheaten Terrier, the Wheaten, and the Wheatie.They are native to Ireland. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is one of four terrier breeds that are native to Ireland. According to legend, when the Spanish Armada sunk off the coast of Ireland, the blue dogs on the ships swam ashore and were welcomed by wheaten-colored terriers.The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is full of energy, loves people, and makes a great family pet.
Do wheaten terriers bark a lot?
Soft-coated wheaten terriers can bark a lot when they are left alone for too long or when they want to alert you to something. Training to reduce excessive barking can be useful for this breed. The soft coated wheaten terrier is keenly smart and willful, and often has his own agenda. This makes them challenging to train. It also provides another reason why obedience training should start early, before bad habits become ingrained. A wheaten needs consistent, firm discipline but is sensitive to harsh treatment.Wheaten Terriers love to play, cuddle, and sleep, but running is also fun. Do you have the time and patience to dedicate hours to training your dog? Wheaten Terriers are quite well known to be slow to train.Animal aggression. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers are less scrappy toward other dogs than many other terrier breeds. But they are still a determined force to reckon with if they decide to initiate or accept a challenge to fight. Toward cats and other small running creatures, many Wheatens have chasing instincts.Unfortunately, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful!
Are wheaten terriers high maintenance?
They require daily brushing and combing, weekly trimmings, and baths once a month. Some wheatens have a gluten intolerance, requiring a special diet prescribed by veterinarians. Some breeders tout wheaten terriers as hypoallergenic dogs because they do not shed. When selecting what to feed your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, choose a diet with high-quality animal-based protein sources, such as beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, duck, eggs, and fish.Wheaten Terriers love to play, cuddle, and sleep, but running is also fun. Do you have the time and patience to dedicate hours to training your dog? Wheaten Terriers are quite well known to be slow to train.Wheaten Terriers are highly spirited and retain their puppy attitude throughout their lifetime. They are notorious for jumping vigorously and twirling when happy or excited: the “Wheaten greeting. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are great playmates for older children and do well with other dogs.Animal aggression. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers are less scrappy toward other dogs than many other terrier breeds. But they are still a determined force to reckon with if they decide to initiate or accept a challenge to fight. Toward cats and other small running creatures, many Wheatens have chasing instincts.Health Issues Common to Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers Breed-specific health problems include protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), as well as Addison’s Disease, a disorder of the adrenal glands.
What is the life expectancy of a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?
You can expect a Wheaten Terrier to live around 12 to 14 years. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier temperament. Wheaten Terriers are affectionate with their loved ones. They’re great with children, friendly toward other dogs, and accepting of strangers. Soft-coated wheaten terriers can bark a lot when they are left alone for too long or when they want to alert you to something. Training to reduce excessive barking can be useful for this breed.Wheaten terriers are not a common breed; they are listed as a vulnerable breed by the Kennel Club, UK with fewer than 300 registered dogs per year; in the USA they have only come close to cracking the top 50 most popular breeds (see Figure 1).Regarding temperament, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is highly devoted and affectionate and loves just about everybody they meet. They’re even good for first-time pet parents and apartment dwellers. But beware: that soft, silky coat needs a lot of grooming.Wheaten terriers make excellent watchdogs but poor guard dogs because everyone is their friend. Wheatens can bark excessively if not properly trained. They also will pull on the leash. These dogs are not one-person dogs and will go with anyone.
Can Soft Coated Wheaten terriers be left alone?
As an intelligent and very sensitive Terrier, this breed is not suited as a kennel dog, or to live in isolation whatsoever. Being shut in all day will create depression and loneliness and have an adverse effect on its sunny disposition therefore they are not suited to working owners who are out all day. Another reason Wheaten Terriers are such great family dogs is that they are very intelligent and easily trainable. The only thing it’s hard to train them to do is not jump up on people. They love people so much and it’s an instinct.Often referred to simply as the “Wheaten,” Wheaten Terriers were originally bred as versatile farm dogs, serving as all-around working dogs on Irish farms. Regarding temperament, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is highly devoted and affectionate and loves just about everybody they meet.Don’t expect your terrier to be quiet – and while some terrier breeds aren’t quite so talkative, others will require you to have very understanding (or distant) neighbours. Training should include teaching your terrier to have an ‘off-switch’ and a terrier-savvy reward-based dog trainer can help you with this.Bright and sensitive, yet spunky and headstrong, the Soft Coated Wheaten, like most terriers, is not particularly easy to train. He requires a leash at all times, else he will take off on you, and he requires an assertive owner who can set consistent rules and follow through.
Is a wheaten terrier a good family dog?
Wheaten Terriers are known as amazing family dogs and one of the best breeds to have for children. They have a very gentle temperament and they love other dogs and children. Family Dog: The Wheaten is an excellent family pet. Wheatens do well with children and people with special needs. For this reason the Wheaten Terrier makes an excellent therapy dog. It must be part of the family to reach its full potential.Wheatens do well with considerate, well-behaved children. Because Wheaten exuberance and activity may overwhelm small children and since Wheatens require a great deal of time and attention, many breeders urge parents of infants and pre-schoolers to wait until children are older to get a Wheaten.There are two protein losing diseases that can affect Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers. These are Protein Losing Nephropathy (PLN) and Protein Losing Enteropathy (PLE), and these can be hereditary in Wheaten Terriers, although environmental factors can also play a part.Early socialization and puppy training classes are recommended for all dogs to help to ensure that the they grow into well-adjusted, well-mannered companions. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is keenly smart and willful, and often has his own agenda. This makes them challenging to train.Wheaten terriers are not a common breed; they are listed as a vulnerable breed by the Kennel Club, UK with fewer than 300 registered dogs per year; in the USA they have only come close to cracking the top 50 most popular breeds (see Figure 1).