Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized working terrier that originated in Ireland, where it earned its keep herding stock, guarding the farmyard and keeping down vermin. That working background gave the breed stamina and a steady, sensible temperament rather than a flashy one. A grown dog stands around 17 to 19 inches at the shoulder and weighs about 30 to 40 pounds.

Its name comes from the single, silky coat, coloured in shades of wheaten, the pale gold of ripening grain. Unlike the harsh, wiry coats common to many terrier breeds, the Wheaten's coat is soft to the touch and falls in loose waves. Pups are usually born a good deal darker and lighten gradually to the adult wheaten shade over their first two years.

Wheatens are sociable dogs that hold onto their puppyish enthusiasm well into old age. Family and callers alike are often met with the so-called "Wheaten greetin'", a bouncing, spinning welcome the breed is known for. The dog suits a household that wants an affectionate, active companion and can keep up with regular grooming and daily exercise.

Who it suits

The Wheaten suits active owners and families who are around the house often and enjoy getting outdoors daily. Regular grooming is non-negotiable if the coat is to stay free of mats, and the breed does best with people who can offer company rather than long spells alone. Given its terrier prey drive, households with small pets should introduce them to the dog with care.

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is native to Ireland, where for generations it worked as a general-purpose farm dog on small holdings. It shares ancestry with the country's other native terriers, the Kerry Blue and the Irish Terrier, and the three breeds are often spoken of as close cousins. On the farm the Wheaten turned its hand to herding livestock, guarding the yard and keeping rats and other vermin down.

For most of its history the breed was kept by working farmers rather than show breeders, so it was bred for usefulness rather than looks. That practical upbringing gave it a sound build, a level temperament and an adaptable nature that has carried through to today.

The Irish Kennel Club, the country's governing body for pedigree dogs, granted the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier formal recognition in 1937, and it began appearing at Irish shows from that point. The breed subsequently made its way to Britain and North America. The American Kennel Club recognised it in 1973 and placed it in the Terrier Group.

From those farmyard beginnings, the Wheaten is now kept mainly as a companion and family dog. The qualities that made it a useful all-round farm hand, sociability, stamina and a wish to stay close to its people, suit it just as well to life as a house dog.

The Wheaten is a square, evenly balanced terrier of medium size and moderate bone, with a body roughly as long as it is tall. The head is rectangular and well covered in hair, and the dark eyes give the dog an alert, good-humoured expression. The tail was traditionally docked in some countries, though it is left natural in most places today.

Coat and colour

The coat is the breed's defining feature: a single layer with no harsh outer coat and no dense undercoat underneath. It feels soft and silky and lies in loose waves over the body, with a longer fall over the face and legs. The adult colour ranges across shades of wheaten, from pale cream through to a warmer gold. Pups are typically born darker, often showing red or brown shading and sometimes black tipping, and lighten to the mature wheaten shade by around two years old. Because the coat keeps growing instead of shedding heavily, it needs regular trimming and combing to hold its shape and stay free of tangles.

The Wheaten is friendly, good-natured and sociable by breed reputation. It is generally less combative than many other terriers and tends to treat strangers as potential friends rather than threats, which makes it a poor watchdog but an affectionate companion. The breed is well known for its bouncy, jumping welcome, so early training helps keep greetings mannerly.

Around the family the Wheaten is affectionate and likes to be involved in whatever is going on. It is usually good with children, matching their energy at play, though its bounce can knock a very small toddler off their feet. It is typically sociable with other dogs. As a working terrier at heart, it keeps some prey drive, so cats and smaller pets need a careful, supervised introduction.

Wheatens stay playful long past puppyhood and are not suited to being left alone for long stretches. Without enough company and activity they can turn bored, noisy or destructive. Consistent, positive handling keeps the breed cheerful and well behaved.

Grooming

The single, silky coat keeps growing and mats easily, so grooming is the main care commitment that comes with this breed.

• Comb thoroughly several times a week, right down to the skin, to stop tangles forming.
• Trim or clip every 6 to 8 weeks to keep the coat in shape.
• Check and clean the face and beard, which trap food and water.
• Bathe as needed and dry the coat fully, since mats form more readily when it is left damp.

Exercise

The Wheaten is an active dog and needs regular physical and mental work to stay settled.

• Give it at least 45 to 60 minutes of activity a day.
• Mix lead walks with play, fetch and off-lead running in a safely enclosed area.
• Add training games or puzzle toys to keep the mind occupied.
• Keep it on the lead near small animals, given its prey drive.

Environment

Wheatens settle into houses or apartments alike, provided they get daily exercise and company. Being people-oriented, they dislike long hours on their own, so they suit a household where someone is home for much of the day. A secure garden is a help but is no substitute for walks and interaction. The breed's soft single coat, without a dense undercoat, suits Ireland's cool, damp climate well, though it still needs drying off properly after a wet walk to avoid matting.

A Wheaten does well on a complete, balanced diet formulated for its life stage and activity level. As an active, medium-sized dog of roughly 30 to 40 pounds, it needs enough good-quality protein and fat to fuel its energy without tipping over into weight gain. Some Wheatens have a sensitive stomach or skin, so sticking with a steady food choice and changing diets gradually helps. Fresh water should be available at all times.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to about 10 percent of daily calories and cut back main meals on days with heavy training. Most Wheatens on a complete diet need no extra supplements; run any additions past a vet first, such as omega-3 oils for skin and coat.

The Wheaten is generally a healthy breed, with a typical lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Its most significant health concerns are two protein-losing disorders: protein-losing nephropathy (PLN), which affects the kidneys, and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), which affects the gut. Catching either early through routine blood and urine testing improves the outlook, so many breeders and owners screen for them throughout the dog's life.

Preventive care

• Book an annual vet check-up, twice yearly once the dog is a senior.
• Run periodic urine protein and blood tests to pick up PLN and PLE early.
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date.
• Keep the dog at a lean weight and stay on top of dental care.
• Buy from breeders who screen their breeding stock for inherited disease.

The Wheaten is bright and willing to work, but it keeps an independent terrier streak and can turn stubborn if drilled or corrected harshly. It picks things up quickly when sessions are short, upbeat and rewarding, and loses interest fast in repetitive drills. Early socialisation with people, dogs and everyday situations builds a confident, well-mannered adult. The breed's trademark jumping greeting is best tackled early, before it becomes a fixed habit.

The basics

1. Start socialisation and name recognition from puppyhood.
2. Teach a reliable sit, down and stay using food or play as reward.
3. Train a solid recall, and prove it before trusting the dog off the lead.
4. Work on calm, four-paws-on-the-floor greetings to curb jumping.
5. Practise lead manners early, since Wheatens pull towards anything interesting.
6. Keep sessions to about 5 to 10 minutes and finish on a success.

Responsible breeding of Wheatens starts with health-screened parents, given the breed's inherited protein-losing conditions. Breeders generally wait until a dog is physically and mentally mature, at around two years old, which also leaves time to screen the kidneys and gut before any mating goes ahead. Bitches are bred on selected seasons rather than every cycle.

Gestation runs to about 63 days from conception. Litters average five to six puppies, though the number varies. Pups are born darker than the adult wheaten shade and lighten over their first one to two years. They should stay with the dam and littermates until at least eight weeks old to pick up early social skills, and gentle handling and exposure to household life during this time help shape a steady adult temperament.

How to register a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in Ireland

A dog warden with a scanner can only follow the record, and a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier whose record is current is home the same day. Register your dog free with United Pet Club: your contact details, his photo, and his chip number together on one profile that never lapses and never bills you.

The implant is the vet's job; the record is down to you, and the 2015 rules assume you'll keep it current. Register the microchip free on the lifetime plan: whatever brand the vet reached for is grand, a house move costs nothing to record, and the number stays searchable day and night. Create your free account and have the pair of jobs done before the tea goes cold.