Wheaten Terrier (Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier)

The Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a stately, compact dog with a thick, soft, long coat of a pleasant wheaten color that falls naturally in curls or waves. The Wheaten Terrier has a balanced, cheerful temperament; it is confident, energetic, and curious. Very devoted to its owner, it makes a wonderful companion for active people and families with children.

Content

1 History of origin
2 Appearance
3 Character
4 Education and training
5 Content Features
- 5.1 Care
- 5.2 Nutrition
6 Health and life expectancy
7 Choosing a puppy
- 7.1 Price
8 Photos

History of origin

The Irish Soft Coated Terrier is closely related to other Irish Terriers, of which there are four: Kerry Blue, Irish, Glen of Imaal, and the Wheaten Terrier. Dogs of this type are believed to have existed for at least 200 years and are likely of mixed origin. They lived primarily on small farms, exterminated rats and other vermin, and could also be used to hunt otters and badgers. The breed was officially recognized only in 1937. Since then, the popularity of Wheaten Terriers has steadily increased. In the 1940s, they first arrived in America, where they won the hearts of city dwellers. In the late 1990s, New York Magazine named them the best dog for an apartment.

Video about the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier dog breed:

Appearance

The Irish Wheaten Terrier is a compact, sturdy dog with a soft, long, wheat-colored coat. Sexual dimorphism is moderate, with males being slightly larger and stronger than females. Height at the withers is approximately 46-48 cm, weight 15.5-18 kg.

The skull is flat between the ears, not too wide. The stop is well defined. The jaws are strong. The muzzle should not be longer than the skull. The cheekbones are not prominent. Overall, the head is strong but not coarse. The nose is well developed and black. The eyes are dark in color and well set. The ears are small to medium, thin, and set forward. The crease line of the auricle runs level with the skull. The hair on the ears may be darker. A scissor or pincer bite is acceptable.

The neck is moderately long, the limbs are slender, strong, and well-muscled. The chest is deep with well-sprung ribs. The topline is horizontal, the hind legs are strong, and the thighs are well-developed. The paws are small. The nails are preferably dark. The tail is set high, carried almost parallel to the ground.

The tail may be docked to 1/3 of its length in countries where such a change in appearance is not prohibited.

The coat is single-layered, consisting only of guard hairs. It feels soft and silky to the touch. Overall, the coat is abundant, with hair no longer than 13 cm gathered in curls. The color is wheaten, ranging from light wheaten to golden red. Dogs of Russian breeds are usually extremely light, while English breeds are reddish.

Character

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is friendly, energetic, very playful, and sociable. In some ways, it's a versatile breed, suitable for a first dog for a responsible teenager, for large families with children, and for seniors who are willing to take their dog for long walks. This terrier enjoys long walks, whether gentle or vigorous, and can be a companion on jogs or bike rides. When appropriate, it can be calm and unobtrusive.

The Wheaten Terrier is non-confrontational and non-aggressive. It doesn't attack or provoke conflicts, but it will respond without hesitation if aggression is directed at it. It's generally non-aggressive toward people. It's possible that the dog won't react if a stranger attacks its owner; it may bark, and in rare cases, it may grab the owner by the pant leg. If guests arrive, this watchful guardian will alert the owners with a playful bark and usually greets everyone in a friendly manner. They get along very well with other animals. However, it's important to remember the terrier's hunting instincts. It can be partial to small animals and often enjoys chasing the neighbors' cats.

Wheaten Terriers form strong bonds with their family members and are devoted to their owners. They are very gentle with children, caring for them as if they were their own puppies. They will happily play for hours with older children. Wheaten Terriers are very patient with children's pranks and will rather retreat from sight than snap or bite. Of course, interactions between a dog and a child, especially a very young one, should not be left unsupervised. A small child can hurt the dog, which can make it wary of small people for a long time.

Education and training

The Wheaten Terrier is very intelligent and spirited. As is typical of a terrier, it can be stubborn and, in some cases, disobey. It follows commands perfectly when it's interesting and well-motivated. Wheaten Terriers are not suitable for people who expect unquestioning obedience from their dog.

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier will happily take on any training offered. They thrive on learning new things and quickly master commands of varying complexity and scope, with the exception of more demanding service training.

Wheaten Terriers are very easy to train. Positive reinforcement should be the primary training method. This means offering treats and praise for desired behavior and following commands, and withholding rewards and a stern look for bad behavior. It's important to patiently and calmly ensure that the dog follows the command and learns to calm down. Three commands are used for this: "Come!", "No!", and "Stay!" Due to the dog's high energy, love of jumping, and licking, praising it for calm behavior can be difficult.

By nature, Wheaten remain instinctive hunters. In Ireland, some hunting groups still use them to hunt foxes, badgers, and other small game. This practice is not common in other countries.

Content Features

The Wheaten Terrier has no undercoat, meaning it sheds virtually nothing and is ideal for apartment or house living. With proper care, it will not have a distinctive dog odor. It doesn't tolerate cold very well, so keeping it outside year-round is not suitable. Furthermore, the terrier needs to live close to people, requiring plenty of attention and interaction.

The Wheaten Terrier requires long walks and won't be satisfied with short walks around the house. He's not the best choice for lazy people who prefer to spend evenings and weekends lounging on the couch. Wheaten Terriers excel in various sports (Frisbee, pinch-and-go, agility, canicross, etc.).

Care

To maintain a neat appearance, a Wheaten Terrier only needs to be bathed once a week, blow-dried, and brushed. If this isn't done, mats will form near the body. Brushing them out can be very difficult, if not impossible. However, the dog may still appear more or less neat.

It's advisable to clip a Wheaten Terrier, but in this case, clipping serves an aesthetic rather than a functional purpose. It's intended to highlight the dog's body lines and beautiful figure. Clipping can be done at home or for show. Before a show, the dog is clipped according to a strictly defined pattern. The hair is trimmed short on the neck and chest. Above the eyes and on the jaw, the hair is left as long as possible. The legs are trimmed slightly. The hair on the body should follow the dog's silhouette. The tail is clipped short, neatly tapered. Owners of Wheaten Terriers who don't show their dogs often opt for home clippings, which are shorter than show clippings.

Other important aspects of grooming include regular ear cleaning, teeth cleaning, eye cleaning, and nail trimming.

Nutrition

Owners often have to choose a diet for their Wheaten individually. This can include high-quality foods above super-premium or natural nutrition. Food is selected based on the dog's age, physiological condition, and taste preferences. If the dog is on a natural diet, vitamin and mineral supplements are essential. Particular attention should be paid to the composition and quality of the food during the puppy's active growth period and up to 1.5 years of age.

Wheaten Terriers are prone to allergies, digestive upset from fatty foods, and, less often, to weight gain.

To promote proper posture, place bowls on a stand. It's best to feed your terrier at the same time each day. The dog should eat its allotted portion immediately.

Health and life expectancy

Wheaten Terriers are not without hereditary health problems. Some are serious and some are less so, some are more common, others are relatively rare. In any case, it's important for those considering purchasing a puppy to be aware of potential health issues.

Addison's disease (hormonal disorder caused by dysfunction of the adrenal cortex);
Allergy;
Tumor diseases;
Ectopia of the ureter;
Hip dysplasia;
Progressive retinal atrophy;
Nephropathy and renal dysplasia.

Soft Coated Terriers are often noted to be intolerant to anesthesia and have increased sensitivity to a number of drugs, as are Collies, Shelties, and some other breeds.

An important condition for maintaining health is scheduled vaccination, as well as regular treatment for external and internal parasites. Life expectancy is usually 13-15 years.

Choosing a puppy

Wheaten Terriers are very popular in America, Canada, and Scandinavia. In Russia and the CIS, the breed is still small and is only gaining popularity. Finding a breeder in a major city isn't difficult, but there's a chance they won't have any puppies available. Often, puppies from reputable parents must be reserved in advance and there's a wait time.

The search for a puppy should begin with choosing a breeder and the litter's parents. They should be compatible not only in appearance but also in personality. There's a chance their traits will be passed on to their offspring. It's essential to evaluate the dogs' living conditions, care, and nutrition. It's crucial that the puppies are raised properly during the first two months of life. This increases the likelihood of raising a healthy, strong dog with a stable, normal personality.

Wheaten Terrier puppies go through several stages of coat texture and color change before acquiring their adult, mature coat, sometime between 18 months and 2.5 years of age. Puppies are born with a reddish or grayish coat, often with black masks, a black "belt" down their back, or black tips on their body hair. As they mature, the blackness fades.

Small wheaten terrier puppies are distinguished by a very dark coat color, which completely changes color by 1.5-2.5 years.

Price

Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies from breeders typically cost between 35,000 and 45,000 rubles. The price is influenced by the breeder's location and status, the quality of the stud dogs, and the puppies' prospects. Pet-class puppies are cheaper, while dogs that breeders see as potential show champions and future stud dogs can cost 50,000 rubles or more. Undocumented puppies from parents with good pedigrees typically cost no more than 15,000 rubles.