The easygoing, friendly and not so easy to train breed was first found in Ireland. Soft coated wheaten terrier can be a really amazing pet for family-oriented people. Unlike other terriers, this breed is very well suitable for apartment living.
Originating around 200 years ago, this breed has also the traits of a hunter and was used to hunt down otter and badger. Unlike its other siblings, it was recognized pretty lately. The year 1937 witnessed their recollection as a breed.
Table of Contents
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Pictures
Breed Facts
Avg. Weight: Male- 35 to 45 pounds Female- 30 to 40 pounds
Avg. Height: Male-18 to 20 inches Female- 17 to 19 inches
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Dog Group: Terrier
AKC Rank: 62
At A Glance
Size: (3/5)
All the terrier breeds are more or less averagely heightened.
Affection Level (5/5)
They are very much affectionate to their family. They are very responsible when it comes to taking care.
Apartment Friendly (5/5)
Unlike other terriers, they do not mind sitting at home for a long time
Cold Weather Tolerability (2/5)
Cold weather adaptability is not much among them.
Hot Weather Tolerability (4/5)
Hot weather is something they appreciate very much.
Barking Tendencies (3/5)
Their barking tendencies are occasional. They bark generally to communicate.
Cat-Friendly (1/5)
It is better that the two animals do not meet each other.
Dog-Friendly (4/5)
They are good at socializing with dogs.
Exercise Needs (4/5)
The need for exercise is very important among this breed. They should be taken on walks regularly.
Grooming Needs (5/5)
A professional groomer is very much needed for this dog and it is equally important to keep them tidy all the time.
Playfulness (4/5)
Terriers are always playful. Sometimes they will themselves come and aware of their playtime.
Trainability (3/5)
Challenging at times but with consistent efforts, it is pretty easy to train them.
Intelligence (3/5)
They are averagely intelligent. They would require at least 30-40 repetitions.
Mouthiness (2/5)
They have very fewer tendencies to lick, chew and play–bite. These can be further reduced with training.
Price Group (2/5)
$800 to $1000 is the average price of this breed. Price can increase or decrease depending upon the health and place.
About Breed
The soft coated wheaten terrier or the wheaten, in short, was basically bred to be farm dogs. But their scuttle rigidness and behavior is exceptional. They have been accepted as a family dog by people since the day it was witnessed to be the perfect apartment dog. So if you dwell in an apartment then they are a wonderful choice.
Being a terrier it might follow his old traits at times. Letting him do these actions can be a mistake. It is very important to begin their training as early as possible so that they grow up to be a well-behaved pup.
His affection level with kids is phenomenal. They easily bond with them and enjoy all the exercises together. You can certainly let the kids go out with them on a walk of small exploring session.
Grooming them can be very tough as they have a furry coat. It’s the scene of a professional groomer who would not make a big hole in your pocket but will make one for sure.
They are stubborn at times just like any other dog is. Initially, training is important but the process should be slow. Terriers and boredom do not go well. Fascinating things should be in his favor to attain his complete attention.
<>Where Did Wheaten Dogs Come From?
A Soldier, warrior and a hunter in the same body, the farm dog was used to keep the place clear from any unwanted guests, vermin, and humans mainly.
The only corroboration for their early existence was the poor man who is known to be the first to pet this breed in Ireland.
It is believed that Kerry blue terrier and the Irish terrier are the siblings of the Wheaten. They were accepted as a breed in the year 1937 by the Irish Kennel Club. It was also St. Patrick’s Day.
The first official Soft-coated wheaten terrier arrives at the USA in the month of November 1947 through cargo.
The year 1962 witnessed the Inauguration of the Soft Coat wheaten terrier club of America in Brooklyn. The first meeting of the committee included the three renowned personalities Holmenocks Gramchree, Gads Hill and Halmenocks Hallmark.
In the year 1973, the American Kennel Club recognized this breed. Today this breed stands at the 62nd position in their rank list.
Size
Terriers have an average height. The height in males goes not more than 19 inches and in females, it goes to 18 inches.
The weight in males is around 40 pounds and in females roughly around 35 pounds.
Judging them with their physical statistics can be wrong. One has to see it, to believe it. They can be seldom quiet. They have more wildly instincts than just being cute.
Trainability
Providing training to the terrier breed is very complicated. They easily get bored of things and get rid of it. They should be tempted towards the training so that they do not get bored easily.
These pups have average memory with a more or less intelligent mind. They need to be trained with patience and with repetitions. He might take more than usual time to understand things.
They are more sensitive and pampered. Hence they would be needing a smooth training therefore dog parents should be very much caring towards them.
Colors & Grooming
The soft and silky coat in them is something to look at. The color in them is the essence of beige. You may find a bit of red or gold color in them.
Their coat initially comes in darker shades and tends to fade over time. The actual color and curls in the fur come only after maturity.
The wheaten does not get an undercoat and they shed less too. You would only need a scissor and small-sized brush and greyhound comb to give them a hair-cut.
They would also need nail-trimming once a month followed by a tartar cleanup that has accumulated. The teeth should be cleaned at least twice a week.
Bathing him is very essential but only when required… He may get dirtier if not taken care of properly.
Common Diseases
Targeting The Body
Protein Losing Nephropathy
The condition where the pup loses proteins and plasma through kidneys. The initial symptoms are weight loss, diarrhea, and swelling of legs. This is an incurable disease but can be maintained with medicines and diet.
Protein Losing Enteropathy
yet another disease just like Nephropathy. The proteins and plasma start exiting from the gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms and recovery options are the same as those of Nephropathy.
Addison’s Disease
The disease caused by too little production of adrenal Hormone. Dogs in the prey of this disease have very little appetite, vomiting tendencies, and insufficient energy. It can be tough initially to detect the problem but if not diagnosed in early stages, might lead to severe conditions.
Renal Dysplasia
This is the improper growth of the kidney which can lead to failure in the kidney. Symptoms like increased water drinking and urination.
Feeding
>Two
parts of 1.5 cups to 2 cups of dry organic dog food should be given to the pup. To make sure his
consistency in health is constant.
The risk of being obese is found in all dogs.
The food requirement also depends on the size, growth rate and metabolism. The food intake by a soft coated wheaten terrier may differ from other same breed dogs. The difference between food qualities also matters when it comes to food requirements. Good quality food can make your pup feel full in less quantity of food.
He should not be left with food throughout the day. Rather prescribed meals should only be given to them.
Suggested: Senior Dog Food
Vaccination and Care
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All dogs need basic vaccinations which include the Parvo-virus, Para-influenza, Hepatitis, distemper, and anti-Rabies. Except these, you can additionally give them Anti- coronavirus injections too.
It is advised to consult with a vet for more information on vaccinations.
You can also read our Guide To Dog Vaccination to get a better idea of it.
When it comes to caring for a wheaten, there are very few things that they would not need. Parents have to be really attentive to them. Being a unique breed, it can face health issues often. Visiting the vet and keeping a follow up on his health can let him sustain for longer and healthier.
Except for their grooming and training they should be taken on walks to make sure they have a scheduled workout session. A walk-play combination for 30 minutes should be adequate for the pup.
Monthly Expense Estimation
>Getting
a new breed can cost you around $800
to $1200. This is the average price
for this breed. Soft-coated wheaten
terrier breeder can ask you for a higher price depending upon the health
and growth of the puppy.
Additionally, there are more expenses that include food and vaccines. Being too playful, they would need toys to play while you are gone to work.
Organic food may also increase the estimated amount as good quality foods are expensive. But that’s said, good growth needs quality food.
Behavior
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