The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

A most important thing to remember is that a Wheaten is NEVER a yard or kennel dog.  He is a people dog and thrives on human companionship.  He loves children and when reared with them will be their faithful and understanding guardian.  Keep him (or her) in your home, drive him in your car, talk to him, turst him, train him in the way you want him to go and you will be rewarded by years of happy unquestioning loyalty from a clever happy pal who loves life and you in an exuberant extrovert fashion of his own.

The keyword in assessing a Wheaten is moderation.  He is a moderate sized dog, not too big, not too small.  The general appearance is of a well built, sturdy, proportionate dog with no exaggerated points.  The coat is, at maturity warm and shiny with waves or curls.  It is never fluffed up .  Nearly everywhere now Wheatens are kept trimmed at shows and even the pet dog is kept in the same way because it is so much easier to keep the non-shedding coat when it is shorter and neater.

The Wheaten as a dog is unusual in many ways: The warm honey coloured silken coat; the desire to please; the curiosity that makes him want to be in everything that is going on; the boundless energy and vitality that are sometimes hard to contain; the playfulness of even old dogs with their younger relations; the infinite patience with children who can be trying at times; the deeply engrained guarding instinct; the bright intelligence; the freedom, so far, from many of the ills of the more popular breeds; the lack of noise except when the occasion warrants; the non-shedding coat; the adaptability of the tough hardy nature to all walks of life; the defense without aggression.  He will fight if provoked.  A dog without spirit is but a poor specimen and if the fight is forced on a Wheaten, the aggressor stands a very small chance of being the winner.  The non-shedding coat can lead to trouble if regular grooming is not carried out.  The hair will wad and felt and must eventually be cut off in lumps. If this is done and the rest of the coat leveled off in keeping, the reward will be a lustrous coat with body init which will be easy to keep in order with regular attention.

For generations Wheatens earned their living herding cattle, killing vermin and being the general dog about the house.  They are not a pack dog and never bark without reason; ample will be given of intruders or anyone acting suspiciously.

By Maureen Holmes