Wheaten Terriers are first and foremost a typical terrier . . . that is to say they are active, strong & physical with graceful movements, determined and even stubborn. The breed is fascinating as well as engaging, and has the added pleasure of not being often seen. Wheatens command attention where ever they go. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized, compact and squarely proportioned dog. The head is shaped like a rectangle, rather long, with a short, strong muzzle, jaws that are able to seize and grip prey well, and large teeth. The ears are v-shaped and fold forward, level with the skull. The teeth should form a scissors or level bite. The almond-shaped eyes are hazel or dark brown. Light or yellow eye color can occur but is a breed fault in the written standard. The nose is large and black. The strong back forms a level topline. The front legs are straight, with plenty of bone. The feet are round with black pads and dark nails. The tail is cocked and carried upright. Puppies are born various shades of brown to black, but lighten to the final adult wheaten color by about two years of age.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers bond
closely with their family. They seldom bark unnecessarily. Though not
as aggressive as many other terriers, males may be combative with other male
dogs if challenged. The Wheaten family pet living with another dog should be well socialized with other
dogs while they are young puppies, but adult dogs can learn what is acceptable behavior if they have an owner who properly communicates with them. This breed is increasing in popularity and is
known in most areas of the United States. The Wheatie
is pretty good for an indoor dog with moderate outdoor activity like going for walks or tossing a toy. This breed does not tolerate heat very well, and very much likes romping in the snow.
The Origins Of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are thought to date back over 200 years. With the historical Irish emphasis on oral traditions over written ones, it is not too surprising that the history of terriers belonging to farmers and the poorer folk is not well documented. References place long-legged terriers with open coats and wheaten color in the areas around Cork and Wicklow (southern Ireland) as well as around Ballymena (northern Ireland). These were general purpose farmers' dogs . . . . a hard life requiring solid, intelligent dogs with enough size to enforce authority, but not so large that upkeep was expensive. He was the enemy of all vermin, would guard the family larder, could herd sheep and cattle and would patrol the boundaries of the small farms to warn off trespassers. He could also be used as a hunting dog and was capable of tracking otter and badgers, taking them both on land and water.
Some Old-Timers referred to him as "... the best dog ever for poaching." In short, he was a strong, medium sized dog of great intelligence and versatility. The modern history of the breed is closely related to that of Ireland's other two breeds of long legged terriers, the Irish and Kerry Blue Terriers. Native wheaten terriers are thought to be important in the origin of both breeds. Irish terriers were first shown as a distinct class at dog shows in Dublin in the 1870's. The first standard for Irish Terriers was not drawn up until 1880. At that time terriers of the same general size, but with open or soft coats were still often benched with the Irish Terriers. Included in these soft coated varieties were dogs with silver, gray, blue, and wheaten colors. The Kerry Blue Terrier was separated out as a distinct breed during the time period between 1914 and 1922 and actually the breed's early popularity centered in England where the modern style of trimming Kerries was developed and the breed was refined. Interestingly enough, the Kerry Blue is still shown untrimmed in Ireland where it is called the Irish Blue Terrier.
The Wheaten did not capture the interest of dog enthusiasts as early as did its two close cousins. As times changed during the early part of this century and travel improved, the number of pure specimens declined and the breed almost vanished. The turning point for the breed was a terrier field trial in 1932 where a Wheaten terrier performed exceptionally well. Patrick Blake, a noted fancier of Kerry Blues, was very impressed and he became convinced that the breed should be rescued from obscurity. He prevailed upon his friend Dr. G. J. Pierse to start a club for the breed and sponsor it for recognition by the Irish Kennel Club. Good specimens of the breed were still to be found and the breed began to prosper. Recognition by the Irish Kennel Club was achieved in 1937 and they were first officially presented at an Irish Kennel Club show in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day.
The First Record of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers being imported into the US was by Lydia Vogel who imported a breeding pair in November of 1947. Although she successfully showed her dogs in AKC shows under the Miscellaneous Class, there were not enough dogs or interest to receive AKC recognition. Ten years later, the O'Connor family of Brooklyn imported a dog from Maureen Holmes, one of the most influential Irish breeders of SCWTs. The O'Connors had become interested in the breed after falling in love with the 'shaggy dog look' shown in a picture of one of the Vogel dogs. The O'Connors began showing their dog and became interested in achieving AKC recognition. They tracked down descendants of the Vogel pair and, with the help of Maureen Holmes, other Irish imports.
On March 17 1962, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America was formed. At the time there were thought to be less than 30 Wheatens in the country. A stud book registry was started in 1965 and by 1968 there were 250 registered SCWTs. The first club matches were held in 1970 and 1971. The AKC admitted the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier to the Terrier Group on March 13, 1973. Popularity has continued to grow and by the early '90s the breed was the seventh most popular terrier and over 2,000 puppies were registered yearly with the AKC.
The Following Traits common to Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers has been gleaned from owner's blogs and web sites around the world:
Well, Do Some research of your own. Dog ownership should never be undertaken lightly. We obviously love the breed and we think most folks will also. In our contact section there are some resources for Wheaten Terrier information. If you require a dog that virtually does not shed and is as close to hypoallergenic as they come, and you can commit to early training, then the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a prime candidate for your next family dog.