Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Dog Breed
Here you will find the history of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, important Wheaten Terrier health links, links for Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Rescue, Wheaten Terrier books, clubs, organizations.
You'll find links for Wheaten Terrier grooming products, U.S. approved Wheaten Terrier postage stamps, Wheaten artwork, gifts and more!
Image credit: Original artwork of author's wet wheaten terrier puppy
Wheaten Terrier Table of Contents
- Description of the Wheaten Terrier
- History of the Wheaten Terrier
- Health Links & Resources
- Wheaten Terrier Rescue
- Donate to WIN: Wheatens In Need
- Grooming Your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Wheaten Terrier Dog Clubs
- Wheaten Terrier Holiday Cards
- Wheaten Terrier Greeting Cards
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier T-Shirts
- Wheaten Terrier Mousepads
- Wheaten Terrier U.S. Postage Stamps
- Other Wheaten Terrier Products
- Join a Wheaten Terrier e-Mail Group
- SCWT Books & Gifts from Amazon.com
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Videos
- Dog Breed Art Links
- A Little About Me
- Wheaten Terrier Pictures on Flickr
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium size sporting terrier, square in outline. They are extremely social dogs and should not be left alone for long periods of time. They are wheaten color, with a long soft gently wavy coat. The Irish Coated Wheaten Terrier has a thinner & silkier coat that falls in loose curls or waves. Puppies may be reddish brown or mahogany & they lighten considerably, reaching a wheaten colored coat by the time they are two years old.
The dogs are generally 18-20 inches (46-51 cm.) in height and weigh 35-45 pounds (16-20 kg.). The wheaten bitch is slightly smaller, being 17-19 inches (43-48 cm.) in height and weighing 30-40 pounds (14-18 kg.). Their lifespan is the typical terrier lifespan of 12 - 15 years.
This is a happy, energetic dog, well-coordinated and graceful. Wheatens love to romp and play and go on daily walks. They are intelligent but can be stubborn. They respond well to firm and positive reinforcement in training. These dogs love people and children. They should be socialized young to get along with other pets.
Bred in Ireland to be an all-purpose farm dog whose duties included hunting vermin, watching and herding sheep and other livestock, today's Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has broadened its role. Along with being the family pet, Wheaten Terriers compete in obedience, agility, tracking, and in animal-assisted therapy. They have a natural tendency to become attached to everyone in the family and quickly become best friends & "certified" members of the family.
The exact history of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is somewhat obscured by is closeness to the other Irish terrier breeds i.e. the Kerry Blue, Irish Glen of Imaal and the Irish Terrier. The Irish Kennel Club believes that the Wheaten was deliberately bred from the other Irish terriers and has a fairly mixed ancestry. Its existence for the last 200 years has been suggested by historical references to "soft-coated" dogs but the breed goes much further back and is likely the oldest of the Irish terriers.
According to the annals of the American Kennel Club, when the Spanish ship "Armanda" sank off the Irish Coast in 1588, blue dogs swam ashore and mated with Ireland's wheaten colored "soft coated" dogs.
Until the mid-twentieth century, the Wheaten Terrier was purely bred as a working terrier. These terriers had long soft coats and were generally farm dogs - both herders and hunters of vermin and small game. The word terrier, in fact, is derived from terra, Latin for 'earth'.
Despite its long history, the Wheaten wasn't recognized as a breed in Ireland until the 1930's and the first Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier made its show debut at the Irish Kennel Club Championship Show in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day, March 17 of 1937. Seven years later, it was recognized by the United Kennel Club and although the first Wheaten Terriers were exported to the United States in 1946, they weren't recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1973. The Canadian Kennel Club recognized the breed six years later and today they are found in many parts of the world including Sweden, Finland and Australia.
The following website of Louise Borst-Borreman provides excellent pictures of the development of an Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: http://home.luna.nl/~wil.borst/development.htm
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Danish Porcelin Plate - For Wheaten Terrier Lovers and Collectors of Wheaten Memorabilia
Wheaten Terrier Health Links & Resources - How many Vaccinations are needed? Should I Breed or Neuter?
What health Issues are Associated With the Breed? How Can I Help?
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is basically a healthy breed. As with all dog breeds, there are certain inherent health problems that arise as time goes on. Some Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are prone to protein-losing enteropathy and protein-losing nephropathy which constitute the loss of protein from the intestinal tract or the kidneys, respectively. If you wish to know more about this and other health related issues, please click on our resource links below.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Rescue Links - Wheaten Rescue Links & Resources
The listed rescue organizations and resource links are dedicated to finding loving and responsible homes for Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers who have been abandoned, rescued from puppy mills and/or abusive situations, or whose present owner(s) can no longer keep them.
DONATE TO WIN: Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Rescue
Donate to a worthwhile cause!
WHEATENS IN NEED is a wonderful rescue organization. If you would like to donate to them, click this link. WHEATENS IN NEED. Please see the above module for more information on "WIN."
In order to keep the coat flowing and free of tangles, it is necessary to frequently comb the soft coat. Grooming is essential, and should be done about every 6 weeks. Here are some links you may find helpful. Here are some links that will give you more information about grooming your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Clubs & Organizations - Click on the links for further information.
This is a great way to get breed information, meet other Wheaten Terrier owners, find out about activities in your area, have your questions answered, learn about local Wheaten Terrier rescue Groups, locate reputable breeders, and more.
Want to Learn More About the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?
Join a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier e-Mail Group!
Wheaten Terrier e-Mail Groups are a wonderful way to get more information about this incredible breed. There are Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier groups on Google, Yahoo, MSN, and more. Do a search and you will find them listed.
One e-mail group that I can attest to as being a wonderful resource is the Wheaten-L. The Wheaten-L is an e-mail list for soft coated wheaten terrier owners around the world to exchange information, share stories & brags, ask questions, and discuss wheaten terrier issues. In order to join, send a message the a blank subject line to:
Then type the following command. It will be the first (and only) line of the message body: SUBSCRIBE Wheaten-L Your Name
Substitute your real name (e.g., Joe Smith) for "Your Name" above (e.g.,
SUBSCRIBE Wheaten-L Joe Smith.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Videos from YouTube - CHECK OUT SOME OF THESE AWESOME VIDEOS
These are a few of the videos which I found helpful and in some cases, heart warming and inspiring.
About the Author of this Lens
A Little About Me
Background Information:
I was educated at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston where I received a B.F.A. in Art Education/Media. I also studied at the University of Florence, Italy, New York University and at the College of Marin in Marin County, California.
Most Importantly:
Two soft coated wheaten terriers came into my life several years ago. (The younger one just turned 10 and the older one is 12 1/2 years old). They managed to turn my world around and capture my heart in the process. This website is dedicated to them.
Gifts for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Dog Lover
Are you a Wheaten Terrier Dog Lover? Are you searching for that perfect Wheaten Terrier Gift? Look below at what we have to offer!
Postage Stamps with original Wheaten Terrier Art!
Approved by the U.S. Post Office
United Stated Approved Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Postage Stamps
Click on the Individual Wheaten Terrier Dog Stamp More Information or to Buy!
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Coasters
Perfect for Home and a Great Gift for the Wheaten Terrier Lover
Coasters from Wheaten Works
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier T-Shirts
Click on the Wheaten Terrier T-Shirt of your choice for More Information or to Purchase.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Greeting Cards
Click on the Individual Item of Your Choice for More Information!
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Holiday Cards - Halloween? Christmas? Chanukah? An Everyday Greeting Card?
We have them. Click on the Individual Item for More Information or to Purchase.
Other Assorted Wheaten Terrier Products
Just to give you an idea of the range of products we carry in our online store, below is a wheaten terrier puppy skateboard, a SCWT print, a wheaten terrier tote bag, and an apron.
Want to See More Wheaten Terrier Products?
Want to See More Wheaten Terrier Products? We feature fun and original artwork, postage stamps, gifts and apparel for the SCWT dog lover!
Click: http://www.zazzle.com/wheatenterrier to see more t-shirts and gifts. It will take you directly to our Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Gift Shop.
© 2008 Aquavel
