The day your Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier came home for the first time, your life changed in many ways that you never possibly could have expected. You’ll never forget that day.
1. Strangers can’t resist touching your dog. Having a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier means that you can’t go to the park without someone stopping to pet your dog. That’s just what happens when your dog looks like a giant teddy bear. We can’t help but notice that kids rarely stop to pet our dogs without asking first. It’s always the adults that try to sneak a touch. It’s a good thing our Wheaties love attention!
2. You spend more money at the groomer’s than on your own haircuts. You know the importance of keeping up with that fuzzy coat. You go to the groomer every 6-8 weeks to keep your Wheaten clean and free of mats. Sure, they’ll roll in the yard to regain their stink as soon as you get home, but you love that freshly groomed look. The price of grooming may have been shocking, at first, but you realize that a human hairdresser only has to cut hair on your head; your Wheatie’s groomer may take up to an hour taking care of the dog’s coat from nose to tail. It’s so, so worth it!
3. You sometimes worry your dog might be smarter than you. Your clever terrier picks up new tricks quickly, and didn’t take long to potty-train. However, you didn’t anticipate how skilled your dog would be at training you. Those big brown eyes slay you, and you can’t help but tuck them in at night, play on demand, and otherwise give in to that lovable pup.
4. You’re concerned you might actually own a human in a bear suit. Something about the way your Wheatie looks at you tells you that they understand. You may have owned other dogs, but this one is just different. They’ve learned to communicate you in subtle ways – and have captured your heart in a way that you never expected.
5. You’re prepared for Abominable SnowWheatie days. Your terrier’s long beard and soft coat collect balls of snow in the winter, but that doesn’t seem to stop them from enjoying the snowdrift. You’ve been practicing a gentle, yet effective method for plucking those snowballs off your Wheatie. A cold, snowy pup is nothing a warm towel from the dryer can’t fix!
6. You’ve never slept better. All Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier parents know that they love sleeping under the covers with their head on a pillow, just like a human. That warm, fuzzy body is perfect for spooning. You’ve haven’t had a bout of insomnia since your buddy crawled into bed with you for the first time.
7. You’ve negotiated with a terrier. As sweet as they are, Wheaties have a double dose of terrier-tude. It’ll take a long time, if you’re ever able to trust them off-leash. Like a typical terrier, a Wheatie loves to chase small animals, and is virtually unable to hear you when you try to call them off an interesting scent. The only way to get your Wheatie to listen? Delicious treats!
8. You’ve been kissed by a drippy beard. Even the ladies of the Wheatie world sport a handsome beard. This lovely, long beard gets dunked in the water whenever your dog takes a drink, making puddles all over the floor. Sloppy, wet beard kisses are an inevitable part of Wheatie life.
9. You now know that “low-shedding” is a joke. Many terrier breeds are rumored to be non-shedding, and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is no exception. However, you’ve learned to stop wearing dark clothes, and have started to match your decor to your dog’s coat to make the endless strands of fur less noticeable.
10. You always get Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier gifts… and you’re just fine with that. On holidays and birthdays, you’re sure to get some adorable Wheatie-themed presents from friends and family members who know you’re obsessed. The one Soft-Coated Wheaten must-have youre missing? A custom cartoon!
How Do You Groom a Wheaten Terrier?
Like many dogs who are famous for their flowing coats, Wheatens need a fair amount of grooming and upkeep to ensure their luxurious locks stay healthy.
Wheatens can be prone to easy matting. They are shaggy coated dogs whose soft, silky hair is almost human-like and will need daily brushing and upkeep by using a few different types of grooming tools.
The good news is that Wheaten Terriers don’t need bathed as often as you may think for such a silky coated dog. In fact, many Wheaten experts agree that bathing your Wheaten once every other week will help keep him and his coat in ship shape.
Experts warn against bathing any more or less than necessary due to the fact that, like most dogs, Wheaten Terriers produce natural oils in their skin that helps to keep their fur healthy. Overbathing or underbathing could reduce or increase the rate at which these oils are produced, thus harming the Wheaton’s natural coat defenses.
Your Wheaten Terrier will probably need to see a groomer on occasion, and more often if you opt to give him a standard Wheaten Terrier haircut, although those trims are not necessary unless you want to show your dog.
Many Wheaten owners opt to keep their Wheaten Terrier in a traditional puppy cut, which can mean less time and money spent at a professional dog grooming salon.
Along with the proper grooming, brushing, and bathing of your Wheaten Terrier, you should also be sure to keep your Wheaton’s nails clipped keep split or broken nails from causing pain and hus ears will need to be cleaned regularly to help keep waxy buildup or excess moisture from causing him ear infections.
Now listen, we totally get that grooming your dog this often may not sound pleasant for either of you, but the truth is that, when done properly, daily grooming of your Wheaten can be a fun experience for both you and your pup. It will also aid in building a trusting bond between the two of you!
Most importantly, keeping up with proper grooming practices will help keep your Wheaten Terrier healthy.
What Are The Training And Exercise Requirements For Wheaten Terrier Dogs?
Wheatens are Terriers with a working dog origin, meaning they’ll need a lot of exercise and training.
These highly adorable high achievers have endless amounts of energy and are in fact said to behave pretty puppylike well into their adulthood.
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is an intelligent dog who needs lots of mental stimulation. He is also a sensitive dog in spite of his reputation as a somewhat of a bossy bee, and he’ll need consistent training with a firm yet patient owner who understands that positive reinforcement methods like treats and praise will work quicker and more effectively than aversive training or punishments.
Begin your Wheaten off young by socializing him and exposing him to as many new experiences as possible. Remember, it’s very important to ensure new experiences for a young Wheaton are positive, otherwise he could wind up developing fears of certain things.
For example, if you want your Wheaten Terrier to love water, don’t force him into the backyard pool. Instead, show him it can be fun and safe by introducing him to it slowly and gently, and by providing lots of praise and training treats along the way.
Making sure your Wheaten Terrier gets a proper amount of exercise will also help to alleviate any potential behavioral issues he may have due to excess energy or anxiety.
You should also keep in mind that Wheatens are known for their incredible enthusiasm and they love to run. They may have a high prey drive so walking your Wheaten on a good leash and harness is a must.
Experts also recommend that you make sure your backyard is safe for a Wheaten and his clever and energetic mind and body. This is a dog who is known for his incessant jumping habits and can actually jump quite high.
And speaking of jumping, Wheatens are jumpers who like to jump on everything and everyone, which could pose a problem for people who are easily irritated by jumpy dogs.
Training your Wheaten early on using positive reinforcement can help to reduce this undesirable behavior, but it is a part of the breed and has been known to be somewhat of an issue. So, that’s just an FYI.
About the author: Michele Welton has over 40 years of experience as a Dog Trainer, Dog Breed Consultant, and founder of three Dog Training Centers. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs.
Bright and sensitive, yet spunky and headstrong, the Soft Coated Wheaten, like most terriers, is not particularly easy to train. He requires a leash at all times, else he will take off on you, and he requires an assertive owner who can set consistent rules and follow through.
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier often acts like a joyful puppy throughout his life. Though he will bark to announce strangers, he welcomes them as long-lost friends, usually with exuberant barking, bouncing, and face kissing.
Fences should be high and secure, as this breed is exploratory and athletic and may jump over to greet people on the other side, or to chase passing cats or squirrels.
Dog training videos. Sometimes its easier to train your puppy (or adult dog) when you can see the correct training techniques in action. The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership.
FAQ
Do wheaten terriers ever calm down?
Why is my wheaten terrier so aggressive?
Are wheaten terriers anxious?
While soft-coated wheaten terriers may seem all big and bad when they’re attacking people, other dogs, etc., they are actually scared – very scared. Unlike other reactions to fear, they fight rather than flee. Any threat that your pup perceives can turn into a fight.
