52 Interesting Facts About the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

History & Origins

1. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier originated in Ireland over 200 years ago and are one of the oldest Irish Terrier breeds.

2. They were bred as a multipurpose farm dog for hunting rodents, herding and guarding property. At times they were even used as a gun dog.

3. Wheatens were known as the “poor man’s wolfhound.”

4. The breed originally had its tail docked to indicate it was a working dog and to avoid paying taxes.

5. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier shares ancestry with the Kerry Blue Terrier and the Irish Terrier.

6. As a breed, they were not officially recognized until 1937 when the Irish Kennel Club finally acknowledged them at a meeting on St. Patrick’s Day. Link: https://www.iscwtclubireland.com

7. The British Kennel Club recognized them as a breed in the UK in 1943. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Great Britain formed in 1955. Link: https://wheaten.org.uk

8. They traveled to the United States in the 1940’s but weren’t recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club until 1973. Link: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/soft-coated-wheaten-terrier/ The Soft Coated Terrier Club of American, Inc. was established in 1962. Link: https://scwtca.org

9. In the 1970’s Wheatens were imported from Ireland into Australia. Link: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/BrowseBreed/browse-a-breed/85/Soft-Coated-Wheaten-Terrier/

Appearance & Coat

10. Wheaten Terriers are known for their soft, silky and wavy coats.

11. Wheaten puppies are born dark in color and slowly change to the “wheaten” color by age one. The coat color may continue to change up until age 3 and can range from a pale wheat color to a rich golden hue or ginger.

12. Wheatens, unlike most terriers, do not have a wiry coat.

13. The breed is known for its single coat of hair vs the double coat that some terriers have. This makes their hair less dense and they shed very little. Their hair, like human hair, keeps growing and needs to be cut.

14. Wheatens are considered hypoallergenic, and require regular grooming and brushing to prevent matting and tangling.

15. There are two types of coats on a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. The “Irish Coat” is thinner and shinier. The “American Coat” is thicker, and although still very soft, is courser than the Irish Coat.

16. Wheatens, particularly those with the American Coat, are usually “bearded” with black hairs on the snout, and outer ears. This is one of their identifying features.

17. They are a medium size and weigh 30-45lbs with the males generally being larger and the females smaller.

18. They stand 17-20 inches at the shoulder and have a somewhat stocky, solid build.

Temperament & Personality

19. Wheatens are known for their friendly, loyal, and affectionate nature.

20. They are a very sociable breed and love being around people and other animals.

21. Unlike some terriers, they are not aggressive or overly stubborn.

22. They are sometimes called the “happy-go-lucky” terrier because of their upbeat personality.

23. Wheatens have a very playful and mischievous nature. They like to be the center of attention and are often quite entertaining.

24. They are intelligent with a big personality and a curious nature.

25. Wheatens make great family dogs and are usually good with children.

26. Wheatens were bred to be the poor man’s vermin killer and have a strong prey drive.

27. They are alert and attentive watchdogs and will bark to let you know if anyone is around.

28. Despite their watchdog abilities, Wheatens are not aggressive and tend to bark less than many breeds.

29. They have a very adaptable nature and make good traveling companions.

Exercise & Training

30. They are independent thinkers, which means training requires treats, positive regard and consistency.

31. Wheatens have a sensitive side, despite their robust nature, and need gentle handling to prevent aggression and/or fear.

32. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers have a moderate energy level and require daily exercise.

33. They are an athletic breed and excel in agility training and other dog sports

34. Because of their intelligence, energy and curious nature they can get into trouble when left with nothing to do.

35. While they enjoy a large yard to run around in they can adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough exercise.

36. With consistent training, Wheatens are relatively easy to housebreak compared to some other breeds.

Health & Lifespan

37. They are considered a long-lived breed and generally have a lifespan of 12-15 years.

38. They have fewer genetic disorders than many other purebred dogs.

39. The breed seems to have a higher than average incidence of protein losing enteropathy (PLE), protein losing nephropathy (PLN), renal dysplasia (RN), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and Addison’s disease.

40. Some Wheatens have allergies and dermatitis.

41. They prefer cooler weather and can easily become overheated in hot weather.

42. They don’t do well when left alone for long periods of time and may suffer from separation anxiety.

Fun & Unique Facts

43. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are known for what is called the “Wheaten Greetin” and can jump up and kiss a tall man on the mouth.

44. Wheatens are a tiny bit like cats in that they can hop right up on your kitchen counter.

45. Wheatens are known for their intuitive and empathic natures and some have been trained as therapy dogs.

46. The average cost of purchasing a pet quality Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy from a reputable breeder is about $1,500 to $2,500. However, for a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier with top breed lines and a superior pedigree, you may need to pay between $3,000 and $5,500.

47. The American Kennel Club listed Wheatens at number 66 out of 199 purebreds when reviewing breed popularity, in 2022.

48. Wheatens love water and a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier named Krista came within an inch of being in the top 10 in the 2016 National Dog Diving championship in the US. Krista jumped 10 feet 2 inches into the water. Her performance was impressive as she was competing against retrievers bred to dive and swim, and other breeds much bigger than her. In the preliminary events before the championship finals, Krista earned one first-place and two third-place ribbons. Link: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/hawthorne/2016/12/17/hawthorne-terrier-proves-she-belongs-among-best-diving-dogs/95568738/

49. In the book “The Intelligence of Dogs” by Stanley Coren, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier came in 40th in a rating scale of 79 pure bred dogs for IQ. Link: https://www.yummypets.com/mag/2014/06/24/39237/stanley-coren-dogs-intelligence-ranking

50. There is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in the famous Irish painter Frederic William Burton’s hauntingly iconic painting “The Aran Fisherman’s Drowned Child”, dated 1841. Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TheAranFishermansChild.jpg

51. Tony Aspler, wine expert and author, who was the first Canadian to be inducted into the New York Media Writers Hall of Fame, named his Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Pinot T. Wonderdog and calls him Pinot for short. Link: https://www.thestar.com/life/meet-tony-aspler-s-wheaten-terrier-pinot-t-wonderdog/article_de5bc7ee-a2c5-5a71-b9b8-77f2bc500aa9.html

52. Musician Josh Groban named his Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Sweeney after Sweeney Todd and took him on the road. Link: https://animalfair.com/josh-groban-croons-about-the-benefits-of-canine-companionship/

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