The Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is one of the largest terriers, although it is medium in size. Friendly and playful, he is also one of the calmest and most stable terriers. Of course, he tends to be very possessive with his own due to his great protective instinct. Also, these dogs are very intelligent and learn quickly, so they are very easy to train in basic dog commands.
If you want to adopt an Irish soft coated wheaten terrier and you don't know anything about this type of dog, don't miss this breed file on our site, in which we will explain thecharacteristics, character and he alth of the Irish soft coated wheaten terrier , one of the dogs with the softest and silkiest coat of all.
Origin of the Irish soft coated wheaten terrier
Although there is no precise record of the breed's development, it is known that this terrier originated in rural Ireland. It fulfilled the same functions as other terriers, hunting burrowing animals, but it was also used as a shepherd and retriever. Perhaps that is why he is not as aggressive as other dogs in the terrier group and is easier to socialize.
Although an ancient breed, it remained unofficially recognized for many years until it was officially recognized in Ireland in the 1930s. It appears to be closely related to the Kerry Blue Terrier.
Today the Irish soft coated wheaten terrier is a companion and show dog, although it is not as popular as other dogs.
Characteristics of the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
The Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, or simply Wheaten as it is sometimes called, is a medium dog with a square body. The height at the withers for males is between 46 and 48 centimeters , while females are slightly smaller. For its part, the ideal weight for males is between 18 and 20.5 kilograms , with females being a little lighter. Although he is not a solid dog, he is strong and very agile
The soft coated wheaten terrier's head is long and well proportioned to the body. The muzzle is no longer than the skull and ends in a large, black nose. The dark or dark hazel eyes are neither very large nor bulging. The ears are small or medium.
Unlike other terrier breeds, the Irish soft coated wheaten terrier's tail is not very thick. The FCI standard accepts the complete tail, but also the tail docked to two-thirds of its original length. Fortunately, many countries ban "aesthetic" amputations and this custom is less and less used.
The coat is perhaps the most striking feature of the Irish soft coated wheaten terrier and the one that gives the breed its name. The Spanish translation of the name of this breed would be something like "Irish terrier with soft wheat coat". In fact, this adult dog has single coat, of a soft and silky textureand wheat colored that can range from a light tawny to a reddish gold hue. The pups, however, can be other colors (usually dark), until they reach maturity between 18 months and two and a half years.
Irish soft coated wheaten terrier character
Irish soft coated wheaten terriers tend to be more sociable and less aggressive than most other terriers. Therefore, they tend to adapt better to life in the city. However, we must not forget that they are still terrier dogs and that, in addition to their great energy, they need to be very well socialized from puppies.
Well socialized, Wheaten Terriers can get along with other dogs, but some care should always be taken to avoid fighting between dogs of the same sex. With other pets, the situation can be more complicated because these dogs may have a tendency to hunt other animals, even though the prey drive is not as intense as in other terriers.
With people, however, they tend to be friendlier and tend to get along with children who don't overwhelm them. The socialization of the dog in this case is easier. In fact, although Irish soft coated wheaten terriers can bark to sound the alarm, they are not usually good protection dogs because they tend to be friendly, or at least not aggressive towards people.
Irish soft coated wheaten terrier care
Coat care is easy when it comes to pet dogs, but it takes time. The dog should be combed at least four times a week, but better if it is once a dayto prevent your hair from getting tangled. Combing is preferred to brushing because of the length of the hair. In addition, it is advisable to take the Irish soft coated wheaten terrier to the dog grooming salon three or four times a year Hair care for show dogs is more complex and is advice from an expert is recommended.
Despite the time required to care for the coat of these dogs, a great advantage is that they lose very little hair. Therefore, they are considered hypoallergenic dogs, suitable for people with asthma or allergies.
The Irish soft coated wheaten terrier may not require as much exercise as other terriers, but he still demands plenty of physical activity and lots of company. The daily walks are necessary to keep this dog in good condition. In addition, it is good to give him a good time to play and if possible, practice some dog sportthat allows you to burn energy.
Irish soft coated wheaten terrier education
The Irish soft coated wheaten terrier is very intelligent and is prone to being liked by his family, so his training is relatively easy and he learns very quickly In addition, he is very curious and is always attentive to everything that happens around him. Although not aggressive, the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier can display a very strong protective instinct towards his own and can become a possessive dog.
These dogs respond well to dog training based on positive reinforcement and excellent results can be achieved with styles such as clicker training.
He alth of the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Like most dog breeds, Wheaten Terriers are prone to some hereditary diseases. These diseases include:
- hip dysplasia
- progressive retinal atrophy
- renal problems
- allergies
Of particular concern in this breed are kidney and enteric (intestinal) diseases that cause protein loss through the urine and are usually fatal. But these are easily diagnosed genetic diseases whose symptoms are generally progressive. Therefore, proper nutrition and timely treatment will be of great help.
