If you’re looking for a shaggy-haired sweetheart of a puppy for a canine companion, look no further than Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies. These medium-sized, long-legged terriers are energetic, happy dogs that love spending time with their families.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies are spunky and happy to be doing anything as long as it’s with you. They’re incredibly versatile thanks to their history as both working and companion animals, thriving in both suburban, rural, and urban environments as long as they get enough exercise. To see if these puppies would be a good addition to your home, find out what it’s like to live with a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy with our ultimate puppy ownership guide.
Dogs resembling Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers appeared in Victorian art, such as this painting called “The Aran Fisherman’s Drowned Child” by Frederic William Burton in 1843.
The History and Origin of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Puppies
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies are the oldest of the three long-legged terrier dog breeds native to Ireland, joining the Kerry Blue Terrier and the Irish Terrier. Another native terrier, the Glen of Imaal Terrier, is shorter in stature.
While no one is certain for sure of the origin of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, legend says that a shipwreck from the Spanish Armada in Tralee Bay produced a large dog that swam to shore. Natives bred it to other terriers and supposedly Irish Wolfhounds. Considered an ancestor to the Kerry Blue Terrier, you can still find litters pop out with wheaten-colored coats sometimes.
A Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, affectionately shortened to a “Wheaten,” has had other nicknames in the past. They’ve gone by the working man’s dog, the poor man’s wolfhound, and the dog of the working Irish class.
Records indicate Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers were present in County Kerry as long ago as 1785. Commoners were not allowed to own hounds, spaniels, and Beagles in Ireland in the 1800s, so farmers needed another type of dog to perform duties and improve their quality of life. It’s said that Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies had their tails docked to be able to tell the dogs were within the bounds of the “laws of the forest” regarding ownership stipulations. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers were an immense help to farmers and had a variety of jobs around the farm as versatile working dogs. They hunted vermin, badgers, and otters, served as bird dogs, accompanied owners on hunts, and herded and guarded livestock.
The personality of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers was well-suited to farm life. They were not picky about food, which was a plus since farmers and fishermen often did not have an abundance of food. In addition, they could withstand harsh weather conditions. Most importantly, Wheatens were loyal to their owners and enjoyed resting by the fire with the rest of the family after a long day rather than staying outside in the barn for the night.
Over time, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier almost became extinct but was saved by some dedicated breeders. Saint Patrick’s Day in 1937 was the perfect Irish holiday to debut the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier as a member of the Irish Kennel Club for its first time in public as a recognized purebred dog breed. In 1946, Lydia Vogel brought the first litter of six Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies to America. Despite appearances at the Westminster Kennel Club shows and petitions to join the AKC, interest waned.
By 1972, around 1,000 Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers were in the United States, and from then on, their popularity steadily increased so much that they won their first dog show title in 1973. Today, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier appears at #66 out of 199 dog breeds on the AKC’s Most Popular Dog Breed List of 2022 right under Airedale Terriers and above Alaskan Malamutes.
The beard, fau, and long, silky, shaggy coat of a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
What Do Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Puppies Look Like?
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers have a unique look. As a long-legged terrier with a beard and hair in their eyes, their fluffy coats and black button noses make them look like large stuffed animals come to life. Even though they are one of a few types of terriers that have long legs, their terrier qualities still shine through.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies are medium-sized dogs and will stand 17-19 inches tall at the withers and weigh 30-40 pounds fully grown. Under all that silky hair is a muscular, square body featuring a rectangular head, ears that flop over slightly, a spectacular beard and a mop of hair covering their eyes called a “fau.”
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers change colors
You may be surprised to learn that a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy’s coat will change colors as they mature and new adult hair grows in. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies can be born white, red, mahogany, brown, or rust-colored and will change to the beautiful wheaten color within two years or so. This gorgeous coat will need regular maintenance.
As a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy owner, you can take your puppy to a professional groomer or learn to groom your dog at home. Regardless of the choice you make, your puppy will need regular grooming to keep their coats and bodies healthy since their coats continuously grow.
Hair cuts and trims
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy owners can decide how they'd like their puppies trimmed. Some like to keep the top shorter with longer hair on the legs and bellies, while others opt to get an even-length trim all around. You can keep the fau and beard long or opt to cut it close. Depending on which haircut you choose, your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier may be mistaken for a doodle!
Brushing
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies are low-to-no-shedding dogs with hair instead of fur, which is great for your vacuum! However, their dead hairs will be trapped and will need frequent brushing to remove them. You’ll also need to be sure to brush enough to prevent painful mats. Use a stainless steel comb with fine, open teeth and a high-quality pinhead brush to keep their coats lustrous and soft. Brushing is also an excellent opportunity to inspect their skin for any allergies, fleas, ticks, lumps, rashes, or anything else causing discomfort and possible infection.
Bathing
Because they are prone to skin conditions, you’ll need to use non-toxic shampoo meant for sensitive dog skin when you bathe your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. They’ll need a bath about once a month.
Dental Care
Regular dental care for puppies includes teeth brushing a few times a week and professional dental cleanings. Neglecting dental hygiene can cause more than just your Wheaten puppy’s breath to smell like hot garbage – it can lead to periodontal disease, crowded or broken teeth, abscesses, and even heart issues. Get your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy used to a dental care routine right away.
Nails & Paws
Maintaining good paw health in dogs is vital to the comfort of your Wheaten puppy and can cause severe health problems if ignored. Clipping your dog’s nails provides proper traction and prevents health issues like joint and ligament strain, which affects your dog's overall mobility. Cuts, abrasions, and infections on their paw pads can also be painful and affect their quality of life.
Eyes & Ears
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies can have discolored tear stains on their faces. Specialized eye wash and facial cleansers can gently be used on the area. Take a moment to inspect their eyes for health problems.
Loose hairs can accumulate in their ears. You can use an ear powder to loosen the hair and hand-pluck out dead hairs to inspect for ear wax, mites, or other ear issues.
What’s the Personality Like of a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Puppy?
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies are spunky, merry companions who are the neighborhood jesters. They will come bounding toward you, always ready to play. There’s never a dull moment when these animated pups are around! Even when they are old, they still retain that perpetual puppy spirit.
Thanks to their background as both working dogs and family companions, you can have it all in a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy. They have enough stamina to play with the kids all day, as they make an excellent choice for family dogs.
These high-energy terriers will need at least 45-60 minutes a day of active play and exercise to exhaust them, as a happy Wheaten is a tired Wheaten! Make sure you understand their exercise needs to see if your family is up for the challenge. They love to go on walks, go swimming, and run agility courses.
Their terrier nature shows when they may be a bit wary of strangers, and they will bark to alert you of a new entity. However, what they are not very good at is being an actual guard dog because they’re not aggressive at all. A Wheaten puppy will soon be making friends with strangers and try to get them to play fetch in no time.
Training your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy
Their heritage of taking direction from farmers to work hard at various tasks makes training a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy a joy. They love to please their owners and work hard. Their stubborn terrier streak may come out, but be firm yet gentle and consistent in your training. They respond very well to lots of rewards-based training techniques but are sensitive, so do not use harsh training methods.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies thrive in various dog sports, including agility, obedience, dock diving, and rally. They excel in activities that involve physical exercise, mental stimulation, and puppy-owner bonding.
It’s important to socialize your Wheaten puppy starting on Day 1. Get them used to unfamiliar people, other pets, children, sounds, environments, and experiences. Because they love to please people, are low-shedding, and follow commands well, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies can turn out to be excellent service and therapy dogs.
What to Know About Health Issues in Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Puppies
Each dog breed holds a set of potential health issues to look for, and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies are no different. You can help prevent and avoid some of these issues. With proper care, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers can live a long life of 12-14 years. It’s always good to be informed so you can watch for possible signs and act on them right away under the care of a licensed veterinarian.
Skin Conditions
It is very common for Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies to experience skin allergies, as they are more prone than other dog breeds to suffer from irritation. Allergies can develop at any time and can stem from pollen, mold, dust mites, chemicals, food, fleas, parasites, and more.
Symptoms of allergies are present if you notice hair loss, excessive licking, constant scratching, and general discomfort. Their immune system reacts in a variety of ways to allergens, so it’s important to monitor for symptoms to get treatment right away.
While fleas bother every dog, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies, unfortunately, have a severe reaction to fleas due to their sensitive skin. Fleas can be every pet owner’s nemesis, but you don’t have to lament without taking action. Giving a simple 3-in-1 flea, tick, and heartworm preventative medicine monthly or another option discussed with your veterinarian can hinder fleas from feasting on your pup and causing a nuisance in the first place.
Protein-wasting diseases
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are prone to two protein-wasting diseases that can onset at any time:
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Protein Losing Enteropathy (PLE) is when a dog suffers from malabsorption when digestive enzymes fail to absorb protein in the body as food passes through the large intestine.
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Protein Losing Nephropathy (PLN) happens when the kidneys seep blood serum and protein into their urine instead of only the waste products from proper filtration.
As a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy owner, it’s vital to establish a partnership with your veterinarian. PLE and PLN share many symptoms with other illnesses, so being vigilant in watching for any change in behavior, eating habits, and bathroom troubles should be reported immediately. Ask your veterinarian for more information about protein-wasting diseases in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.
Addison’s Disease
Addison’s Disease in dogs, also known as Hypoadrenocorticism, is when the adrenal glands fail to produce necessary endocrine hormones that regulate a large part of the body’s systems and internal organs. Like PLE and PLN, symptoms are called the “Great Pretender” because they mimic so many other conditions. It is not certain what exactly causes Addison’s Disease, but it can be managed with replacement hormone medications.
To start their lives on the best paw forward, you should adopt your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy from a reputable breeder. But where do you start when searching for Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies?
Find Adorable Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Puppies at Pawrade
If you’re convinced that a fluffy Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy is the right dog breed for you, you’re in the right place. Here at Pawrade, we have a network of trustworthy Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy breeders to provide you with happy puppies and peace of mind.
How do I know I’m not getting scammed?
When you’re looking for Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies, you may be tempted to go with the cheapest option, especially if they are local to you. Paying attention to red flags is useful, and always go with your gut. Ask yourself:
- Does this puppy come with a health guarantee?
- What paperwork comes with the purchase?
- How can I ensure they’re not from a puppy mill?
- What do the health records say about the vaccinations and care they have received so far?
- Am I being asked to pay via app, money order, or in cash?
We can’t stand puppy scammers. They get your hopes up with promises they can’t keep and dash them when they take your money and run. Without a puppy contract, a health guarantee, or a medical history, you have no way to verify their care. Because these puppies can look like other dog breeds when they are young, you might even get the wrong dog breed!
Pawrade offers a secure, scam-free process
At Pawrade, we want to make sure the most difficult part of your decision is which Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy catches your attention. Leave the rest to us. All of our Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies come with a 3-year health guarantee, vaccination records, a puppy contract, and a team of people working just for you. We will never ask for cash, use apps like Zelle, or accept money transfers. Instead, we use a secure platform, PetPay, for all transactions and correspondence.
Our Puppy Concierge team is here to assist you through the entire puppy adoption process. Give us a call at (888) 729-8812 to discuss our Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies for sale to find your very own adorable, shaggy friend.
