The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized breed that originated in Ireland. They were primarily used as working dogs to hunt vermin, guard farms, and herd livestock.
Physical Appearance
These terriers are known for their soft, silky coat which comes in shades of wheaten from pale beige to rich gold. They have a square-shaped head with small ears that fold over slightly at the tip. Their eyes are usually brown or amber and their nose is black.
On average, these dogs can grow up to 18-19 inches tall and weigh between 30-40 pounds when fully grown. Distinctive physical features include its wagging tail and beard-like facial hair which gives them a distinguishing look.
Temperament
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers have earned themselves a reputation for being friendly, intelligent, energetic breeds that make great family pets due to their playful nature and excellent temperament around children.
They possess an enthusiastic personality and easily get along well with other household pets provided they are properly socialized from puppyhood. However, they do display some hunting instincts towards smaller animals such as rodents or birds but this can be curbed through proper training.
Health Problems
Like any dog breed out there, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers do suffer from several health conditions including hip dysplasia (a hereditary condition where the hips fail to develop correctly), protein losing nephropathy (where proteins leak through the kidneys causing serious illnesses) among others. It’s therefore essential you seek information about your breeder’s health screenings before choosing them as your next pet companion
Exercise
This breed has moderate exercise needs compared to other terrier breeds despite having high energy levels so it’s vital they regularly receive playtime activities daily either through walks or interactive games within the house or backyard environment!
Special Grooming Needs
Their wavy hair requires regular brushing so as not become matted making bathing necessary every two months or less. Shaving or trimming is not recommended because it destroys their natural protective layering.
Training
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, like other terriers, are highly intelligent and tend to have good recall but can be stubborn when training. However, the use of positive reinforcement techniques makes them receptive to learning new commands which are perfect for obedience competitions
Compatibility with children/pets
They interact well with both kids and pets provided they’ve been socialized from an early age. They love engaging in playful activities especially with younger kids making them a perfect fit for families!
Personality quirks
This breed has several unique personality traits such as being inquisitive about everything around them! This curiosity also makes them prone to ‘counter surfing’ which means they’ll likely try sneaking food away from your countertop if left unattended during meal times.
Famous examples
One famous example of this breed was “Indy” a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier who starred as one of the main characters in the Broadway musical “Annie” alongside Andrea McArdle portraying Little Orphan Annie’s pet dog Sandy while two notable owners include US Former President Teddy Roosevelt and Hollywood actor Lee J Cobb among others