Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Description:
The Soft coated wheaten terrier is a very sporty, firm and well-balanced dog. This dog is not exaggerated in any way and has the structure and look of a well-made terrier. As its coat suggests, it has a soft and silky coat, its color is usually golden brown. The height of this dog is usually around forty-six to forty-eight centimeters from the wichers; the female is around two and a half centimeters less. The head should be well proportioned and should have a moderate length and a rectangular look; the eyes are medium sized and slightly almond shaped. The ears are small or medium sized and slightly bend forward; the skull is flat and clean; the cheekbones should not be prominent; it has a defined stop; a strong muzzle; and a big black nose. The neck should have a medium size without any dewlap; the back is strong and straight. The chest is long, its ribs are wide, not flat; the tail is usually docked in the countries where this is allowed, otherwise they should be left natural. The feet should be round and compact. The front legs should be straight and the hind legs should be well developed and have a good angle to them. The dewclaws should always be removed. The adult coat is simple but abundant, and should not feel woolly or hard, or curly or like cotton. The colors of this dog's coat vary in intensity.
Ideal owner:
The soft-coated wheaten terrier has a very moldable and good heart and is an excellent family dog and a competent guard dog. It is alert and obedient and delights its family with its happy life style. When it is a puppy it looks like a toy but underneath all that soft coat is a terrier. It loves to do stuff and keep busy. It can at times be stubborn – not surprising as it is a terrier after all – make sure to be firm with it and kind, and it will be an obedient dog.
Growth:
The birth weight of a soft coated wheaten terrier is anywhere from 140 to 225 grams. The color of its coat varies a lot, and can be anywhere from light grey to almost completely black. The most common color though is brown or reddish brown when it is born. The nose and pads should be black when the puppy is three weeks old. The birth color will change a lot when it grows. During the first months it normal for a black mask and black line to show up on the back that will disappear once it grows concluding the typical golden color of the breed. In old age the wheaten will become whiter, and will lose its warm color. During the change of coat it will be necessary to brush its coat every day to avoid knots, which can become a real problem. If you are interested in getting one of these dogs make sure to avoid getting one that is blond, lacks pigmentation, and that has yellow or green eyes, which are genetic defects. Soft coated wheaten do not have a tendency to over eat. It requires of a high protein diet and maybe some vitamin and mineral supplements.
General health:
The past of the wheaten as a guard dog and hunter has made this animal into a real strong dog and resistant to disease, as it has demonstrated to be. Although veterinarian investigation is still not complete about it, it seems that this dog suffers from very few hereditary diseases: hip dysphasia and progressive retina atrophy has occurred but there are very few incidences of it. The biggest worry breeders have is cardiac problems that seem to be a defect in this breed. The older ones seem to be prone to cardiac problems. Veterinarians inform of lymphangiectasia in this breed as well. Another problem that occurs are allergies and skin problems and these things seem to affect this breed often. The care its coat requires is pretty considerable and it needs to have several sessions each week of at least half an hour as a norm to avoid skin irritations and to be able to detect any problem from the start. Trimming is also necessary and the excess amount of hair around the eyes, ears and anus must be cut to avoid infection.
