Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Temperament:
The Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has a spirited, but loyal and people-oriented character. The child-loving and playful dog is ideal for families. He needs a lot of exercise and is best suited as a companion for sports. The silky soft coat of the Irish Terrier requires intensive and regular grooming.
Characteristics
Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is standard medium sized dog with height at withers up to 48 cm in males. His short loin and well-built compact body give the impression of strength. The head is strong with ears falling forward. The Terrier walks on small paws and always carries his tail upward. The coat is simple hair without undercoat. The texture is soft and silky, not harsh.
Translated, the name means "Irish soft-haired, wheat-colored terrier". It originated from the unique coat of the dog breed. Puppies are rarely born with the right hair color and texture. They have a dark coat. Which changes as they grow up. At the age of 18 months and 2.5 years appears his final coat. The coat of the adult terrier always has a good, pure wheat color. Shades from light wheat to red-gold are possible.
Towards his humans he is friendly and open-minded. He likes to have the daily cuddles for a long time. He is a playful and affectionate companion. The Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier loves to be near you and is an integral part of his family. As a family dog, he is very playful with children. He gets along well with other dogs. The Wheaten Terrier is an alert watchdog and has a high level of defense. What he notices, he reports to you directly by his barking.
He has a high urge to move and needs enough exercise. Except for great heat, where you should keep him in the shade, the Irishman can handle any weather. His insensitivity to weather allows for daily exercise sessions. You should give your Wheaten at least 30 minutes of exercise daily to keep him healthy and alert. You can keep him busy with dog sports, long walks, jogging, or as a companion on a bike ride. Due to his high intelligence he is easy to train.
You must not underestimate his stubbornness. After all, he is also known as an "Irish pighead" - especially under great pressure. He sometimes persistently wants to get his way. You should learn to deal with this and show him consistently but lovingly his limits. You can support this with positive reinforcement techniques like praise, play and food rewards. As a beginner, this breed requires a lot of training and is not necessarily suitable for you.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
For the silky coat is responsible not only the daily grooming routine, but also through proper nutrition. As for humans, a healthy and balanced diet is also very important for the four-legged friend. The shiny coat is promoted by the addition of various nutrients. You can add a tablespoon of brewer's yeast or an egg to the food once a week. Sunflower or corn oil are also good alternatives.
The Wheaten has no special demands on its food. Of course, you should pay attention to a high-quality and nutrient-rich dog food. The food should contain a high percentage of meat and a low percentage of cereals. As long as the terrier consumes the necessary amount of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and proteins, all types of food are allowed: dry and wet food, cooked or raw according to the Barf method. A guideline for a 16 kg healthy Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier with enough exercise is 250 g of meat, 125 g of rice and 125 g of vegetables.
You should always provide your Wheaten with enough fresh drinking water. Treats should be healthy and not given in excess. You are doing your terrier a favor here by being frugal. The agile dog should not be overfed. It's best to reward him after his daily grooming. Feeding after exercise is the most sensible.
Pay attention to a high meat content in the feed. Grain has no place here!
Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Care
If you are very particular about cleanliness, you should reconsider the purchase. You not only get the energetic dog, but also a lot of dirt in the house. The Wheaten does not shed and does not alternate between summer and winter coats. But there is a lot of dirt and food remains in the fluffy fur. He then scatters this on the sofa, carpets and clothes.
Because of this and the lack of undercoat, you do not need to shear the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Nevertheless, you will have to spend a lot of time on coat care. The silky, shiny and slightly wavy hair tangles easily. You should schedule a daily grooming routine. By brushing or combing, you will maintain the typical look of the terrier. It is recommended to trim the coat every 10 weeks. It is best to get this breed used to the grooming ritual when it is still a puppy.
Suitable accessories
For regular grooming, you will need a suitable brush and comb. Special combs for loosening tangles can also be a great help in your daily grooming routine. This way you can save your Wheaten from the inevitable shearing. Once the hair is so matted that it can no longer be brushed, there is no turning back. You must shear your Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. However, since he is characterized by his silky coat, you should avoid this.
The usual basic equipment of any dog is among your first errands. Dog leash, harness, food and water bowls and a transport box should get before the acquisition of your Irishman.
Toys to stimulate intelligence are a good change in the home. This way you can avoid boredom for your terrier. The dog that loves to learn will be thrilled by this. For the outdoors, toys to promote exercise should be used.
Origin & History
As the name suggests, that of the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier originates from Ireland, more precisely Southern Ireland. Details about the origin of the terrier are unknown. At that time, there was no distinction between the four Irish terrier species. Under the term "Irish Terrier" all terrier types originating from Ireland were summarized.
Today, a distinction is made between the different breeds of Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Irish (Red) Terrier or Glen of Imaal Terrier. This distinction arose only with the introduction of the dog breed essence. Probably the ancestors of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier were mongrels of these terrier types.
The wheat-colored terrier was used by small farmers for farm work. He developed on the isolated farms of Ireland. People there could not afford a luxury dog. The dog had to earn his food and make himself useful all around.
One needed a true all-rounder for hunting, for the herd, a guard dog. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier could actually do everything and covered these areas. He fed on rats and mice, herded the cattle, protected the house and yard, and helped with hunting. For a long time they were used in the difficult hunting of badgers and otters.
Despite its long history, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier was officially recognized by the Irish Kennel Club only in 1937. This dog breed is constantly growing in popularity and has a high profile around the world. In Canada and the USA the Terrier even became a fashion dog. In Europe there was no "mass breeding". The breed was originally bred only for its working ability. Despite this, their health and strength of character has been preserved to this day.
