Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Temperament:

Loyal, Playful, Devoted
Size: Medium
Height: 43-48 cm
Weight: 14-20 kg
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Coat: Longhair
Colors: Wheat Colors
FCI Group: Terriers

The Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a spirited but loyal and people-oriented dog. It loves children and is playful and an ideal family dog. It needs plenty of exercise and is an excellent companion for sporting activities. The silky soft coat of the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier requires intensive and regular grooming.

Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Artboard 26

Characteristics

The Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized dog with a height at the withers of up to 48 cm in males. The short loin and the 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 its tail erect. The coat is smooth without undercoat. The texture is soft and silky, not harsh.

The breed owes its name to its unique coat. Puppies are rarely born with the right coat color and texture. They have a dark coat. This changes with age. The final coat develops between the ages of 18 months and 2.5 years. The coat of the adult terrier always has a good, pure wheat color. Shades from light wheat to red-gold are possible.

He is friendly and open-minded towards his humans. He loves to cuddle extensively every day. He is a playful and affectionate companion. The Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier loves to be close to you and is an integral part of your family. As a family dog, he is very playful with children. They get on well with other dogs. The Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is an attentive watchdog with a high willingness to defend itself. He immediately indicates what he notices by barking.

He has a great urge to move and needs plenty of exercise. Apart from very hot weather, when he should be kept in the shade, the Irish can cope with any weather. His insensitivity to the weather makes daily training possible. You should give him at least 30 minutes of exercise every day to keep him healthy and alert. You can keep him busy with dog sports, long walks, jogging or as a cycling companion. Thanks to his high intelligence, he is easy to train.

His stubbornness should not be underestimated. After all, he is also known as an "Irish thick-skull" - especially under pressure. He sometimes stubbornly wants to get his way. You have to learn to deal with this and show him his limits consistently but lovingly. You can support this with positive reinforcement techniques such as praise, play and food rewards. As a beginner, this breed requires a lot of training and is not necessarily suitable for you.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

When choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.

Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.

Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.

Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.

Health & Care

If cleanliness is very important to you, you should reconsider the purchase. Not only are you getting an energetic dog, you are also bringing a lot of dirt into your home. The Irish Terrier does not shed and does not alternate between summer and winter coats. But a lot of dirt and food scraps get caught in his fluffy coat. He then spreads these on the sofa, carpet and clothing.

For this reason, and because it has no undercoat, the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier does not need to be clipped. Nevertheless, a lot of time must be invested in grooming. The silky, shiny and slightly wavy hair tangles easily. You should plan a daily grooming routine. Brushing or combing will help you maintain your terrier's typical appearance. It is recommended to trim the coat every 10 weeks. It is best to get this breed used to the grooming ritual as a puppy.

Suitable accessories

You will need a suitable brush and comb for regular grooming. Special combs for loosening tangles can be a great help with daily grooming. This way you can save your terrier the inevitable clipping. Once the hair is so matted that it can no longer be combed, there is no going back. You have to shear your Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. However, as it is characterized by its silky coat, this should be avoided.

Other accessories that are part of the basic equipment: collar or harness with lead, dog basket or dog mat as a retreat, water and food bowl, tick tweezers, claw clippers, mild dog shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs, transport box for transportation in the car and a first aid kit. Ask your vet what belongs in the first aid kit.

Toys that promote intelligence provide variety in the home. This will prevent your terrier from getting bored. Your eager-to-learn dog will be delighted. Outdoor toys are suitable for encouraging exercise.

Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier History

Origin & History

As the name suggests, the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier originates from Ireland, more precisely from Southern Ireland. Details about the origin of the terrier are not known. At that time, there was no distinction between the four types of Irish Terrier. All terrier breeds originating from Ireland were grouped together under the term "Irish Terrier".

Today, a distinction is made between the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Irish (Red) Terrier and Glen of Imaal Terrier breeds. This distinction only came about with the introduction of pedigree dogs. It is assumed that the ancestors of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier were crossbreeds of these breeds.

The wheat-colored terrier was used by small farmers for farm work. It developed on the remote farms of Ireland. The people there could not afford a luxury dog. The dog had to earn its own food and make itself useful in every way.

They needed a real all-rounder for hunting, for the herd, a guard dog. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier could actually do everything and covered these areas. It ate rats and mice, herded livestock, protected the house and farm and helped with hunting. For a long time, they were used in the difficult hunt for badgers and otters.

Despite its long history, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier was not officially recognized by the Irish Kennel Club until 1937. This dog breed is becoming increasingly popular and is known all over the world. In Canada and the USA, it even became a fashionable dog. There was no "mass breeding" in Europe. The breed was originally only bred for working ability. Despite this, the breed has retained its health and character to this day.