Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Discover the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier's history, health risks like PLN and PLE, and why their non-shedding coat requires daily grooming.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers typically live 13.7 years, slightly longer than the average purebred dog, but owners must be vigilant about two specific protein-wasting diseases. The breed is defined by a silky, wheat-colored coat that grows continuously like human hair, requiring daily brushing to prevent painful mats.
History as the Poor Man's Wolfhound
This Irish terrier was bred for over two centuries as an all-purpose farm dog, tasked with herding, guarding livestock, and hunting vermin. They earned the nickname "Poor Man's Wolfhound" because Irish law prohibited common folk from owning hunting dogs like Irish Wolfhounds or Beagles, so the Wheaten served as a versatile substitute. Although they share ancestry with the Kerry Blue Terrier and the Irish Terrier, they were never owned by the gentry and were kept to a specific size to avoid taxes, which often involved docking the tail.
Coat Types and the Color Shift
Wheatens come in two distinct coat varieties: the Irish type, which is silkier and wavier, and the Heavy or American type, which is thicker and fuller. The breed's name comes from their adult coat color, but puppies are born with dark coats of red, brown, mahogany, or white, often with black or dark brown muzzles and ears. As they mature, this reddish-brown puppy coat gradually lightens to nearly white before settling into the characteristic wheaten color by age three.
Their hair does not shed like most breeds; instead, it keeps growing. If an adult Wheaten suffers a skin injury, the regrown hair will be the dark color of their puppy coat until it eventually grows out to wheat or sometimes a molten chocolate color. The Irish coat is considered by some breeders to be the original working coat, while the American heavy coat is sometimes viewed as "bouffant," though both require daily brushing and combing to avoid mats.
Health Risks and Life Expectancy
While the breed has a robust life expectancy of 13.7 years according to a 2024 UK study, they are genetically predisposed to two potentially fatal protein-wasting conditions. Protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) causes the kidneys to leak protein, while protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) prevents the digestive tract from absorbing protein properly, leading to its loss in the stool. These conditions often occur in concurrence, with PLE frequently following a diagnosis of PLN, and research suggests they may be more prevalent in females.
Other health concerns include renal dysplasia, inflammatory bowel disease, Addison's disease, and cancer. Many Wheatens also suffer from food and environmental allergies, which can manifest as atopic dermatitis. Because the mode of inheritance for these genetic issues remains unknown, prospective owners should discuss specific testing protocols with breeders before acquiring a puppy.
Temperament and Training Needs
Wheatens are energetic, playful, and highly intelligent, but they respond poorly to harsh training methods which can trigger fear or aggression. They are enthusiastic greeters, often jumping up to lick a person's face in a behavior known as the "Wheaten greetin," and they are generally friendly with children and other dogs if properly socialized. However, their strong prey drive, inherited from their vermin-hunting origins, means they may not get along with cats unless raised together.
They are cool-weather dogs that can overheat easily in hot conditions and are prone to wandering if left unsupervised. While they are loyal and protective, making them good watchdogs, they bark excessively if not trained and are rarely aggressive, making them poor guard dogs. Consistent, positive reinforcement training is essential to channel their headstrong nature and keep them from becoming overly vocal.
Physical Standards and Exercise
As a medium-sized breed, Wheatens stand between 17 and 20 inches tall and weigh 30 to 45 pounds, with a square, well-built structure. They require regular exercise to manage their energy levels and are capable of competing in obedience, agility, and tracking trials. The breed is now accepted by the American Herding Breed Association for herding tests, and they are occasionally used in animal-assisted therapy, showcasing their versatility beyond the farm.