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Wheaten Terrier | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Dog Breed Introduction
Wheaten Terrier ( officially known as Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier ) is an Irish pure-bred terrier developed as all-purpose farm dog. It tends to get along well with children and other dogs since it is playful and friendly. However, if not socialized with cats and puppies, care should be taken when introducing them since they have a strong prey-drive stemming from their vermin hunting origin. Wheaten Terriers are considered less disorganized than other terriers, although, they are lively and can be more active than many other breeds. Therefore, a Wheaten is happy when exercised regularly. Wheaten Terriers are cool-weather dogs that may easily get overheated in hot weather.
Wheaten Terrier Origin | History
In Ireland, there was a law implemented to forbid common folks from owning coursing and hunting dogs such as Irish Wolfhound. Therefore, Irish Commoners bred a medium-sized all purpose farm dog, Wheaten Terriers. These dogs were used for herding, watching and guarding livestock, as well as hunting and killing vermin. A Wheaten shares a common ancestry with Irish Terrier and Kerry Blue Terrier. To evade dog taxes, Wheaten Terriers had a docked tail.
These dogs were developed more than 200 years ago. However, they were recognized as a breed by the Irish Kennel Club on St. Patrick’s Day in 1937. In the USA, the first seven Wheatens arrived in November 1946. Among the seven imported puppies, two went with Lydia Vogel, who showed them in a Westminster Kennel Club Show in 1947, and they had produced a litter size of 17 puppies. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America was founded in 1962. AKC recognized Wheaten Terriers as a breed in 1973.
Wheaten Terrier | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Lifespan
A Wheaten Terrier has a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. However, some may live up to the age of 15 years.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Grooming | Wheaten Terrier Grooming
A Wheaten Terrier has a single-layered, soft, and silky coat that requires daily brushing especially when the coat is transitioning to an adult coat from an adolescent coat. Coat transitioning starts from the age of 9 months and last for several months. During this period the coat is prone to matting and tangling. Use a slicker brush or a pin brush to remove loose hair and dirt. After brushing the coat, comb it using a fine toothed medium metal comb. Before brushing the coat, spritz it using a detangling spray or a water conditioner solution to prevent hair breakage. Gently work on the mats by pulling them apart using the brush, comb, and fingers.
Never use scissors since it is painful for your dog. Wheaten Terriers require a bath every 4 to 6 weeks unless they roll into something stinky. Before bathing your Wheaten, brush the coat to remove mats that tends to get messier when they get wet. Use a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner suitable for silky coated breeds. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat using lukewarm water to prevent skin irritation. Remember to wipe the face and beard on a daily basis using a damp washcloth or unscented canine wipes instead of using soapy water that irritates the eyes.
Always bathe and dry the coat before trimming. The coat is also trimmed every 4 to 6 weeks. A dirty coat dulls the scissors and will not be able to trim neatly. The rear end should also be trimmed for sanitary purposes. Weekly ear cleaning is recommended using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove excess wax, dirt, or debris. While cleaning the ears, check out for odor, redness, and a dark discharge that are sign’s of a dog suffering from an ear infection. Wheatens have hair that grows in the ear canal.
Use a hairmostat or blunt ended scissors-type tweezers to remove the hair from the ear canals once a month. Brush the teeth of a Wheaten Terrier at least twice a week if not daily using a dog-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush to remove excess tartar build up that causes a bad breathe. Nail clipping or trimming is recommended every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clipper or grinders. Overly grown nails are painful for Wheaten Terriers as they walk or run.
Wheaten Terrier | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Haircut | Grooming Styles
For easy maintenance of the coat, Wheaten Parents may utilize various haircuts or grooming styles depending on the lifestyle of the dog and the season. Some of the suitable grooming styles for Wheaten Terriers are discussed below:
Wheaten Terrier Puppy Cut – To achieve this grooming style, hair on the tail and the face is trimmed to about an inch while the fur on the rest of the body is trimmed close to the body to about 1/2 an inch. This haircut is suitable during the summer months.
Wheaten Terrier Teddy Bear Cut – To attain this grooming style, the facial hair is trimmed in a circular manner to get a teddy bear look whereas the fur on the body is trimmed to a length of at least 2 inches.
Wheaten Terrier Show Cut – This is a haircut used for dogs that participate in conformation shows. To achieve the show trim, the fur is moderately trimmed on the fall above the eyes, back of the neck, leg furnishings, and the tuck up or the longish side coat where the back legs joins the body.
Wheaten Terrier Grooming Tools
To fully groom a wheaten Terrier, the following grooming tools are used; a slicker brush or pin brush, a medium and fine-toothed metal comb, detangling spray or water conditioner solution, nail clippers or grinders, scissors, hairmostat or blunt ended scissors-type tweezers, ear cleanser solution and cotton balls, hypoallergenic canine shampoo and conditioner, dry towel, lukewarm water, grooming table, finger toothbrush, and dog-formulated toothpaste.
Wheaten Terrier Shedding
A Wheaten has a soft and silky hair that doesn’t shed like human hair. However, it keeps growing requiring daily brushing and occasional trims to avoid matting.
Wheaten Terrier Coat | Coat Types | Hair
Wheaten Terriers have a single-coat that is soft and silky with a gentle wave. This breed may typically have any of the two coat types:
- Irish coat – This is where the hair is generally silkier and wavier.
- American or Heavy coat – This is where the hair is fuller and thicker as compared to the Irish coat.
Wheaten Terrier Hypoallergenic | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Hypoallergenic
A Wheaten Terrier is considered a hypoallergenic breed. This is because it has a silky hair that never sheds. Therefore, releasing less dander into the environment. Wheatens are also less likely to drool as compared to other breeds which makes them suitable for people who suffer from dog allergies. However, there is no 100% hypoallergenic breed since the saliva, mucus, and urine of the dog contain a protein allergen that aggravates allergies. Therefore, pet parents are urged to spend lots of time with the dog to determine where the dog triggers their allergies before adopting the pet.
How To Train A Wheaten Terrier | Wheaten Terrier Training | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Training
A Wheaten Terrier is an intelligent dog but a headstrong terrier that has its own agendas in life. This may make training a bit difficult. Early training is a lot easier and faster when the puppy is eager to please since it is not inclined to bad behaviors. Early obedience training is also a necessity before bad behaviors become ingrained. Wheaten Terriers should also be exercised daily to release pent-up energy. Improper exercise leads to development of behavior issues such as destructive chewing and excessive barking. Wheaten Terriers respond well to positive reinforcement methods which helps them to learn new tricks quickly.
Some of the positive reinforcement methods that owners use include petting, toys, treats, and verbal praise. Avoid use of harsh correction methods such as shoving, kicking, yelling, punching, use of choke collars, or beating the dog which results in fear and/or aggression. Creating a pecking order helps a Wheaten Terrier to have respect to the pet parent as the pack leader. Naturally, pets are social animals that excel where a hierarchy has been created. To identify yourself as the pack leader, create boundaries to the personal space and allow the dog to join you when invited, eat first, and always get through the door first. Eating before a Wheaten helps it to understand that the parent is the owner of all the valuable resources such as toys, food, and treats.
To raise a well-mannered and well-adjusted Wheaten dog, socialization training is recommended. This training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the Wheaten pup is the breeder until the age of 16 weeks when the puppy has already settled in its new home. Most pet parents take their pets home from the age of 8 weeks. However, socialization training may still continue even after the age of 16 weeks to ensure Wheaten Terriers have a well-rounded temperament and personality. To socialize a Wheaten dog, expose it to various places, people, surfaces, animals, situations, smell, experiences, sight, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, lawn mowers, sirens, vacuum cleaners, whistles, and washing machines.
Enrolling a Wheaten Terrier in a puppy class from the age of 8 weeks will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes ensure the dogs interact in a controlled environment. Puppy classes also enable pet parents to not only identify and rectify bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance. Well trained Wheaten Terriers are loyal and will keenly listen to the commands. Basic command training should also start immediately a Wheaten pup comes home. Some of the command words taught include sit, down, stay, wait, heel, leave it, come, etc.
These words are taught one at a time until the pet understands before proceeding to the next command word. Parents are cautioned against issuing a command word while too frustrated or excited since the command words will not sound the same for your dog. Keep the training sessions short, challenging, and fun to avoid boredom. The training session spans increases as the dog matures. To effectively housebreak a Wheaten Terrier, creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training is recommended.
Wheaten Terrier Potty Training
Prior to bringing a pup home, the Wheaten parent should choose a designated area when the dog will be doing its business. The pet parent should also decide whether the Wheaten Terrier will eliminate inside or outside especially for apartment dwellers who have a hard time accessing a yard or street. Indoor potty training utilizes litter boxes or puppy pads that are available for retail in the puppy store. However, parents should not start indoor potty training with the intention of introducing the pet to outdoor potty training and vice versa. This is because the dog will be confused whether it is desirable to eliminate inside or not.
As for the outdoor potty training, the elimination spot should be far from the BBQ spot and patio deck. The general rule of the thumb when potty training is understanding that the bladder and bowel muscles of a pup strengthens as the puppy matures. Therefore, an 8-week-old Wheaten Terrier will be able to hold for a period of 2 hours before eliminating while a 12-week-old pup should be able to hold for a period of 3 hours before eliminating. Therefore, puppies need frequent potty breaks during the day until the age of 8 months where they can be able to hold for a period of 6 to 8 hours before eliminating.
When potty training, a crate is an indispensable tool that enables the pet parent to monitor the Wheaten for signs that it wants to eliminate such as whining, sniffing, squatting, circling, restlessness, and trying to lift a leg against the crate wall. Naturally, dogs are den animals that avoid soiling where they sleep. Apart from using a crate, pet parents may make use of the umbilical cord method. This is where the end of a leash is attached to the owner. Therefore, a Wheaten Terrier is within an observable area. Before Wheaten Terriers are fully house broken, they should not roam freely to avoid experiencing accidents in the house.
For positive outcomes when potty training, take a Wheaten Terrier to the delegated area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 2 to 3 hours, after naptime, following an exciting activity like car ride and playtime, and before bed time. When you get to the designated area, utter the command word “toilet” or “potty” to give the dog the cue to eliminate. Avoid interchangeably using the two commands words to avoid confusing your pet. Remain in the toilet area for a period of 15 minutes to allow the bladder and bowel muscles to relax for a pee or poo. If the dog fails to eliminate, take it back to the delegated spot after a period of 15 to 30 minutes.
Before a Wheaten Terrier is fully housebroken, it may experience accidents in the house. If you get your Wheaten pup in the act, clap your hands to distract it and utter a firm No. Immediately take the dog where it is supposed to relieve itself. Remember to clean the mess using an enzymatic detergent or an iodine solution to completely get rid of the odor. If the odor is retained, there are chances that the dog will experience accidents in the house again after it sniffs the spot. Prior to the age of 16 weeks, pet parents should set an alarm to take the dog to the elimination area at least once a night.
Wheaten Terrier Temperament | Traits
- Intelligent.
- Playful.
- Energetic.
- Loving.
- Friendly.
- Protective.
- Stubborn.
- Devoted.
- Happy.
- Outgoing.
- Alert.
- Self-confident.
- Vocal.
Wheaten Terrier Exercise
A Wheaten Terrier is an energetic and playful dog even in old age. Therefore, it needs plenty of exercise on a daily basis. Wheaten Terriers bond to their owners who participate daily on the exercise sessions. This breed has a high prey-drive and should go for walks on a leash and play in a secured yard.
Wheaten Terrier Barking
A Wheaten Terrier is an alert breed that makes an excellent watchdog. It will bark to strangers to alert the owner. If not properly trained, a Wheaten may develop a habit of barking excessively.
Wheaten Terrier Height
A female Wheaten has a height of 17 to 18 inches ( approx. 43 to 46 cm ) while its male counterpart has a height of 18 to 19 inches ( approx. 46 to 48 cm ).
Wheaten Terrier | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Weight
An Adult male Wheaten has a weight of 35 to 40 pounds ( approx. 16 to 18 kg ) while its female counterpart has a weight of 30 to 35 pounds ( approx. 14 to 16 kg ).
Wheaten Terrier | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Size
Wheaten Terriers are medium-sized pure bred terriers. However, a Male Wheaten is slightly larger when compared to its female counterpart in terms of height and weight. Male Wheaten Terriers have a height of 18 to 19 inches ( approx. 46 to 48 cm ) and a weight of 35 to 40 pounds ( approx. 16 to 18 kg ) while Female Wheatens have a height of 17 to 18 inches ( approx. 43 to 46 cm ) and a weight of 30 to 35 pounds ( approx. 14 to 16 kg ).
Wheaten Terrier Aggressive
A well-socialized Wheaten is neither timid nor aggressive. Wheaten Terriers will bark at intruders to alert the owner but will rarely become aggressive. A Wheaten that is trained using negative correction methods will likely be fearful and/or aggressive.
Wheaten Terrier Bite Force
Reportedly, Wheaten Terriers may have a bite force of between 150 to 200 PSI.
Wheaten Terrier Biting
Wheaten Puppy biting may be rampant while puppies are playing, exploring their surroundings, or while teething due to discomfort. Puppy biting may seem adorable but not for long after the dog matures to have serious biting issues. Pet parents are urged to curb the habit using bite inhibition training and redirection.
Wheaten Terrier Ear Infection | Ear Problems
A Wheaten Terrier has small-to medium sized ears that drop slightly forward. This breed also has hair in the ear canal that may lead to moisture accumulation if irregularly cleaned. Trimming the hair inside the ear is recommended at least once a month to promote air flow. It is also recommended to dry the ears after a swimming activity to prevent moisture accumulation. Some of the causes of ear infections in Wheaten Terriers include moisture accumulation, excess wax, dirt, or debris, excessive ear cleaning, injury to the ear canal, ear mites, yeast imbalance, allergies, and endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism and Addison’s.
Wheaten Terriers are predisposed to three types of ear infections, externa, media, and interna otitis respectively. However, externa otitis is far more common and results to inflammation to the cells located in the external ear canal. If left untreated, the infection spreads to the middle and inner ear canal. Inflammation to the cells located in the middle and inner ear canal is media and interna otitis respectively. These infections cause vestibular signs such as dizziness, blurred vision, and disorientation, deafness, and facial paralysis.
Some of the signs that a Wheaten Terrier exhibits while suffering from an ear infection includes walking in circles, rubbing the affected ear against the surface, head shaking, pain, scratching at the affected ear, odor, scabs in the affected ear, swelling of the ear canal, redness, disorientation, and a dark discharge. Once a pet parent notices any of the above signs, he or she should book an appointment with the vet.
Upon arrival, the Wheaten Terrier will be physically examined before taking a swab from the affected ear. If the dog is in too much pain, it will be sedated to facilitate thorough ear cleaning using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls. While going home a topical medication and an ear cleanser solution will be prescribed. However, in severe cases, anti-inflammatory and oral antibiotics are prescribed.
Wheaten Terrier Eye Problems
Some of the eye problems that affect Wheaten Terriers include:
Cataracts – A Wheaten that is suffering from this eye issue has cloudy and whitish eye lenses that eventually lead to loss of vision.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy – This is a group of degenerative diseases that leads to gradual vision loss in Wheatens.
Distichiasis – This is an eye condition that results to growth of extra hairs in the eyelid that rubs against the surface of the eye.
Wheaten Terrier Health Issues
Generally, a Wheaten Terrier is a long lived breed that has a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. However, it is susceptible to various diseases including protein-losing enteropathy, protein-losing nephropathy, renal dysplasia, cancer, atopic dermatitis, Addison’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, ear infection, and certain eye disorders including distichiasis, cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy.
Wheaten Terrier Names
A Wheaten pet parent may decide to get a Wheaten Terrier pup a name before it leaves the shelter or a few days after the pet joins the family to understand more on the personality of the particular dog. Owners may get name inspirations from the Irish origin of the breed, coat color, personality, celebrity Wheaten Terriers, songs, movies, food, nature, and historical figures. Regardless off where they get the inspiration, the pet parents should ensure the name chosen freely rolls off their tongue and won’t make them embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public places.
Wheaten Terriers and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels. Avoid giving your dog a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion. If a pet parent settles with a long name, he or she should ensure they find a cute nickname for the pet. If a Wheaten Terrier shares a name with a family member or guest who frequent your household it may result to confusion. Some of the names that Wheaten Terrier parents give to their pets include:
- Lucy.
- Sadie.
- Winston.
- Tucker.
- Lola.
- Murphy.
- Max.
- Ginger.
- Daisy.
- Bailey.
- Luna.
- Gus.
- Oscar.
- Coco, etc.
Wheaten Terrier Food
The amount of food that Wheatens feed on depends on their activity level, metabolism, age, size, and body build. A Wheaten Puppy tends to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults and senior dogs. Therefore, a pup need to feed on 3 or 4 times a day from when it starts weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Wheaten Terriers should feed on two meals a day for the rest of their lives with snacks and treats in between. However, parents should watch out for calorie consumption and weight level to avoid overfeeding their dogs.
A Wheaten Terrier may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, owners should ensure that the pet feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If the Wheaten dog parent decides to feed the dog with the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial pet food should neither contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, meat by-products, generic meat products, nor fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for medium-sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age of the Wheaten. Check the physique of your pup to tell whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, the pet has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the pooch is overweight and should be exercised. After getting a puppy from a breeder, the owner is likely to switch to another quality food. They should gradually do this over a period of four weeks by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Wheaten Terrier is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Apart from Wheaten Terriers, other breeds of dogs include:
American Staffordshire Terrier.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Wheaten Terrier Colors
Mature adults Wheaten Terriers have a Wheaten Colored coat. However, puppies are born with a white, brown, or mahogany coats that later transitions to an adult wheaten coat.
Wheaten Terrier Types
There is only one type of pure bread Wheaten Terrier that may either have an Irish coat or an American coat( heavy).
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Allergies | Wheaten Terrier Allergies
A Wheaten Terrier is susceptible to various form of allergies as discussed below:
Skin allergy – A Wheaten is predisposed to skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies that affect the skin. Wheaten Terriers are also likely to suffer from atopic dermatitis a long-term inflammation of the skin that causes redness, rashes, itchiness, cracked, and swollen skin.
Contact allergies – This allergy affects a Wheaten once the skin comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Wheaten Terriers include grooming products like shampoo and conditioner, plastic food bowls, carpet cleaning detergents, latex, lawn chemicals, bed linens, and medications. Commonly affected body parts include the feet, around the muzzle, and feet. Contact allergies cause excessive scratching and biting leading to sores and lick granuloma.
Food allergies – A Wheaten Terrier is more predisposed to food allergies as compared to other breeds. This is because they suffer from protein-losing nephropathy(PLN) and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE).
Environmental allergies – Some of the environmental allergens that affect Wheaten Terriers include dust and dust mites, house molds, pollen, grass, ragweed, mites, and fleas. The saliva of the flea cause flea allergy dermatitis that affects the back legs and underneath the tail. This allergy causes excessive scratching, biting, and licking until the skin around the bite area is raw. The sores may cause secondary skin infections if left untreated. Signs of environmental allergies include sneezing, congestion, nasal discharge, and itchiness on various body parts including paws, feet, muzzle, groin, around the eyes, ears, underarms, and between the toes.
Wheaten Terrier Food Allergies
A Wheaten Terrier suffers from both protein-losing enteropathy(PLE) and protein-losing nephropathy (PLN). A Dog that suffers from PLN loses proteins through the kidneys while a pooch that is affected by PLE fails to full absorb proteins from its digestive tracts. Therefore, the proteins are passed in the stool. According to studies conducted, Wheaten Terriers that are both affected by PLN and PLE are more susceptible to food allergy.
A True food allergy in dogs result to an immune response that is normally accompanied with a wide range of symptoms ranging from skin issues to gastrointestinal stress. Some of the skin issues conditions that Wheaten Terriers exhibit due to food allergies include hives, sores, crusting lesions, pruritus, facial swelling, itchiness, and dermatitis. Whereas gastrointestinal symptoms include acute vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss, and bloating.
Apart from food allergies, a Wheaten Terrier may also suffer from food sensitivity or intolerance. Owners may confuse food allergy for food sensitivity since they both cause vomiting and diarrhea. However, food intolerance doesn’t result in an immune response but occurs as a gradual response to an offending ingredient in the diet and snacks of a Wheaten Terrier. Some of the ingredients that cause food sensitivities in Wheatens include fillers, soy, corn, wheat, chemicals, preservatives, flavors, beef, chicken, turkey, fish, milk, pork, eggs, lamb, etc.
Signs of food intolerance include poor skin and coat, ear infections, foot infections, diarrhea, and vomiting. Wheaten parents are urged to work along with the vet to manage the symptoms and find the offending ingredient in the diet of the dog through elimination method. This is where the dog feeds one type of protein and carbohydrate for at least 8 weeks. Some parents may opt to switch to a raw diet.
Wheaten Terrier Skin Issues
A Wheaten Terrier is affected by various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Skin allergies – A Wheaten suffers from skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies that manifest on the skin. Food allergies cause hives, sores, facial swelling, dermatitis, and pruritus. Environmental allergies also cause atopic dermatitis, a skin inflammation condition that results in rashes, sores, lesions, itchiness, and redness. One of the environmental allergies, flea, cause flea allergy dermatitis that results in excessive scratching and biting on the back legs and underneath the tail until the skin round the bite area is raw.
Cutaneous Asthenia – This is a rare genetic disease that affect Wheatens. It makes the skin to stretch and tear easily. The torn parts of the skin don’t bleed. However, they cause scarring and sagging until the skin heals. Eventually, the skin becomes fragile and thin.
Cushing’s disease – This is a healthy condition that is caused by trauma in the pituitary gland. Cushing’s disease affect the skin by causing lesions, hair loss on the perineum, neck, and flanks, and thinning of the skin.
Wheaten Terrier Eyes
A Wheaten Terrier has brown or dark reddish brown medium-sized eyes that are slightly almond shaped.
Wheat Terrier Ears
Wheaten Terriers have small-to medium sized ears that drop slightly forward.
Wheat Terrier Head
A Wheaten Terrier has a rectangular shaped head that is moderately long and well balanced in proportion to the body.
Wheat Terrier Tail
A Wheaten may have a docked or natural tail. Either way, the tail should be carried upright 90 degrees from the back.
Wheaten Terrier Teeth
During birth, Wheaten Terrier puppies are whelped with no teeth. However, the milk teeth starts growing from the age of 2 to 3 weeks until the dog has a total of 28 deciduous teeth at the age of 6 to 8 weeks. From the age of 12 weeks, a Wheaten pup starts loosing its milk teeth as permanent teeth erupt beneath them. Between the age of 6 to 8 months a Wheaten should have a total of 42 adult teeth.
Are Wheaten Terrier Hypoallergenic
Yes. A Wheaten Terrier is considered hypoallergenic since it has a single-layered silky hair coat that is non-shedding. Therefore, reducing the amount of dander released into the environment. However, dog’s saliva, mucus, and urine contain a protein allergen that aggravates allergies. Therefore, it is necessary to spend lots of time with a Wheaten before adopting to determine whether your are allergic to the dog in question.
Are Wheaten Terriers Smart
Yes. Wheaten Terriers are smart dogs that respond well to positive training methods.
Are Wheaten Terriers Aggressive
No. Wheaten Terriers are neither timid or aggressive. However, if harsh corrections methods are used on them, they may be fearful and/or aggressive.
Wheaten Terriers Quick Facts
- Wheaten Terriers that suffer from protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) or protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) are more susceptible to food allergies.
- This dog is an enthusiastic greeter, and often jump up in order to lick the face of the person in a habit described as “Wheaten greetin”.
- Wheaten Terriers make great watchdogs since they bark at strangers to alert the owner. However, they will barely exhibit aggressive behavior towards the strangers which makes them poor guard dogs.
