Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Personality

The Wheaten is a happy, affectionate terrier with a big personality. The AKC describes a devoted, cheerful dog with a stubborn streak that reminds you it is a terrier. Most Wheatens greet people with joyful leaps, which charms adults and can overwhelm toddlers. VCA describes them as fun-loving, gentle with children and friendly toward strangers.

Expect an alert, busy dog. Wheatens notice everything and will bark to report it, though they tend to be watchdogs rather than guards. They bond closely with their families and like to be part of whatever is going on.

The terrier traits are still there. The AKC lists a strong prey drive, and a Wheaten will chase squirrels and other small animals without much warning. Dog-to-dog manners are usually fine with early socialization, though the AKC rates dog-friendliness as moderate. Their energy stays steady into old age, so this is a lifetime commitment to activity.

History

The Wheaten is one of Ireland's long-legged terriers, sharing ancestry with the Kerry Blue and Irish Terriers. For generations it worked as an all-purpose farm dog, killing rats, guarding the chicken coop and helping with herding or bird-dogging, then settled in as a fireside companion. VCA says the breed was established by the 1700s, though its early history is poorly documented. The nickname "Poor Man's Wolfhound" nods to its humble role.

Formal recognition came late. The Irish Kennel Club recognized the Wheaten in 1937, and an Irish championship of the day also demanded proof of hunting ability, not just wins in the show ring. The first Wheatens reached the United States in the 1940s through Lydia Vogel of Massachusetts, and the breed appeared at Westminster in 1947. Real activity began in the late 1950s, and the AKC recognized the breed in 1973.

Today Wheatens are mostly companions and show dogs, and many take part in obedience, agility and tracking events. Two coat styles exist: the thinner, silkier Irish type and the fuller American type.

Appearance, coat & colors

Wheatens are square, sturdy terriers. The AKC lists 18 to 19 in (46 to 48 cm) and 35 to 40 lb (16 to 18 kg) for males, and 17 to 18 in (43 to 46 cm) and 30 to 35 lb (14 to 16 kg) for females. The AKC sums up the breed as a hard-muscled working terrier wearing a soft coat.

The silky, gently waving coat runs from pale beige to shimmering gold, the color of ripening wheat, and wheaten is the only color the AKC lists. The face has a dashing goatee and a peek-a-boo fringe over the eyes. VCA notes that the coat has no noticeable undercoat.

Puppies often look nothing like adults. They can be born with dark red, brown or mahogany coats that gradually lighten, and the mature coat usually arrives around age three. Dark guard hairs may remain mixed in, so a Wheaten's color can look slightly uneven even when the dog is fully grown.

Training

Wheatens are smart, but they like to run their own agenda. The AKC calls them keenly smart and willful and says that makes training a challenge, and VCA describes them as eager to please yet headstrong. Start early, before bad habits set in, and stay consistent.

A Wheaten needs firm, fair guidance, but it takes rough handling badly, the AKC warns. Reward-based training with food and games works best, and heavy-handed corrections tend to backfire. Keep sessions short and varied, since a bored terrier invents its own entertainment.

Two skills deserve special effort: polite greetings and recall. The enthusiastic leap at faces is cute from a puppy and less so from a 40-lb adult, so teach calm greetings from the first week. Prey drive makes off-leash reliability a long project, so keep the dog leashed outside fenced areas. Puppy classes, rally and agility give a clever terrier something constructive to do.

Exercise

The AKC rates Wheaten energy as medium to high and says it stays that way into old age, so daily exercise is a must. VCA suggests a moderate walk, a jog or a run in a safely enclosed space. Wheatens bond with their owners and expect you to join in. Our guide to how much exercise a dog needs explains how to match the amount to age.

Because of the strong prey drive, the AKC advises a securely fenced yard and leashed walks, since a Wheaten will chase almost anything that moves. Keep off-leash time inside enclosed spaces.

Beyond walks, fetch, scent games, agility and trick training give the mind a workout. Wheatens do best in cool weather and VCA rates their tolerance of warm weather low, so shift summer exercise to early morning or evening. On rainy days, short training sessions and hide-and-seek with toys help prevent restlessness.

Grooming

Grooming is the Wheaten's biggest chore. The AKC says the silky coat takes a fair amount of maintenance and suggests a daily session with a pin or slicker brush, followed by combing with a medium-toothed and a fine-toothed metal comb. VCA says combing every second day is the least you can get away with, with a bath and trim about every other month.

The coat sheds very little, so loose hair stays in the coat and forms mats unless you remove it. Work any mat apart with a brush, comb and fingers, never scissors, which can cut skin. Many owners keep the coat clipped to about 3 in (8 cm) because it is easier to manage, and a professional groomer can set a schedule.

Check the ears regularly for signs of infection, brush the teeth often (our guide to brushing your dog's teeth walks through it) and trim nails routinely. Low shedding is not the same as allergen-free: no dog is completely free of allergens.

Feeding

A Wheaten does well on a complete and balanced diet for its life stage. The AKC says high-quality commercial food, or home-prepared meals under your vet's supervision, can both work, and it warns that some dogs gain weight easily, so watch calories and keep treats modest. VCA describes the ideal build as moderate: the ribs should be easy to feel through the coat but not obvious to the eye.

Because the coat hides body shape, check weight by hand and on the scale. Use the dog food calculator for a starting amount, then adjust with your vet.

Diet deserves extra thought in this breed. Wheatens are prone to protein-losing kidney and gut disease, and the parent club's health pages include a section on feeding Wheatens. If your dog is ever diagnosed with either condition, do not switch foods or add supplements on your own; let your vet guide any changes.

Health

Wheatens are generally healthy and long-lived, but two protein-wasting conditions stand out. Protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) is a kidney disease, and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is the term for several gut conditions. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America (SCWTCA) says PLN and PLE seem to occur more often than normal in Wheatens, though not every Wheaten will develop them. The AKC and the club also list Addison's disease and renal dysplasia.

The AKC's list of the parent club's recommended tests includes hip and eye exams, DNA tests for two PLN variants, a complete blood count, a urinalysis, a urine protein (UPC/microalbumin) test and a serum chemistry panel. Ask your vet how often your own dog should be screened.

Tell your vet about changes in appetite, weight, thirst, stool or energy rather than waiting. Check the ears regularly for signs of infection, and brush the teeth often, as the AKC advises.

Health conditions to know about

• Protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) — A kidney disease in which protein is lost through the kidneys; DNA tests and urine screening are available.
• Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) — A term for several gut conditions that cause protein loss; the parent club offers screening guidance.
• Addison's disease — A hormone disorder listed by the AKC and the parent club as a concern in the breed.
• Renal dysplasia — A developmental kidney defect that breeders screen for.
• Ear infections — The AKC advises regular ear checks to catch problems early.

Health tests to ask a breeder about

• Hip evaluation
• Eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist
• PLN DNA tests (variants 1 and 2)
• Complete blood count
• Urinalysis
• UPC/microalbumin urine test
• Serum chemistry panel

Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 30, 2026. Editorial policy

Living with a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Wheatens are adaptable family dogs that can be happy in a city apartment or a country house as long as they get exercise and company. They bark moderately and will announce visitors, so consider noise-sensitive neighbors. Terriers left alone with nothing to do dig, chew and bark, so a Wheaten is not a dog to leave for long workdays.

Fencing matters. The AKC points to a strong prey drive and recommends a securely fenced yard, so supervise any time outdoors and keep the dog on a leash away from home.

Cool weather suits them. The soft coat is comfortable in cold and damp, but VCA rates the breed's tolerance of warm weather low, so provide shade, water and a cool indoor space in summer. Expect muddy beards and wet paws after walks, plus a towel by the door.

Puppies, breeders & rescue

Choose a breeder who health tests. The parent club says a breeder should supply hip and eye clearances for both parents, along with PLN variant gene results for the parents or the puppy. It also keeps a health and pedigree database of over 100,000 Wheatens, so ask to see results and ask about kidney or gut disease in the family.

Meet the mother, see how the puppies are raised and look for a written contract and lifetime support. Prices vary widely by region and breeder. Be cautious about any seller who promises a "hypoallergenic" dog; low shedding is not a guarantee.

Wheatens also appear in rescue, and the parent club lists independent rescue groups on its site. Adults can suit people who prefer to see a dog's personality before committing. Our breed selector can help you compare the Wheaten with other breeds.