Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
About the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 17-19" |
| Weight | 30-40 lbs |
| Coat Type | Curly |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Moderate (30-60 min/day)
45 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
High - Daily
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,000-$2,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,400/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- First-Time Owners
- Active Owners
- Allergy Sufferers
May Not Be Ideal For
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
- Low-Maintenance Seekers
Guides for your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
The story behind the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
The breed comes from rural Ireland, where a soft-coated wheaten-colored terrier served as a general-purpose farm dog for tenant farmers and smallholders, killing vermin, herding and driving stock in a rough fashion, and guarding the homestead. Unlike terriers bred by the gentry for hunting, these were poor men's dogs, valued for usefulness rather than pedigree, and they went undocumented for a long period. Irish enthusiasts organised recognition in the 1930s, and tradition holds that the breed was formally recognised in Ireland on Saint Patrick's Day, with working certificates initially required. Dogs reached the United States in the mid twentieth century and Britain around the same period, gaining kennel club recognition in both countries in later decades. The Wheaten now lives overwhelmingly as a family and exhibition dog, in steady but never large numbers internationally.
Originally bred for: Farm vermin dog, cattle drover, homestead guardian. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Feed a good-quality complete diet appropriate to an active medium dog, split into two meals. Because the coat hides body shape completely, assess weight by feel every few weeks. Adequate essential fats support the silky coat that defines the breed.
Watch for: This breed is more often discussed than most in relation to digestive and protein-related conditions, so unexplained weight loss, chronic diarrhoea, vomiting or fluid swelling should always prompt prompt veterinary attention rather than home diet experiments. Any therapeutic diet must be veterinary-directed.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.