Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Temperament, Size, Lifespan & Care

Wheaten Terrier temperament and personality

VCA describes the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier as fun-loving and affectionate with a gentle, playful nature, friendly toward strangers and an attentive watchdog.

Wheatens are terriers, but softer-tempered than many. Most greet everyone with enthusiasm and stay playful well into adulthood. Their energy and bounce need channeling, especially the classic Wheaten greeting of leaping at faces.

They do best with plenty of company and do not enjoy long hours alone.

How big do Wheaten Terriers get?

VCA gives a height of 17 to 19 inches and a weight of 30 to 40 pounds, and the AKC's breed weight chart lists the same 30 to 40 pounds. Neither source sets separate ranges by sex.

Wheatens are medium-sized and square-built. The soft coat hides body shape, so feel for the ribs and ask your vet what a healthy weight looks like for your dog.

Weigh your dog every couple of months.

Wheaten Terrier lifespan and common health issues

VCA gives a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Its page does not list specific conditions, so ask your vet and the breeder which inherited problems the national breed club tracks in Wheatens and which screening tests it recommends for breeding dogs and puppies.

Ask a breeder what health screening, including any recommended DNA tests and kidney checks, the parents have had. Ask your vet whether routine blood and urine tests make sense for your dog. Ongoing diarrhea, weight loss or increased thirst should be seen promptly.

Exercise needs

VCA recommends a daily moderate walk, short jog or run in an enclosed area, plus games and tricks for mental exercise. Most Wheatens are content with an hour or so of activity a day.

Keep the dog leashed or in a fenced area, since a terrier may chase. Agility, rally and trick training suit the breed and help burn off youthful energy.

Mental exercise, such as puzzle feeders and scent games, helps on rainy days.

Grooming and shedding

VCA says the coat needs brushing or combing every other day, with bathing and trimming about every other month, and that clipping it to around 3 inches makes upkeep easier. It says the breed sheds very little.

Brush right down to the skin with a pin brush and metal comb to prevent mats, especially behind the ears and under the legs. Keep the hair around the eyes trimmed. No breed is allergen-free, so allergy sufferers should meet a Wheaten before committing.

Training a Wheaten Terrier

VCA says Wheatens are eager to please but can be headstrong, and respond best to reward-based training using food and games.

Teach a sit for greetings from day one and reward four paws on the floor, since jumping up is the breed's signature habit. Keep sessions short and fun, and practice recall on a long line.

Short, cheerful sessions work best. Practice handling the paws, ears and beard daily so grooming stays easy.

Are Wheaten Terriers good with kids and other pets?

VCA says Wheatens are well suited to children and usually good with other dogs and pets. Their gentle, playful nature makes them popular family dogs.

Supervise play with toddlers, since an excited Wheaten may knock them over. Introduce small pets carefully, as with any terrier.

Teach children to greet the dog calmly so it learns to keep its paws on the floor, and give it a quiet bed to rest. Supervise play with smaller pets.

What a Wheaten Terrier needs at home

A fenced yard, a crate, a washable bed and a harness and leash for walks are the basics. Puzzle feeders, chew toys and fetch toys give a playful terrier an outlet.

For the coat, keep a pin brush, a slicker brush, a metal comb, detangling spray, nail clippers, ear cleaner and a dog toothbrush, and budget for professional trims. Ask your vet about health screening for the breed.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.