Where the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier came from
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier comes from Ireland, where the breed was kept as an all purpose farm dog for more than 200 years. They herded and guarded livestock and hunted vermin. They are said to have been called the poor man's wolfhound, since ordinary farm families were not allowed to keep hunting dogs.
The breed was not recognized by the Irish Kennel Club until 1937, and the UK Kennel Club recognized them in 1943. The first Wheatens came to the United States in the 1940s. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America formed in 1962, and the AKC recognized the breed in 1973.
Today Wheatens are known as bouncy, friendly, people loving terriers with a silky, wavy coat. They are often more social than other terriers, but they still have strong terrier energy.
- 1937 The Irish Kennel Club recognizes the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- 1943 The Kennel Club in the UK recognizes the breed
- 1962 The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America is formed
- 1973 AKC recognizes the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
The job a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier was bred for
An everyday farm helper that watched stock, kept rats down and guarded the house. That is why many Wheatens are alert, bold, a bit bossy and strongly attached to their people.
What you may see at home
Bouncy greeter, jumps up, sensitive, strongly attached to their people.
Give them: Calm greeting practice, agility, scent work, and gentle training.
Sports that fit a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Agility. A bouncy, quick dog that loves to move
- Herding instinct tests. The breed has farm herding roots, and the American Herding Breed Association accepts them
- Rally. Great for a people loving dog who likes to work with their person
- Scent work. Uses the nose and gives a busy mind a job
- Barn hunt. Taps into their vermin hunting side
Training tips for a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Teach four on the floor early. Wheatens are famous for big, bouncy greetings, so reward calm sits at the door.
- Use upbeat, short sessions with food. They are sensitive and do not like harsh handling.
- Practice settling on a mat, and pay for it often.
- Start coat brushing and handling as a puppy so grooming is easy later.
Body and health
The soft, wavy coat mats easily and needs regular brushing and trimming. Some lines have kidney and gut problems, so ask the breeder about health testing.
Fun fact. Wheaten puppies are born with a darker coat that slowly lightens to the soft wheat color the breed is named for.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.