Is the Wheaten Terrier the Breed for You?

Source © Shutterstock

They’re sweet, they are cute and they are a bit fluffy and shaggy, and people love them. The Wheaten terrier is a dog that people just adore, and a lot of that has to do with the sweet expression and adorable face on this breed. It resembles a poodle from afar with its soft, thick coat of kind of curly fur, but it is not a poodle. In fact, it’s a very sweet dog with a very sweet disposition, but it’s the kind of dog that you want to bring home when you have kids that want a dog that’s kind, gentle and absolutely adorable. This is one of the most popular dog breeds; it ranks among the top 50 breeds in the world, and it’s one that’s very good with just about all people. It loves the ones that love it most, and it’s got a keen sense of intelligence, which makes this breed easy to live with and care for. But, it is a part of the terrier family. And anyone with a terrier will tell you that this means it’s a dog that has a stubborn streak. It’s not that it wants to defy you or treat you with anything but kindness, it just always thinks it is right (and come on, don’t we all?) and that is something you have to deal with when you take on this sweet breed.

Personality

What do you think you’re going to get when you bring home a wheaten terrier? The answer is a bit different for every person that decides to make this dog their own. It’s a dog that might be one way with one person and another way with another person. It’s a sweet dog that you will love endlessly, but they’re all different. Each dog will develop its own personality and temperament, but as a whole they are a very good breed. They are very loyal and friendly, they are very much a part of the family, and they love kids. They’re gentle, they do have a personality on them, and they are interested in being a bit active from time to time. They are dogs that are often described as lively but not annoying, and very happy. Who doesn’t love a happy dog that wants to have fun but not all the time?

Exercise

One of the things that people come to expect in a terrier is scrappy behavior. They expect a dog that wants to be on top of them all the time, that wants to jump and that wants to be part of the action at all times. What they don’t expect, however, is a dog that is active but not annoying. The wheaten terrier is that breed. It’s the perfect terrier for someone who loves the look and the concept of the breed but does not love the over-the-top playful behavior so many terriers contain. This is a dog that will need to be exercised daily in the form of a few short walks, a long walk, or some free time to run around the yard and let loose some energy.

Grooming

Since it does have so much fur, people assume that this is a breed that requires a great deal of grooming. The good news is that it does not. It does have to be brushed regularly, but it does not shed too much, and it’s a good dog to have if you’re not into the grooming deal. You will need to find a groomer and maintain a good relationship, however, because you will want to send the dog to the groomer fairly regularly in an effort to keep his fur nice, neat and trimmed. It is prone to knotting, so you will want to keep it short enough to prevent that, but long enough to look adorable.

Health

While any dog in the world could develop any potential disease, this is a generally healthy breed. It has no real health concerns when it comes to breed-specific health issues. However, this is not a guarantee that your wheaten terrier will grow up healthy. It is a guarantee that you do not have specific issues to worry about, but not that your dog won’t develop issues after being bitten by an infected animal or developing a disease that you really just cannot prevent or do anything about. The best way to ensure your wheaten terrier lives a long a healthy life is to ensure that he sees the vet regularly and without bias. You should ensure you go to all appointments; you should call the vet anytime you believe something is not right about the dog, and you should keep a close eye on his habits at home. A dog that seems ill, is losing weight, and isn’t eating or experiences a drastic personality change might indicate some sort of health issue that you and the vet will want to explore. There are no guarantees with animals and their health, but the vet can help you keep your dog alive, healthy and happy as long as possible.

Part of Your Family

When this breed becomes a part of your family, you will want to know what to expect. The good news is that this is a dog that is very adaptable and very simple; it’s going to love living anywhere with you. Even if you have a small apartment with no yard, this dog is going to be quite happy just to be with you. While it is a dog and it would love to have a yard in which to run and play, it’s quite happy with some time on the leash at the park or some time on a walk around the neighborhood. Additionally, this is a breed that does very well with all people. It adores children and adults, so it’s not going to give you any issues when it comes to raising this dog as a part of your family. You will love this dog every bit as much as it loves you.

Photo by Getty Images