Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Picture Gallery

Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Breeders

Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Clubs/Associations

The Full Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Description

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier enjoys games, especially with children. Most take pleasure in meeting strangers, whether people or other animals. He will greet friends with great joy, and loves to go places with the family. The Wheaten is a quick learner, with a steady mind, and likes plenty of exercise every day.

Did you know?

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a native of Ireland.

So you want to own a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

The Wheaten is a quick, lively, affectionate dog who maintains the exuberance of a puppy for his entire life.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Medium-sized, compact, upstanding terrier well covered with a soft, wheaten-coloured, natural coat that falls in loose curls or waves. An active, short-coupled dog, strong and well built; well balanced in structure and movement, not exaggerated in any way. Standing four square with head and tail up, giving the appearance of a happy dog, full of character.

Characteristics

A natural terrier with strong sporting instincts, hardy and of strong constitution.

Temperament

Good-tempered, spirited and game. Full of confidence and humour; a delightful, affectionate, intelligent companion.

Head and Skull

Flat, moderately long and profusely covered with coat which falls forward over the eyes. Skull of medium width but not coarse. Stop well defined, cheek bones not prominent. Distance from eye to nose not longer, and preferably shorter, than the distance from the eyes to occiput. Jaws strong and punishing, muzzle square with no suggestion of snipiness. Topline of muzzle absolutely straight and parallel with skull. Nose black and large for size of dog. Head in general powerful, without being coarse.

Eyes

Clear, bright dark hazel. Medium size set under strong brow. Eye rims black.

Ears

V-shaped and folded at level of skull. Forward edge drops down slightly forward to lie closely along cheek, back edge standing slightly away from side of head. Leathers thin, small to medium in size, covered with coat and fringe.

Mouth

Lips tight and black. Teeth large. Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Moderately long, strong, muscular and slightly arched. Without throatiness. Gradually widening toward, and running cleanly into shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulders long, well laid back, and sloping inwards from points to withers. Not loose, fine, but muscular. Viewed from any angle, the forelegs perfectly straight. Good bone and muscle. Pasterns strong and springy. Chest moderately wide. Dewclaws on the front legs may be removed.

Body

Compact, with powerful short loins. Back strong and level. Ribs well sprung without roundness, providing deep chest with relatively short coupling. Length of back from point of withers to base of tail should measure about the same as, or slightly less than, from point of withers to ground.

Hindquarters

Thighs strong and muscular. Hindlegs well developed with powerful muscle and well bent stifles. Hocks well let down and turning neither in nor out. Dewclaws on the hind legs should be removed.

Feet

Strong, and compact, turned neither in nor out. Good depth of pad. Toenails black.

Tail

Customarily docked.
Docked: Set on high, carried gaily but never over back. Not curled and not too thick.
Undocked: Set on high, carried gaily but never over back, not curled and not too thick. Tip may curve forward in a gentle arc. Length in overall balance with the rest of dog.

Gait/Movement

Free, graceful and lively. Well coordinated with long, low strides. Reach in front and good drive behind; straight action fore and aft. Head and tail carried high, the backline remaining level.

Coat

Soft and silky. Neither woolly nor wiry. Loosely waved or curly, but if curly, curls large, light and loose. The coat should not stand off but flow and fall naturally. Coat abundant all over body and especially profuse on head and legs. Length of leg coat sufficient to give good balance to the length of coat on head and body. There is no seasonal change in the length or texture of the mature coat. Over-trimming or stylising should be penalised. For show purposes the coat may be tidied to present a neat outline. Coat colour and texture do not stabilize until about 24 months and should be given some latitude in young dogs.

Colour

A good clear wheaten. A shade of ripening wheat. A white coat and red coat equally objectionable. Dark shading on ears not untypical. Often a slight fluctuation in the intensity of colour in mature coat, but overall effect should be light wheaten. Dark overall colour and the even darker markings often present in the immature coat, should clear by about 18-24 months.

Size

Height: dogs: approximately 46-49 cms (18-191/2 ins) measured at the withers; bitches slightly less. Weight: dogs approximately 16-20.5 kgs (35-45 lbs); bitches somewhat less.