Yes, Wheaten Terriers shed, but they do not shed much compared to other breeds. Regular grooming, including brushing and occasional trimming, helps manage their coat and minimize loose hair and matting.

Yes, Wheaten Terriers are fantastic family dogs. Affectionate and friendly, they make great companions for all members of the family, including other pets. They have tons of energy that they maintain through adulthood, and they enjoy being included in family activities. Wheaten Terriers are devoted dogs that love the company of their humans.

Wheaten Terriers can run 25 to 30 miles per hour. They are agile and energetic dogs with good endurance, too.

Wheaten Terriers live 12 to 14 years. Their lifespan can vary depending on factors such as genetics, overall health, diet, exercise, and quality of veterinary care throughout their lives. With proper care and attention to their needs, Wheaten Terriers can live long and healthy lives as cherished family members.

Wheaten Terriers stop growing around 12 to 18 months of age. They may continue to fill out and gain muscle mass until they are about two years old.

Wheaten Terriers were originally bred as farm dogs who excelled in multiple roles, including hunting vermin such as rats and mice to protect crops and food stores, herding livestock like sheep and cattle when needed, and serving as reliable watchdogs for the farmstead. Their soft coat and friendly demeanor also made them beloved companions for farmers and their families. Today, while they are more commonly cherished as affectionate and playful family pets, they are still more than up for being capable farm dogs.

Wheaten Terriers (or their official name: Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers) are from Ireland. In 1868, Ireland passed a law forbidding any non-wealthy landowners from owning a “hound, beagle, greyhound, or land spaniel.” As a result, Irish peasants and farmers cultivated a long-legged dog that helped them guard their property, herd farm animals, and hunt.

Wheaten Terriers come in two coat types: Irish and American. The Irish Wheaten Terrier coat is the “breed standard” and is more silky and wavy than the American coat, which tends to be thicker and more like wool.

No, Wheaten Terriers don't bark a lot. They will bark to alert their families if necessary but are not excessively vocal. As with any dog, they can be discouraged from barking with proper training and exercise.

Yes, Wheaten Terriers are easy to train due to their keen intelligence. Like many other smart breeds, Wheaten Terriers may have a stubborn and/or independent streak. While they may have their own ideas about things, their affectionate and playful nature generally makes them responsive to training efforts when approached with understanding and positive reinforcement techniques. With consistency and patience, Wheaten Terriers can master commands and obedience skills.

Yes, Wheaten Terriers are smart dogs. Intelligent, with quick learning abilities and problem-solving skills, Wheaten Terriers excel in various training activities and enjoy mental stimulation.

Wheaten Terriers can be suitable for first-time pet parents who are committed to providing consistent training, exercise, and socialization. Their friendly nature and intelligence make Wheaten Terriers beloved family pets, but they do require regular grooming and plenty of exercise to live their best lives.

Wheaten Terriers can be good with cats. Their friendly and sociable nature often extends to other animals, and they can form positive relationships with cats if given the opportunity to interact calmly and positively. Be aware that their prey drive can sometimes lead them to give chase to cats. Of course, each dog (and cat) has their own preferences and temperament, but if properly socialized and introduced at a young age, your Wheaten Terrier and cat will likely get along.

Yes, Wheaten Terriers are good with other dogs, especially when they are well-socialized and trained. These pups enjoy the company of other dogs and can get along well with them.

Yes, Wheaten Terriers are wonderful with kids. These playmates are energetic yet gentle, as well as patient and tolerant with children.

As with any breed, supervise interactions between your child and Wheaten Terrier to keep both happy and safe. Teaching children how to properly approach and handle dogs is crucial to ensure positive experiences for both the dog and the child, as is teaching dogs how to interact gently with children.

Wheaten Terriers are generally a very sturdy, healthy breed with a relatively long lifespan. However, they can be prone to certain diseases, including:

• Protein-wasting diseases: Protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) is the loss of protein via the kidneys, while with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) the digestive tract fails to fully absorb protein. Luckily, there are tests to diagnose both of these diseases.

• Addison’s disease: Addison’s disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism, is caused by a malfunction in the hormone production of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are small glands near the kidneys responsible for a variety of body functions, such as controlling salt, sugar, and water balance in the body. In Addison’s disease, the body is unable to create enough cortisol. Without cortisol, a dog cannot manage stress or digest food properly. Dogs with Addison’s disease may suffer from weakness, an abnormally fast heart rate, depression, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and excessive thirst and urination. Your vet can test your pup to detect Addison’s disease and provide long-term medication.

• Hip and/or elbow dysplasia: Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. They are similar diseases in which either the hip or elbow joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen. The abnormal shape prevents the joints and sockets from properly meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. Unlike in hip dysplasia, where the main problem is joint instability, the abnormalities seen in elbow dysplasia often result in pieces of bone and/or cartilage breaking loose and irritating the joint tissues. Over time, the rubbing from dysplasia can cause a variety of issues, such as pain, lameness, and secondary osteoarthritis. Surgery can fix the joint if diagnosed before the onset of arthritis. If you are rescuing a Wheaten Terrier, have them checked out by a vet to determine their likelihood for dysplasia.

• Renal dysplasia: This is an abnormal development of the kidney that could cause renal failure, allergies, and cancer.

To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend hip and imaging tests. A healthy diet and plenty of exercise can help keep many health concerns at bay.