IDENTIFYING A SOFT-COATED WHEATEN TERRIER
General Appearance
The
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium sized, hardy, well balanced, sporting terrier. Square in outline, he is normally recognised by his soft, silky, gently waving coat of warm wheaten colour and his particularly steady disposition.
The UK Breed Standard requires moderation, both in structure and presentation and any exaggerations are to be shunned. He should present the overall appearance of an alert and happy animal, graceful, strong and well coordinated.
RESCUE INFORMATION
Identifying a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier (SCWT), from other breeds, especially one that is a stray, can be difficult.
The lack of grooming, or improper grooming, combined with varied coat textures and colour, can totally obscure the typical Wheaten image.
The following information will help identify Wheatens that are in need of rescue.
EYES, NOSE & NAILS. The eyes are generally dark but may be hidden by the coat. The nose is big and black. Nails are black.
Variations: Wheatens can have golden brown eyes, the nose can be faded, i.e. greyish,and nails can be light or brown.
COAT. The coat is generally wheaten-coloured, soft and wavy. It is non-shedding.
Variations : It can be so light that it appears to be white or grey, may be profuse or sparse, straight or curly and may also have grey hairs in body coat.
The texture can range from silky to coarse and cottony. The coat may be profuse or sparse, straight or curly, or it may even be totally matted in clumps.
Ears and muzzle may be black or grey.
TAIL. The Wheaten tail was customarily docked, but, after the UK banned the docking of tails in 2007, Wheatens with undocked tails will continue to increase. There are exceptions; Wheatens with docked tails can be imported and also those born before the docking ban was implemented. Also there are some unregistered Wheatens which are (perhaps) unlawfully docked.
Variations : Some undocked tails resemble the tail of a Golden Retriever or may be carried over the back
HEIGHT and WEIGHT. Height for a Wheaten male is between 17"-19" (43-48cm.) at the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades), females are at the lower end of this scale. Weight is generally between 30-40 lbs. (30.6-18 kgs), but some Wheatens can exceed this weight.
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THE UNCARED FOR WHEATEN
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Some of the matts on Frosty were 12" x 12" (30x30 cm).
It was impossible to distinguish what sex he was and he had to be completely shorn. |
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THE 'SHAGGY' WHEATEN |
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Sometimes resembles
a sheepdog? |
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A SHEARED WHEATEN |
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This totally sheared Wheaten's body shows the classic terrier structure; terrier head and wheaten colour. |
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IMPROPERLY TRIMMED |
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The body was sheared, but the hair was left
on the head and tail.
The head resembled a Bichon, obscuring the
long terrier nose.
The ears can resemble those of a spaniel and
the tail that of a poodle.
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IN CONCLUSION
A Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier can vary significantly from the image that we know and suspecting a SCWT in distress warrants close attention.
W.H.I and the SCWT Club of GB would rather receive a call about a Wheaten that turned out not to be one, than to have a Wheaten go unidentified.
A list of names of those willing to take on a rescue Wheaten is held by the Secretary of the SCWT Club of GB and assistance will be provided in finding a suitable home.
This page can be printed as a three-fold leaflet. Click here for a pdf file, which should be printed back-to-back.
See also our Gallery for coat variations, together with many other images of the Wheaten Terrier.
Sincere thanks to Gwen Arthur and ‘Wheatens in Need Rescue’ USA,
for the idea for this information.
