Dog Food Secrets

The native of Ireland, the Wheaten Terrier, is an adorable and fluffy breed of dog that’s famous with many families around the world. Before it received international fame, however, this dog used to work as a herder, watchdog, flock guard and rat hunter in Ireland. Today, it is a prized family pet of many people and a valuable contender of dog sports such as agility, obedience and tracking competitions.

The Wheaten terrier is none or minimal shedder type of dog and that its coat is actually called hair and not fur. This hair has four varieties: Traditional Irish, Heavy Irish, English, and American; the Irish variety being thinner and silkier than the American variety. And like human hair, the Wheaten’s hair also constantly grows out therefore it needs to be trimmed or cut regularly.

The general color of the breed is wheaten but there are some that are colored white. Kennel clubs does not honor the white colored much. As puppies, some Wheaten may be born with red, mahogany or brown coats but they fall off to become wheaten as the puppies grow old.

Grooming the Wheaten terrier’s hair does not include hair brushing as this tends to make the coat fuzzy. The best way to groom the Wheaten terrier is through combing with the use of medium-toothed comb. This should be done regularly, daily if necessary, and should be done from its puppy years unto adulthood.

Training this breed to obey does not require harsh words or hard sessions because they are quite smart and learn easily. They are naturally enthusiastic and lively dogs and love to play around children and other animals. They are sweet-tempered, easy-going, graceful and confident that, as an owner, you dont have to worry if they will get along with other people or creatures during any socialization event.

The unique and amusing character of the Wheaten terrier is its way of welcoming people and this is fondly called the “Wheaten Greeting”. What it does is that whenever a friend or family arrives, it enthusiastically jumps up to lick the person’s face. This dog is welcoming to strangers but it would bark as a signal that someone is approaching; and because of this, the Wheaten Terrier makes an excellent watchdog.

This creature is a straightforward dog that needs straightforward master therefore; the owner should display leadership in forms of firm and consistent approach, and patient disposition. The dog can learn quickly when it is guided by such approach. Moreover, this dog is mostly inactive inside the house and so an apartment setting would be fine for it as long as it still gets to exercise daily outside.

There is no proved nor concluded ancestor for this breed but it is said that it is related to the Kerry Blue Terrier. This breed had been flourishing in the Irish countryside for decades before the Irish Kennel Club recognized it in 1937. The first batch of the Wheaten terriers is brought to the US in 1946 and one of its famous breeder is Lydia Vogel. In 1943, the British Kennel Club recognized it as a breed and in 1973; the AKC admitted it finally as a member.