Rescue and Rehome Contacts
If a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (SCWT) requires rehome or rescue, then Breed Clubs and Rescue organisations are there to help.
UK contact: SCWT Club of GB, Rehome Coordinator.
USA contact: SCWT Club of America rescue on this web page
Wheatens In Need (WIN) web page
General appearence
The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium sized, hardy, well balanced, sporting terrier. Square in outline and is recognised by its soft, silky, gently waving coat of warm wheaten colour and his particularly steady disposition.
The overall appearance is of an alert and happy animal, graceful, strong and well coordinated.
Mature heavy coat
Juvenile heavy coated
Heavy coated puppy
Mature Irish coat
Juvenile & Mature Irish coat
Irish Puppies
How to identify a Wheaten Terrier:
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 the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand no longer dock tails. In North America Wheatens are still lawfully 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. (13.6 -18 kgs), but some Wheatens can exceed this height and weight.
Identifying a Wheaten, 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 Uncared for Wheaten - before.
Some of the matts on Frosty were 12"x12" (30x30 cm).
Uncared for Wheaten - after.
It was impossible to distinguish what sex he was until he had been completely shorn
A 'Sheared' Wheaten
This Wheaten was completely shaved so the body shows the classic terrier structure, terrier head and wheaten colour.
Improperly Trimmed
Body shaved, but hair left on the head and tail. The head resembled a Bichon, obscuring the black nose. Ears can look like those of a spaniel with a 'poodle like' tail.
A 'shaggy' Wheaten
Can resemble a sheepdog
Old unkempt Wheaten
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.