Judging the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier By Cindy Vogels

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier was developed by the Irish farmer to be an all- purpose dog. He was undoubtedly called upon to be, first and foremost, a companion to the hard-working Irishman. Probably he guarded his master’s boundaries and possibly dispatched vermin and performed other tasks natural to his Terrier ancestry.

The actual history of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is somewhat vague; the most likely scenario included the existence of a variety of long-legged Terriers bred by Irish farmers in the 19th century. Some were red, some wheaten, some black. Their coats varied from wiry to smooth, some open and soft. Since the villages were isolated geographically, various strains of Terriers developed regionally, becoming the Irish, Kerry Blue and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.

The first imports to the US came in the 1940s, but those original dogs do not figure in the gene pool of the present-day Wheaten. The foundation stock came to these shores from Ireland in the 1960s. A National Club was formed in 1962, and the breed is blessed with a core of fanciers who have been active since the ‘60s. Shown in Miscellaneous classes for many years, we took our place in the Terrier Group n 1973.

The introductory paragraph of the AKC standard gives the picture of a medium sized, square Terrier that sports a slightly wavy coat of any shade of warm wheat. The SCW’s particularly steady disposition is stressed.

Structurally, Soft Coated Wheaten is an uncomplicated breed. They are square in outline. Because they are long-legged Terriers, they should stand up on leg. Nature is a great modifier, so maintaining length of leg must always be reinforced. As the Kerry Blue standard shuns the “low-slung” Kerry, so should lack of leg be penalized when judging the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. To create the required square outline, there must be equal balance between length of leg and length of body. Please note that length of body is defined as the distance between the point of shoulder and the point of buttocks. The distance from withers to elbow should approximate the distance from elbow to ground. Wheatens must possess adequate length of head and neck to complete a pleasing picture. The word “elegant” appears nowhere in the standard, but it is the harmony of these proportions in the proper-sized, medium-boned dog that creates the desired balance that can be termed “elegant.”

A Wheaten that is low on leg with adequate bone will be rectangular and appear squat. Unfortunately, it is this outline that is often seen today.

An overly large Wheaten with adequate bone will approach an Airedale in type and be coarse. Of course, they don’t actually look like an Airedale, but there is a preponderance of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers in the ring today that are very coarse. In particular, their heads are as broad in skull as an average Airedale.

The rectangular head of the Wheaten is most similar to that of the Kerry Blue. The skull should be flat between the ears (no bumpiness or roundness), and the cheeks should be clean. The skull should be able to be spanned by an average man’s hand. Many Wheatens have overly broad skulls and prominent zygomatic arches, which should be penalized. There should be just a moderate stop. Often, the stop is too steep, resulting in head planes that are not parallel. The muzzle should be equal in length to the skull and be well filled under the eyes. Not wedge-shaped, the muzzle should fill an average man’s hand. The eyes are fairly wide-set and slightly almond in shape. Prominent, close-set, round eyes are occasionally seen and should be penalized. The nose is large for the size of the dog and must be black as is the area surrounding the eye.

The size and carriage of the ears is one of the unique features of the Wheaten that sets him apart from his Kerry cousin. The SCWT’s ears are set lower than the Kerry and the tip points to the ground rather than to the eye. Whereas the standard calls for the ear to “break level with the skull,” it is generally agreed upon that the ear appears to break level with the skull because of the length of hair on topskull and ears. In fact, the ears generally break a little above the level of the skull. If the ears are correctly small to medium in size, the tips should not extend below the outside corner of the eye.

Wheatens are moderately angulated front and rear. The shoulder and forearm are ideally equal in length and angulated enough to provide a slight forechest (prosternum). Rears must balance fronts. Care should be taken to penalize Wheatens with overly long, or short second thighs. Hocks should be short.

Toplines should be level and croups flat so that tailsets are high and there is “butt” behind the tail.

Coat is the hallmark of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

Ideally, the coat should be single, silky and lie flat in soft waves.

Many Wheaten coats undergo three distinct stages:
1. Puppy. Most puppy coats are soft, many are silky, but few have the ideal wave. Soft Coated Wheatens are usually born dark and lighten with age. Puppy coats are generally very attractive with good texture, some carrying rich, red color. Please resist the temptation to reward a puppy because you find the plush, red coat so appealing. The puppy with the wavy, silky, slightly unkempt-looking coat is actually the better coated Wheaten. Provided the coat is a warm, wheaten color it is correct. Redder is not better. Soft Coated Wheatens are constantly changing in color, and there is a wide range of acceptable color.

2. Adolescent. Toward a year of age, most Wheatens start through a transition from puppy to adult coat. However, this process can take up to two years before the true adult coat is evident.

Generally speaking, the coat texture is at its worst during this period. The truly ideal coat goes through very little, if any, transition. But many dogs develop multi-colored guard hair during this time ad sometimes these guard hairs will feel crisp to the touch on an otherwise silky coat. Be advised against rewarding dogs with cottony coats (perceived as softer) over dogs sporting the desirable silky coat that happens to contain guard hairs.

Many Wheatens are quite light in color during this transition period. Usually the adult color (and texture) will appear first on the top of the head and down the withers.

3. Adult coat. The adult Wheaten coat is silky with a gentle wave. Coats have improved lately, but it’s important to reward the true single, wavy coat over a plush, overly-abundant coat. Certainly frizzy, kinky coats are unacceptable. There is a wide range of acceptable color. A Wheaten should never be white, but can be quite light in color. Any warm shade of blonde is correct.

All Wheatens are trimmed for the show ring. Trimming has not been an issue in the breed for years, and although variation in presentation is evident around the country, there is a consistent pattern that constitutes a “Wheaten trim.” Wheatens sport a similar, but slightly “rougher,” look than Kerry Blues. By using thinning shears, harsh scissor marks are avoided. Wheaten trim follows the same general outline to the Kerry but are presented in longer coat and never clippered. Dogs that appear “over-trimmed” usually have faulty coat texture. It’s the incorrect, plushy coats that require over-trimming to create the desired outline. I like to brush my hand up against the side of the dog where the coat is longest. If there is enough coat to lift and fall back down, I am satisfied. There must be sufficient length of leg furnishings to balance the body coat. The typical Wheaten expression is enhanced by the eye being indicated, but not fully exposed, with ears not taken down to the leather but clean of hair around the its edge. Anything approaching the look of eyebrows or a visor is incorrect.

There is nothing complicated or unique about Soft Coated Wheaten movement. They should move freely on a loose lead and cover ground with little effort. However, Wheatens are moderate, square dogs and should not exhibit the tremendous reach and drive (TRAD) deemed desirable on more rectangular sporting and working breeds. From the side, they retain their outline, although proper shoulder assembly will result in a more forward rather than high head carriage. Sound movement coming and going must be assessed, but proper side gain is of primary importance.

Wheaten temperament is paramount. They must be steady and show themselves gaily. Wheatens will spar, and we encourage you to spar them. A Soft Coated Wheaten doesn’t go looking for trouble, and generally has a long fuse, but as with most Terriers, will eventually rise to the challenge. The bitches rarely, if ever, will spar. Since their working days are a thing of the past, most Wheatens serve as beloved companions. It is this extremely steady, anxious-to-please attitude that has won them a keen following. When judging the breed, special attention must be paid to attitude, and proper temperament should be rewarded.

Go over Soft Coated Wheatens as you would any other long-legged Terrier, and feel free to use a ramp. Be aware that, because they have hair covering their eyes, when approaching from the front, it’s better to come from underneath with your hands. Never come down from above. As noted, above, a silky, adult coat of the proper length, should fall back into place upon being roughed up with your hand.