At a glance the quick version
FCI gives 18-20.5 kg for males with females slightly lighter; Wikipedia gives 14-20 kg for males and 13.6-15.9 kg for females.
FCI gives 46-48 cm for males, bitches slightly less; Wikipedia gives 45-50 cm and 43-46 cm.
Coat and looks how to spot one
single, soft, silky coat, wavy or loosely curled; low shedding
A sturdy, short-coupled terrier that gives an impression of strength in a medium frame. It has one layer of soft, silky hair with a gentle wave or loose curl that keeps growing rather than shedding much. Two coat styles are seen: the finer, wavier Irish coat and the fuller, heavier coat common in America.123
Personality what they are like
A lively, good-humoured terrier that adores its family and greets people with bouncy enthusiasm. It is smart, learns well with reward-based training and tends to be more easygoing with other dogs than many terriers, while still making an alert watchdog.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderate to high: up to about an hour of exercise a day. It is quite active and curious, and prefers cooler weather.32
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Needs daily brushing and combing right down to the skin to keep the silky coat free of mats, plus regular trimming because the hair keeps growing.32
Home where they are happiest
Adapts well to family homes; a secure garden helps, as its curiosity can lead it to wander.2
Company who they like around
Very people-oriented and generally sociable with children and other dogs, especially when well socialised young.2
The story where it all began
For at least two centuries the Wheaten was Ireland's everyday farm dog, herding and guarding stock and keeping vermin down, and it was also used on badger and otter. It is thought to be the oldest of the Irish terriers and possibly an ancestor of the Kerry Blue and Irish Terrier. Official recognition came in 1937 in Ireland, 1943 in Britain and 1973 in the United States.132
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its enthusiastic habit of jumping up to lick faces is affectionately called the 'Wheaten greetin''.2
- 2
Puppies are born much darker, and the coat lightens and changes over the first 18 months to 2.5 years before settling into its wheaten shade.1
- 3
It was nicknamed the 'poor man's wolfhound' because it was the working dog of ordinary Irish farmers rather than the gentry.2
- 4
Its Irish name, An Brocaire Buí, means 'the yellow terrier'.2
- 5
Some Wheatens take part in herding trials, a nod to their farm-dog past.2
Recognised by the official bits
- Irish Kennel Club
- Recognised 19371
- FCI
- Standard No. 40, Group 3 (Terriers), Section 1 (Large and medium-sized Terriers); standard published 27 Jan 20011
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Terrier Group; recognised 19433
- AKC
- Terrier Group; recognised 19732
Popularity Ranked 76th of AKC-registered breeds in 20254
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Hand strippingHand stripping keeps the harsh texture; clipping also worksevery 12 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI breed standard No. 40: Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier fci.beused for recognition, size, weight, coat, colours, temperament, history
- Wikipedia: Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier en.wikipedia.orgused for names, size, lifespan study, history timeline, temperament, fun facts
- The Royal Kennel Club: Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier royalkennelclub.comused for lifespan, exercise, grooming, history
- AKC: Most popular dog breeds of 2025 akc.orgused for popularity
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.