Origin and Purpose:
The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier originated in Ireland.
It was an all-purpose working farm dog used for destroying vermin,
hunting small animals, and guarding against intruders.
General Appearance:
The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized, hardy,
well-balanced sporting terrier, covered with a soft, wavy coat
of clear, warm, wheaten colour. The breed requires moderation
in all points and any exaggerated features are to be avoided.
The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier should present a square outline
with the overall appearance of a steady, happy, well-coordinated
animal who is alert to his environment and carries himself with
a gentle dignity and self-confidence.
Temperament: Good-tempered, spirited,
and game. Affectionate and loyal. Alert and intelligent. Defensive
without aggression. He does not start a fight, but should always
stand his ground; exhibits less aggressiveness than is sometimes
encouraged in other terriers.
Size: Ideal
height for males is 18 12 inches (47 cm); for females 17 1/2 inches
(44 cm). Ideal weight for males is 35-40 lbs. (16-18 kg); for
females 30-35 lbs. (14-16 kg). Deviations from the ideal should
be penalized according to the amount of deviation from the ideal.
Coat and Colour:
Abundant, single-coated, soft, silky textured, and gently
waving. Neither woolly nor wiry, crispy nor cottony, curly nor
straight.
Colour is any shade of wheaten. Upon close examination occasional
red, white or black guard hairs may be found. However, the overall
colouring must clearly be wheaten with no evidence of any other
colour except on ears and muzzle where blue-grey shading may be
present. Puppies under one year may carry deeper colouring and
some black tipping. The adolescent under two years may be quite
light in colour, but must never be white nor carry grey, other
than on ears and muzzle. In both puppies and adolescents, the
mature, wavy coat is generally not yet seen.
Coat colour and texture do not stabilize until about two years
of age and some latitude should be given in young dogs. However,
the softer and darker puppy coat should not be preferred over
the lighter and slightly harsher adult coat. For show purposes,
the coat should be trimmed to present a neat terrier outline.
Overstyling is to be discouraged and severely penalized.
Head: Well-balanced and moderately
long with skull and foreface of equal length and in good proportion
to the body. The skull is flat and not too wide. Cheeks are clean;
moderate stop. The muzzle is square, powerful, and strong with
no suggestion of snipiness. The nose is black and large for the
size of the dog. Lips are tight and black. Teeth are strong and
white, meeting in a scissor or level bite with scissors preferred.
The eyes are dark hazel or brown, medium sized and well protected
under a strong brow. Eye rims are black. Coat should fall forward
over the eyes. The ears are small to medium in size, breaking
level with the skull, and dropping slightly forward, close to
the cheeks, pointing to the ground rather than the eye.
Neck: Medium in length and set well upon the shoulders,
gently sloping into the back.
Forequarters: The
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier should have good reach in front. The
shoulders should be well laid back with a clean, smooth appearance.
The forelegs are straight when viewed from all angles and are
well boned and muscled. Dew claws should be removed. Feet are
round and compact with good depth of pad. Nails are dark, pads
are black.
Body: The body is compact; the chest
is deep but not round. The ribs are well sprung. The back is strong
with relatively short coupling. Topline is level.
Hindquarters: The
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier requires good drive from behind, so
requires well-muscled rear assembly. The legs should be well developed
with powerful muscles, well-bent stifles, turning neither in nor
out. The hocks are well let down and parallel when viewed from
behind. Dew claws on rear legs must be removed. The nails are
dark.
Tail: The
tail is docked so that two-thirds of its original length remains.
It is high set, carried gaily but not over the back.
Gait: The
gait is free, graceful and lively, having good reach in front
and strong drive from behind, straight action fore and aft.
Faults: The
foregoing description is that of the ideal Soft-Coated Wheaten
Terrier. Any deviation from the above-described dog must be penalized
to the extent of the deviation, keeping in mind the original purpose
of the breed.
Disqualifications: Overshot or undershot
mouth; over-aggression; nose not solid black; yellow or light
eye.