"I have a one-year-old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier female named Ali (Al-ee). She is a joy to have around the house! She loves to lounge when inside, and is very energetic outside! She could run for hours and not get tired. She requires a lot of grooming with all of that beautiful hair of hers that is prone to mats and picking up debris. She is very strong willed and a very dominant personality that is something that I have to really work on to keep in check. She has been to puppy classes when she was younger, and that helped establish a line of communication with us that has helped. I watch Cesar Millan's show whenever I can catch it on and I own a few of his audio books. He has helped me understand my dog's psychology in a way that the puppy classes could not. It has helped our walks become more enjoyable, and it has mentally tired out Ali faster than any trip to the park could. I usually take her on a 20-30 minute bike ride before I put her on a lead, so that her energy is somewhat depleted. She's still a very bouncy puppy, after all! Then I make sure that I do the walking, and not her. I used to let her lead without knowing it! I'm still working on her coming when I call her...she doesn't do very well with that command, although she knows what it means. She knows quite a few tricks, and is very intelligent, so she catches on pretty quickly. I'm working on her greeting other people...she gets too energetic and excited and jumps. I know this is a bad thing, and I try to tell people what to do when they come in to teach her not to jump, but some people will not listen and think it's "cute" or it's her "happy to see them." I don't know what I can do about these people, and it's frustrating sometimes. Overall though, she is a wonderful addition to our family, and is a loveable, sociable, beautiful dog. There is some work to be done in these next few years, but it will be worth it! Cesar has helped me with her progress, and I am thankful for that!"
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier at the pool with a ball in her mouth.
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier looking out the window
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier taking a nap
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier giving her paw
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier playing with a ball
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier playing with her toy
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier lounging on the back of the couch.
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier with her pillow
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in the field
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier as a puppy
Ali the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier as a puppy
Roam the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier at 8 months old—"What can I say about my Wheaten...energy level? High. I take her out or to the dog park once or twice per day for lengthy amounts of time. I socialized her at a young age and she LOVES dogs and other people. From reading information about her breed, I stopped the jumping habit quickly when she was a puppy. To accomplish this I first started rewarding unasked for good behavior. If she sat or layed down calmly without being asked, I immediately praised her and gave her affection. When I would come in the door, a firm "NO" would work to get her to stop jumping and she would quietly sit and wait for me to pet her. At least with Roam, mean, aggressive training doesn't work like calm, firm and consistent training. Potty training was somewhat frustrating as Wheatens like to test boundaries. She doesn't like being alone and will take it out on our plants if not crated when we leave the house for lengthy amounts of time. This isn't a dog for first-time dog owners. I grew up with dogs and thought I would be fine, but none of those dogs (Labs, Retrievers, Shelties) compared to her energy level. I found myself frustrated at times because the training wasn't as easy as I remembered it being. Roam isn't as "people pleasing" as a retriever. She is independent, curious and fearless. That said, this dog will love you and every member of your family unconditionally. She doesn't bark and her playful energy keeps me active. She has her quirks and is (sometimes) frustrating, but I wouldn't trade her for any dog in the world."
Brady the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Roam the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier at 8 months old
Roam the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier at 8 months old
