The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier originated as an Irish crofter’s dog, medium sized and bred for sturdy health and sound temperament. The breed combines the steadiness of a working farm dog with the intelligence and energy of a Terrier. The Spartan conditions under which the ancestors of the Wheaten Terrier lived, have made this a hardy breed.
They are a medium-sized, compact, upstanding terrier well covered with a soft, wheaten-coloured, natural coat that falls in loose curls or waves. An active, short-coupled dog, strong and well built. Soft and silky. Neither woolly nor wiry. Loosely waved or curly, but if curly, curls large, light and loose.
The coat should not stand off but flow and fall naturally. Coat abundant all over body and especially profuse on head and legs. Length of leg coat sufficient to give good balance to the length of coat on head and body. There is no seasonal change in the length or texture of the mature coat. Over-trimming or stylising should be penalised. For show purposes the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier coat may be tidied to present a neat outline. Coat colour and texture do not stabilise until about 24 months and should be given some latitude in young dogs.
Their colour is a good clear wheaten. A shade of ripening wheat. A white coat and red coat equally objectionable. Dark shading on ears not untypical. Often a slight fluctuation in the intensity of colour in mature coat, but overall effect should be light wheaten. Dark overall colour and the even darker markings often present in the immature coat, should clear by about 18-24 months.
Preparing a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier is all about considering the breeds correct texture and allowing the natural waves or curls.
Firstly starting with the head use Plush Puppy Let’s Face it. Plush Puppy’s Hypoallergenic, Sulfate-free low foaming shampoo is custom made just for faces. This gentle NO TEAR, NO FRAGRANCE formula will not sting or irritate the eyes. Lets Face It face shampoo provides protection for the eyes while shampooing the body. A small golf ball sized amount directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Leave it on until all the shampooing of the body is done and then rinse off.
Lets Face It can also be used in and around the ears with the same benefits. Easily remove accumulated food and grime in beards or wrinkles and help to reduce odours at the same time. This is a concentrated formula, dispensed as a foam, that is easy to control and apply. This calming formula features the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothe, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits.
For the body use Plush Puppy Natural Conditioning Shampoo with Evening Primrose diluted at 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water). This is a nourishing and detangling shampoo, helping to increase hydration while slightly softening the coat. Mix well and apply to an already wet coat. Lather into the coat well and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
This shampoo is highly recommended for dehydrated coats, especially those that are prone to tangling. It has a slight softening effect and will increase elasticity for that natural curly, or wavy hair. A wonderful detangling shampoo that smooths the hair shaft and creates a smoother hair surface reducing the chance of tangles. Natural Conditioning Shampoo is highly effective on soft coated breeds.
It is an excellent softening and conditioning shampoo that also offers brilliant shine. Perfect for coats needing extra protection, hydration and overall improvement of condition. This shampoo is derived from organic sources with a strong emphasis on Evening Primrose extracts to boost skin and hair regeneration.
Everybody loves a healthy sheen to a coat, especially a judge! To accomplish this apply Plush Puppy Natural All Purpose Shampoo with Henna to the head and topline while the dog is sitting with the Natural Conditioning Shampoo. Lather well into these areas.
Don’t worry about mixing the 2 shampoos. You will still achieve all outcomes from the individual shampoos. In this case softening, detangling and hydration from the Natural Conditioning, and shine from the Natural All Purpose. Use it at the same 1:5 dilution rate. All Plush Puppy Shampoos are outcome orientated and you can mix them to achieve multiple outcomes in one wash!
We call Natural All Purpose the ‘Shine’ shampoo as it features natural Henna stalk extracts that impart a beautiful gloss and shine to the coat. If you’re looking for eye-popping shine and depth of colour, All Purpose with Henna is your shampoo choice!
Rinse the shampoos out thoroughly.
To achieve that desired soft and silky coat of the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, use Plush Puppy Natural Silk Protein Conditioner. The conditioner of conditioners! Natural Silk Protein conditioner leaves the coat with a wonderful finish, reducing static electricity and fluffiness in “fly-away” coats. An intensive formulation boosted with Silk Amino acids and plant extracts that bind keratin in the coat, strengthening whilst protecting against moisture loss.
Natural Silk Protein Conditioner is further enriched with natural plant extracts that are incredibly beneficial to both the skin and coat. These extracts assist in repairing the coat as that are rich in natural antioxidants. They are also excellent for moisturising and strengthening coat, smoothing the cuticle, detangling the coat while soothing dry skin. Natural Silk Protein Conditioner restores hydration and vitality for a naturally softer, silkier more lustrous coat. Use at a well mixed diluted ratio of 1:10 (1 part conditioner to 10 parts warm water). Apply and work into the coat well. Wait 5 minutes and rinse well.
The secret to allowing your Wheaten to develop those wonderful curls and waves is to add hydration before and even during drying. For this use Plush Puppy Reviva Coat. This is a remarkable “Leave-in” moisturising and detangling foam crafted to maintain and improve coat condition.
It is suitable for all coat types and does not leave the coat feeling greasy or oily. Perfect for conditioning coats that cannot take a traditional conditioner such as those that need to retain fullness. Reviva Coat is super lightweight, great for reducing knots and detangling and should be used for regular moisturising and rehydration. Apply a golf ball amount to your hands and work into the coat, repeating until the dog has an even coverage. Now comb the coat with a large toothed comb.
Plush Puppy’s Professional Grooming Combs feature both fine and coarse pins, perfect for this task. They are built for absolute comfort with the oval shaped spine fitting comfortably in the hand for ease of use without causing fatigue. Each comb features an anodic oxide finish on the spine and pins that reduces drag and static to the coat. The pins made of hardened stainless steel so will not bend and easily glide through the thickest of coats. The fine pins are perfect to comb softer coats around sensitive areas such as ears, around the eyes, and down the legs. The coarse pins are perfect for full-body combing.
There are many benefits to combing including removing knots, tangles and loose hair while massaging the skin. Combing is also perfect for finishing and fluffing, and promoting a shiny coat.
Apply a heated dryer at low speed and wave over the coat. DO NOT use a dryer on a strong setting as this will only open the coat and straighten the hair. If you find the coat isn’t wavy or curly enough when dry, apply more Reviva Coat.
For grooming during the week always brush using a grooming spray to stop any drag on the coat and to help detangling. Plush Puppy OMG is a ready to use grooming spray that fuses active ingredients to detangle knots and make brushing easier. IT REALLY WORKS!! Perfect to use for smoothing, detangling, softening and improving coat shine. OMG also features a heat protectant and will help to de-frizz the coat.
This is an amazing product for regular brushing as it hydrates the coat reducing stress and coat loss. Its active ingredients smooth the cuticle and protect the coat. Using OMG can be a one-off at shows or during the drying process after bathing. A light spray of OMG and brushing in allows this product to refresh the coat leaving it feeling wonderful. It separates the coat and leaves the most amazing finish. It does not build up, never goes stringy and is totally water-soluble.
For brushing we recommend the Plush Puppy Ultimate Soft Slicker Brush which is the Rolls Royce of Slickers. The Ultimate Soft Slicker Brush promises durability and flawless brushed results every time.
It is ergonomically designed to lessen any strain on the groomer while offering maximum brush contact at the same time. The soft pure rubber aeroelastic cushion houses Nickel plated ‘no rust’ pins at the optimum angle for softness and effectiveness. These pins penetrate through the dogs coat without excessive pulling on the hair or scratching the skin. The handle is crafted from high-quality Beechwood. The Ultimate Slicker will eliminate loose hair and matting and individualise coats of all types and lengths for a flawless finish.
Keep on hand Plush Puppy Wonder Wash which is a no rinse wet instant shampoo for “those show day” last-minute emergencies as this will clean up anything, pronto. Just spray foam with the fingers and towel off.
Wonder Wash is a brilliant quick self-rinsing bathing alternative solution for quick and easy cleaning without the need for a complete bath. In moments when regular shampooing is not an option, Wonder Wash will clean, whiten and brighten problem areas on all coat kinds.
Always keep our handy Plush Puppy Wonder Wash spray in your tack box. It contains optical brighteners, has a fresh apple fragrance, and violet tone. Not designed as an all-over shampoo. Designed to clean, whiten, and brighten or add zing to all coats of all colours without bleaching.
On Show day, don’t forget the Plush Puppy Anti-Static Coat Control which is a lightweight spray infused with organic properties designed to control static and flyaways on all coats. It is particularly brilliant on long flowing coats and a great addition to your grooming routine.
Use this spray as a helpful grooming tool working as the perfect anti-static spray with a slight hold during scissoring and finishing. Nothing is more frustrating than hours of preparation for the Show Dog Judge and your dogs coat just isn’t perfect! Anti-Stat Coat Control will also add to the protection, strength and perfect finished look of the coat. Added benefits include a UV filter to stop sun damage and protect against heat. As it is lightweight in formula, it will not go oily or cause hairs to stick together, nor will it soften strong texture coats.
On Show day, please everyone’s senses with a quick mist of Plush Puppy Odour Muncher over the coat. Odour Muncher instantly kills the odour causing bacteria for a complete freshen-up! No masking here! It will freshen the dog and any areas where your dog may have left a scent. Great to use in-between grooming visits or bath times. A highly effective long-lasting coat deodoriser that does not inhibit natural transpiration or interfere with the natural flora of the skin.
Now you have prepared your Wheaten to look well balanced in structure and standing four square with head and tail up, giving the appearance of a happy dog, full of character. A stunning breed with their unique coat colour and waves makes them a stand out in the ring.