Page 184 - Showsight March 2013

Description and Characteristics The Soft Coated Wheaten
Terrier (SCWT) is a
working, sporting terri-
er. The breed originated
in Ireland as an all pur-
pose farm dog that per-
formed a variety of tasks: rid the farm of
vermin, herd and guard sheep, hunt with
his master, protect the family and farm.
Sometimes referred to as the poor man’s
Wolfhound, the SCWT had to do it all
because “early in Britain’s history, ‘Laws of
the Forest’ allowed only freemen and land-
owners to own hunting dogs. The poor
tenant farmer and fisherman could not
legally own any animal worth more than
five pounds sterling.” 1
The ability to meet this demand for ver-
satility is still evident in today’s SCWT. A
continuum of temperaments and tenden-
cies can be found among puppies from
the same litter. This is not so astonishing,
as children born of the same parents and
raised in the same environment can be
polar opposites in many characteristics.
And as with humans, it is difficult with
SCWTs to ascribe a characteristic tenden-
cy to a particular gender.
Consequently, a cookbook description
does not apply for all SCWTs. They
can be devoted companions or aloof
co-inhabitants. Some are keenly
interested in chasing squirrels and rabbits,
while others could care less. During off-
leash walks with their family, SCWTs
have been known to circle their humans
with apparent intent to keep the flock
together. Others dart ahead tracking
or hunting with no interest in checking
back, let alone gathering the flock. There
are SCWTs that enjoy nothing more than
a brisk jog with their owner and some
must be persuaded to leave the couch for
a leisurely walk.
Their own agenda is paramount for
many SCWTs. Others defer first to their
master, then proceed with their own agen-
da. After all, SCWTs are terriers. Unlike
the Golden or Labrador Retrievers that
seem intent on pleasing their humans,
the tenacity of terriers renders them more
inclined to march to their own drummer
and attempt to convince their human to
pursue that agenda as well.
Given this wide diversity in tempera-
ments, it is important to work with a
responsible breeder to select the right pup-
py. The responsible breeder spends lots of
time with their puppies and the prospec-
tive owners in order to recommend the
best match.
No matter the individual dog’s innate
tendencies, SCWTs are generally a hap-
py-go-lucky, exuberant, fun loving dog.
To help the SCWTs become model pets
and companions, socialization and train-
ing should begin early and occur often
throughout their lives.
Puppy Kindergarten or Socializa-
tion classes are highly recommended to
expose young SCWTs to dogs and people
of all shapes and sizes. It is important to
frequently expose the SCWT youngster
to all sorts of people, places, and pets,
in and out of the home. As puppyhood
turns to adulthood, many owners par-
ticipate in performance classes to enhance
socialization and discover what most
THE SOFT COATED WHEATEN
TERRIER IN AMERICA
By Beth Verner & Emily Holden
1 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America Judges Education CD
184 • ShowSight Magazine, March 2013