Breed Characteristics

               The Wheaten is exceptionally intelligent and alert. It excels in obedience training. (Happy Jack, the most titled Wheaten in the World, owned by Cynthia Hollis (Hollywood), is a Riverrun grandson.) Many Wheatens excel in field and agility trials. Wheatens are also efficient guard dogs with a clear sense of discrimination. Quick to learn, anxious to please, they are very loving. Most Wheatens, given kind and loving treatment, will respond in kind although upon occasion one does find a few who are not particularly friendly. We feel this may be due to lack of early socialization.

        Wheatens love space for running. For this reason we ask our Wheaten owners to provide a safe, fenced-in area for excercise.

        We know from experience that our Wheatens love children. If cared for properly and given quality natural nutrition, most Wheatens have a long life span. Thus an owner can look forward to years of companionship. The typical adult Wheaten is very attractive at maturity. He has a compact body, sprung ribs, deep brisket, strong thighs, and well let- down hocks, showing his agile strength and power. In the traditional Irish Wheatens, the body may be a bit on the long side, but his length usually makes for proper movement. Some U.S. Wheatens that have been bred for very short backs sacrifice smooth, flowing movement.

        Wheatens should have a flat, clean skull with alert ear carriage. Many breeders glue puppy ears to achieve proper ear carriage. At Riverrun, we have never done this, preferring to try and breed good ear set. We've been fairly lucky at this - but not always. The Wheaten shoulder is somewhat steep - not quite the 45 degree angle of the German Shepard. Forelegs should be straight, topline level, tail carried above horizontal. Sometimes, the tail is set on lower than one would like. Encourage your dog while it's young to "Uppy tail". In the U.S., we remove about 1/3 of the tail (some tails are taken down much shorter) and remove the dew claws also.

        When we talk about pigmentation, we are referring to eyes, eye rims, nails, nose, and pads. Wheatens should have dark brown-to-black eyes, and nails should be black at maturity. Eye rims should also be black. Generally, if a puppy is born with a light nose, it should turn dark within a few days if it is going to be black. Sometimes a pink nose will turn gray but never attain the midnight black it should be. Such a puppy will make a grand pet but should not be shown since a "liver" nose is a disqualifying point.

        Wheatens have a single coat (no undercoat) hence do not shed. This is helpful for persons with allergies. To help you with the Wheaten coat and it's varieties, let's talk puppy coat.

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Riverrun Types | Foreword  |  Wheaten Beginnings  |  Wheatens at Riverrun  
Characteristics  |  Puppy Coat  |  Wheaten Coat in Ireland / U.S. 
Wheaten Health  |  Questions to Ask Breeder  |  Wheaten Puppies Need Lots of Love & Attention