the real truth

The difficulty in training Wheatens seems to be more in their memory retention day-to-day of what they are being asked to do. What they can quickly learn on Monday they have just as quickly forgotten by Tuesday. In one day they can learn to lay down on command, but the very next day when you say lay down they may look at you quizzically, sit, or possibly actually lay down. It’s anyone’s guess. This learning disability requires much consistency and a lot of patience. They can be trained, though, and a well trained Wheaten is the most wonderful companion a person can have. More than anything, Wheatens want to please their people and will try their very best to understand what you are asking them to do. 

Wheatens are excellent at reading human faces and body language, they can tell when you are content, joyful, happy, anxious, upset, angry, or sad. They will comfort you when you cry by snuggling close, and they will celebrate with you when you are joyful with lots of bouncing and licks. They will feel sad when you are sad. They can also become depressed if not given enough time and attention. 

This is not a breed for the very busy, inconsistent, or impatient person. If you aren't ready to commit hours to basic house training, this is not the breed for you. 

Do you get frustrated when dogs do not do what you ask of them?

It takes many hours of repeated efforts on a daily basis to accomplish the basics of sit, lay down, stay, and come when called. Wheatens are an extremely emotionally sensitive breed. Shouting anywhere near them (or especially bad, shouting at them) can result in a timid, terrified Wheaten that will be even more difficult to train. Irritated or angry voice tones can also make them anxious or even aggressive. It's best to avoid and shouting in the house and you absolutely should never shout at them.

Trust between a dog and its trainer is of utmost importance. Shouting at them, scolding them, hitting them, or showing aggressive and threatening body language quickly erodes their trust. A frightened Wheaten will run from you and once they are about 14 weeks old, you will not be able to catch them. However, Wheatens are a people friendly breed. The trust from a Wheaten is quickly given, but can also be easily lost with aggressive behaviors by people. Once that trust with a Wheaten is damaged, it can be a difficult and slow process to earn it back. 

Will my Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier guard my house and protect me?

Not likely. SCWTs are affectionate towards all people and at best will release a huff or a few barks towards a stranger approaching your house, but their barks will nearly always have wagging tails assisting. Most of the time you should only expect sheer exuberance when someone approaches. They are far more likely to bark at another dog to get their attention that at any particular person (so long as they are well socialized). This is not to say they won't jump in to help if they see their person being attacked, but don't expect it. 

Wheatens love all people and are only occasionally wary of strangers. Wheaten Terriers see every person and animal as a new best friend they just haven’t met yet. Because of this, no one should fear being bitten by a Wheaten (unless it has been terribly frightened and feels panicked or cornered). These dogs can become anxious, and any dog can bite out of anxiety and fear. It's best to let them be happy, loving fluffers than to attempt to train them to protect you. 

However, Wheaten Terriers can cause injury, such as toenail scratches or soiled clothing from their paws with their over excited jumping and exuberant Wheaten Greetin'. As adults their greeting could easily knock over an unsteady person or a small child. A Wheaten will let you know when someone has arrived, in that they will excitedly jump on the door or leap with joy at the sight or sound of a person approaching. It that regard, it is difficult not to notice a potential intruder, but a Wheaten is more likely to greet with them with excitement than frighten them away.

If you need a guard dog, consider a Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, English Mastiff, or Boxer. However, none of these are as shed-free, personable, and affectionate as a SCWT. 

So how do I train a Wheaten Terrier?

Wheaten Terriers really can be trained! However, Wheatens can truly only be trained with positive reinforcement (delicious treats and excited praise are collectively effective). This includes house/potty training, which can take several months (although some people report house training in shorter time periods than this, do not expect it). Scolding a Wheaten that has peed or pooped on your rug can frighten them so much they will be too afraid to tell you the next time they need to go potty. They will find a place to hide instead and you'll find it hours later. Training a Wheaten is not for anyone who expects quick results or for those that love their floor covering more than their new family member.

Realisitic expectations...

You should expect to see a Wheaten puppy showing some understanding and progress on house training with 3-6 months of consistent, positive reinforcement. This means that if you take the puppy home at 8 weeks, he or she should be showing visible improvements with house training by 5-8 months of age. Some puppies and dogs will take longer to learn to control their bodily functions well enough to know when to ask to go outside, some are just a little slower to make the connection between a full bladder and asking to go outside. 

Remember that no one expects anything of an 8 week old human baby, so keep your expectations reasonable. If you are inconsistent or abrasive with any training, you are unlikely to see any success.

Do not wait until you get back inside the house to give the treat, do not call them over to you to come get the treat. Immediately following their requested behavior, give the treat! This means you need to be right next to them while they are outside. Showing joy and excitement will help them understand that they have done something that pleased you greatly. All they want in the world is to make you happy! 

When indoors, keep the puppy's space restricted to a small area, such as a single room, or keep them tethered on a leash. If a puppy has free roam of a whole house, you are guaranteed they will find trouble. However, crating a Wheaten puppy for hours on end can trigger depression and fearfulness. Dog gates across doorways, wooden area dividers, or a puppy play pen can be quite helpful during this time. 

Please Note: If you take your puppy outside the house to potty, then wait until you are back inside to offer a treat, the puppy will not relate the reward to the action. The puppy will relate the reward to the most recent behavior, which in this case would be going back inside the house or going into the kitchen, not going potty outside the house. Once they have gone back inside, they’ve already forgotten what they were outside doing. If you call them to you to get their treat, they only learn that coming to you when called gets them a treat (this is the best way to teach the Come command, however). The reward must be immediately given within seconds of the preferred action for a young puppy to understand what the reward is for.

Do you have boundless patience, a kind heart, lots of spare time, and most importantly, a soft bed?

Then a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier may be right for you! They are super soft. They don’t shed. They will love you endlessly. They want to be with you at all times. They will make you laugh with their playful silliness. They will sleep anywhere and in the most bizarre positions, including your couch, your bed, your stairs, on your air vents, and under your table and chairs. They will request attention and affection and when you provide it, they will look you in the eyes to show you their kind soul and it will melt your heart every time.