MyDogBreeds
Wheaten Terrier is originated from Ireland but Fox Terrier (Smooth) is originated from United Kingdom. Wheaten Terrier may grow 9 cm / 4 inches higher than Fox Terrier (Smooth). Wheaten Terrier may weigh 11 kg / 25 pounds more than Fox Terrier (Smooth). Wheaten Terrier may live 3 years less than Fox Terrier (Smooth). Both Wheaten Terrier and Fox Terrier (Smooth) has same litter size. Both Wheaten Terrier and Fox Terrier (Smooth) requires Moderate maintenance.
The dog was bred to be a useful dog to have around the farm. He was needed to help with the guarding and herding of livestock and to keep the rat population down.
This little dog has a long history, but in spite of this, he wasn’t recognized as a breed in his home country by the Irish Kennel Club until 1937.
It was in 1943 that the Wheaten was recognized by the British Kennel Club. They were exported to the United States in the 1940s and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973.
The Smooth Fox Terrier is one of two Fox Terrier breeds, the other being the Wirehaired Fox Terrier. Fox Terriers are believed to be one of the oldest terrier breeds and the ancestor of many terriers who came after. The Fox Terrier was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and the smooth Fox Terrier as a separate breed 100 years later in 1985. Some clubs still consider the two types of Fox Terriers as the same breed. The standard for smooth Fox Terrier was written in 1876 but not accepted until 1985.
Both breeds of Fox Terriers are thought to originate in the late 1800’s descended from various British Terriers, the beagle, the dachshund and the Fox Hound. The Smooth Fox Terrier has a base coat that is white. The hunters bred them this way, so they would not mistake them for the fox during the hunt. They have also been very successful in prestigious dog shows including Crufts in England and New York Westminster in the United States.
They are not that popular today unless you are hunting and showing them in Confirmation Competitions. However, the Smooth Fox Terrier is significant because of all the terriers that consider it their direct ancestor. This would include the Jack Russel, the Rat Terrier and the Miniature Fox Terrier.
The Wheaten Terrier is a robustly built, medium-sized dog with males and females standing at between 43 to 50cm in height and weighing between 13 to 20kg.
The soft, single coat is a silky texture and a wheaten, gingery color. A bonus is that the coat doesn’t shed much. Puppies are born with darkish coats of a reddish-brown color but the coat lightens significantly as the puppy grows older.
Most Wheaten Terrier owners opt to have the dog professionally groomed. Their tails have always been docked.
Your Wheaten Terrier is a smart dog, albeit headstrong and stubborn. His intelligence makes it easy to have him trained.
They love their human family and aren’t known for any aggression issues. They’re energetic, playful dogs and are sometimes even looked upon as being hyperactive. They’re able to get along well with other dogs and cats in the house. They generally make great family pets.
These dogs are well suited to life in the city as well as the countryside just so long as he gets his daily walks and other forms of exercise.
The Smooth Fox Terrier is distinguished from the Wirehaired and other terriers by his V-shaped head and white based coat. The coat can have tan, black and black and tan marks on the white coat. The Smooth Fox Terrier is sturdy, strong, sleek and symmetrical. The breed has a short back, and proportioned legs. The Smooth Fox Terrier has a flat skull and tapered muzzle. The nose is black, and the eyes are dark. He has v-shaped ears and a docked tail. Docking is no longer legal throughout the United Kingdom.
The Wheaten Terrier is such a bouncy, lively little dog that he brings joy into any home.
He is energetic, playful and full of the joys of living but you don’t want to take advantage of his good nature.
Don’t leave him stuck in your back yard but include him in all your family activities. He’s your best friend, providing you with unconditional love that few humans can equal.
Children friendliness They shouldn’t be trusted with young children but if raised with older children ok
They are good at performing tricks, Search and rescue, narcotics detection, tracking, and disability assistance.
Fox Terrier is adaptable and can live anywhere. He is not a big dog but remember he is very high energy.
They have very good learning ability and are very intelligent but can be stubborn
Your Wheaten Terrier is a dog breed that can live healthily with you for a good number of years.
Just like most other dogs, they are prone to some heritable diseases. Perhaps a condition to look out for with this particular dog is protein wasting conditions - protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE).
Both of these diseases are actually fatal but if caught early enough, they can be managed with dietary changes and medication.
Your dog produces proteins known as enzymes, one group being digestive enzymes that help with the breakdown and digestion of food. When your pet battles with malabsorption, digestive enzymes don’t absorb protein and it passes through the large intestine into the faeces. Your dog will have inflammatory bowel disease.
One of the major problems for the Smooth Fox Terrier that the Wirehaired does not face is the potential for deafness. This is an issue in dogs that are mostly white in color. Other concerns that he does share with the Wirehaired Terrier are:
Causes muscle weakness and problems swallowing.
Brush your pet’s coat twice a week to keep it healthy and have him professionally trimmed to keep him looking nice and groomed.
Dental disease is a common problem with dogs, and more specifically small dogs. Dental problems start with tartar build-up on the teeth and then infection of the gums and roots can set in too. The teeth have to be kept in good condition as rotten teeth can have a negative impact on other important body parts like the heart and kidneys.
Have your pet vaccinated against bacterial and viral infections such as rabies and parvo.
Speak to your vet about the many worms and other parasites that can invade your pet’s body.
Provide your Wheaten with the best food there is to encourage good health and longevity. Keep his meals simple and consistent and always go for high-quality foods that are in keeping with your dog’s age, Kibble as well as home-made food are good choices. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.
Provide your Wheaten Terrier with good exercise. Remember though that these dogs are sensitive to warm temperatures, and you don’t want to have him exercising in hot weather because of the fear of heat stress.
Feed 2-3 meals per day and divide 1/8-1/4 cup
Feed two meals per day and divide ½ cup
hearing and vision
The Smooth Fox Terrier is an athlete requiring a lot of exercise. Take him on long walks and play with him in a large fenced yard. Don’t coup him up in the house. Be careful not to exercise him off leash as he will chase anything that moves and will not come when called. They need mental stimulation as well as physical. They are good at hunting, agility, tracking, performing tricks and being a watchdog.