MyDogBreeds
Wheaten Terrier is originated from Ireland but Shetland Sheepdog is originated from United Kingdom. Wheaten Terrier may grow 9 cm / 4 inches higher than Shetland Sheepdog. Wheaten Terrier may weigh 8 kg / 18 pounds more than Shetland Sheepdog. Both Wheaten Terrier and Shetland Sheepdog has almost same life span. Both Wheaten Terrier and Shetland Sheepdog has almost same litter size. Both Wheaten Terrier and Shetland Sheepdog 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 Shetland Sheepdog was crossed with working collies and brought to the islands. They were bred on the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom.
These little dogs have always been particularly valuable to farmers who used them to herd their sheep.
During the early 20th century other crosses occurred an in 1909 and the little dog received recognition by the English Kennel Club. The first Sheltie to be registered by the American Kennel Club was in 1911.
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 small Shetland Sheepdog stands at between 33 to 41cm and weighs roughly between 6 and 12kg for both males and females. The long double coat of this dog sheds consistently, he will need to be brushed regularly.
The coat is golden, black or a steel grey color with white. The ears are erect and the tail long and feathery and the expression on this dogs face is sensitive, alert and gentle.
Shelties make wonderful pets for their human families and are great with children too. They’re protective, making good watchdogs. They are somewhat wary around strangers.
Smart and alert, you can train this little dog plenty of tricks because he is quick to learn. They’re such agile little dogs and are great athletes. It’s always a good idea to keep such a smart little dog busy so he doesn’t become bored.
He is able to adjust to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he is kept busy, otherwise he takes to a piercing kind of bark.
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.
You’re certainly not going to have one dull moment with the Shetland sheepdog – its such a lively, intelligent, entertaining, playful and also eager to please - that's your Sheltie.
They also have a gentle, quiet side. They love the company of their human family and are able to adapt to life in the city or countryside, so long as he gets lots of attention and exercise.
They’re highly strung dogs, and an excitable child can get them barking in a high pitched way which wont be good if you live close to your neighbors.
Shelties are essentially peaceful dogs who prefer a home where its quiet and orderly. If you give this dog what it needs, just like you would for any family member of yours, you’ll be blessed with an awesome pet and companion.
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.
Every dog, no matter how healthy, can succumb to any one of the many dog illnesses there are.Some of the dog illnesses to look out for include cancer, bloat, ear infections, dental problems, hypothyroidism, skin allergies and obesity among others.
This illness occurs when the dog’s body doesn’t maintain sufficient levels of thyroid hormones. Your pet will be sensitive to the cold, the thick hair will be thinning and there will be weight gain. It will be wise to have your dog checked out by your vet as this is an ailment which can be managed with medication.
This is an inherited condition that can lead to blindness in some dogs. It can occur in both eyes. It can be diagnosed by your vet but regrettably there is no treatment. Not spaying or neutering your dog will mean that if the have puppies the gene can be carried down to the puppies.
This is an inherited disorder that can cause skin lesions but also affect the muscles. Skin lesions can appear on the head and the front legs and there can be hair loss.
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.
These little dogs have always been farm dogs and they will need a lot of exercise. Even so, with their small size, they can adapt to life in the city or the countryside, but will always need exercise.They love going for walks and playing games with the kids.
Your Sheltie will need brushing every day because the hair can so easily pick up leaves, twigs and burrs. In the warmer months some people prefer to trim the coat themselves or take the dog along to a professional groomer.
It is best to feed adult dogs two meals a day instead of one. One can make your dog want to gobble up his food too quickly and this can result in a life threatening condition known as bloat.
How much any adult dog eats will depend on his size, his age and his activity levels.The quality of dog food you buy also makes a huge difference – the better quality the food, the more satisfied your Sheltie will be.
Some of the best commercially manufactured dog foods are convenient and they can be good if you go with the best brands that have high levels of vitamins and minerals in them. Dry kibble can be made more enticing when you add some homemade food into it.
Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will do him the world of good. Chop it up and add small portions to the kibble about twice a week. His wagging tail and prancing antics will be all the thanks you need.
Some raw meat added in occasionally will also contribute to your pet’s heath. Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.