Exercise Ideas for Soft Wheaten Terriers
Are you the pet parent of a Soft Wheaten Terrier? Would you like to find some fun activities for you and dog to do together? If so, then you’ve come to the right place!
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Sometimes it’s difficult to know exactly how much exercise your Wheaten Terrier requires. We’re here with the information you need, along with some fun activities your fur baby will enjoy! Plus, we looked for ways that you spend time together having fun!
First, we’ll do an overview of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier dog breed, and then on to the other information on how much exercise they require and the fun activities!
What is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?
This dog breed is famous for their beautiful, wavy, silk coats. Their fur feels like silk and color while called “wheaten,” which could almost be a light yellow, gold, or beige. Wheatens originally come from Ireland, where they were used as working dogs on the farm. In fact, they were known as “poor man’s dogs” because it was Irish peasants who kept them. On the farm, Wheatens did everything they were asked to do. They herded cattle, got rid of pesty rats, protected the farm and their family, and even more. These days, the Wheaton Terriers are wonderful companions for families.
Your Wheaton will be devoted and love spending every minute with you. These are very high-energy dogs who have a lot of love to give. Wheaton terriers will even be a lap dog! They just want to share their love with you, and they show it! Because they want to be with you all the time, these dogs can develop separation anxiety & destructive behaviors, as well as be on the barky side.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are easily adaptable to life in the city, apartments, in the country, and more. So, wherever you live, your Wheaten will be a happy dog!
The Wheaten is a very active dog. According to the AKC, on their scale of “couch potato” to “needs lots of exercise, these dogs come in about 75% on that scale. So, that gives you an idea of how lively these medium-sized dogs can be!
When it comes to grooming, the Wheaten Terrier needs plenty of grooming to keep his fur so beautiful. Experts recommend using a pin brush or slicker brush to groom your canine companion. These brushes help to get loose hair and debris out of the fur. Wheatens don’t mind getting dirty! Then it’s recommended to use a fine- or medium-toothed comb to take any mats. Your fur baby will need to be groomed every day. Thankfully, Wheaten Terriers are not huge shedders!
Because these fur babies can be on the stubborn side. So, they need a pet parent who can be firm and provide the dog with training. You’ll need to keep up the training on a consistent basis. Your Wheaten will thrive on positive reinforcement, love, and being firm. When we say “being firm,” it’s not to be hard or harsh to your dog. Just be firm and let him know you’re the pet parent, not him.
Thankfully Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers not aggressive (though any dog has the potential to become aggressive), and they get on well with other dogs and pets (they may go after cats, however). However, they go after small animals outside. They’re also good with kids!
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers usually stand about 17-19 inches high and weigh between 30-40 lbs. They are prone to certain breeds, though not all Wheatens will develop these health issues. It’s just to be aware:
- Protein-losing Enteropathy
- Addison’s Disease
- Renal Dysplasia
- Protein-Losing Nephropathy
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Ask a Vet Live NowHow Much Exercise Does a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Need?
You’ve probably seen our clues in the previous section. Wheatens tend to have a lot of energy! Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of walking every day. However, because the terriers are so lively, more than 30 minutes a day would be better. You might aim for at least an hour of exercise each day.
This is because Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are intelligent and really like going out to spend time with you. These dogs are known to have fun doing just about anything. When you’re out on a walk for an hour so, you give your fur baby the chance to get outside, smell the smells, see what’s happening, and more.
Exercise is a great way to keep your dog in shape and wear off energy, especially if you’ve been at work all day. Keeping your Wheaten’s energy down could keep him from tearing up pillows on the couch, and other types of destructive behaviors.
In the next section, we’ll cover some activities your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is sure to love!
Exercise Ideas for Soft Wheaten Terriers
We’ve done the research to help you come up with some fun ideas of activities that Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are sure to love!
Digging Pit
Wheaten Terriers are known for being diggers. This is a natural instinct, as they were used to go after rats and other problem pests. The dogs would dig into the burrow their prey! Because Wheatens continue this habit, you might consider putting a digging pit in the backyard. The idea here is to make it fun!
The pit should be placed away from your garden, if possible, and in the part of the yard, your Wheaten uses. You can also use the digging pit to train your fur baby! Any time you see him digging in other parts of the yard, rather than his digging pit, right away gain his attention. Then take him over to his digging paradise and try to get him to dig there. Keep in mind you’ll need some patience, as these dogs can be stubborn.
You’ll need a baby’s splash pool, a shovel, and some type of border to keep the sand/dirt in the pit. The border will need to go around the outside of the baby pool. It helps your canine companion know this is his spot. He’ll recognize it when he gets out. You’ll also need some sand or a mixture of sand and dirt.
Just dig a hole the size of the baby splash pool, then set this in the ground. Fill it will sand, making sure there’s plenty of material to keep your dog busy there! Once the baby pool is in the ground, then you can frame it with the border you chose.
This may sound strange, but now that the digging pit’s ready, you might think about putting toys in the sand. The reason is that this brings a lot of satisfaction to your dog. Not only is happy digging, but he’ll have a reward for his efforts.
We don’t recommend plush toys in the sand. Instead, you can use something like Kong chew toys and other hard rubber toys your dog can’t chew up. Make sure the toy are safe for your dog. You can also put treats in some toys, which will encourage your dog to dig even more!
Walking, & Jogging
We mentioned that these dogs will enjoy long walks! However, they also make great hiking and jogging companions! When it comes to jogging, your Wheaten isn’t one to go on a long jog. We’re talking short sprints. This might be fun to do around the neighborhood. Your dog will enjoy the sights and smells!
Another idea is to take your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier to the park. This could be a regular park with walking/hiking trails, or a dog park.
Your fur baby will revel in the time spent with you! He wants to be by your side. A dog who gets to use his energy up with you will be a happier, healthier, and well-balanced dog.
Agility Training
Agility training is a place your dog will excel, and they’ll get plenty of exercise. You can make or set up an agility kit in your backyard or use items you have around the house to create an agility course. Cardboard boxes for running through, sand-filled soda bottles, and more could mark out the course.
Another option is to find a dog trainer who helps dogs learn to do agility training. This would be another great activity you and your dog can enjoy together. And it gets in some much-needed training Wheatens need.
Tug of War
This is a fun game to play with your Wheaten! Your dog may just keep you busy for a good part of the day! Wheatens love to play with just about anything. When it comes to tug of war, be sure to get a safe dog toy or dog-safe item to play this game.
For instance, you might consider this Kong Tug Toy. This is a toy that is built to last. The Kong Tug Toy is made of rubber that stretches, and then recoils! How fun is that? The toy is made with handles on both sides that will be easy for you and your canine companion to hang to. It could also be used for a game of fetch!
You may notice tug of war toys for dogs that are made of braided strings. We really don’t recommend these. That’s because the rope will eventually fray, with the loose-handing strings become longer over time. If your dog’s a great chewer, then it’s possible he could chew off the strings, which could become a choking hazard, or even cause an obstructed bowel. So, be sure to choose strong toys not made of rope. You and your fur buddy will sure have some great fun!
Other Activities to Try with Your Wheaten Terrier
Here are some more ideas for activities you can experience together.
Walks on the beach are great for Wheatens but don’t take your dog to the beach on a very hot day. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers don’t do well in the heat. However, on days when it’s not so hot, your dog will all the new things to sniff, as well as digging in the sand!
Playing fetch is another favorite of the Wheaten. Your fur baby will have you playing for hours with this one! You can play it in the backyard, or at the dog park. Just as long as your fur baby gets plenty of exercise. Frisbees are a great option for playing fetch with Wheatens!
We hope you’ve found some fun ideas and activities to do with your Soft coated Wheaten Terrier! No matter what you do, spend plenty of time with your dog. You’ll have a great fur buddy for a companion and lots of fun!
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Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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