Copyright 1995 by Mike Slepian (last updated September 1999).

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (SCWT) is, as the name implies, a wheaten-colored terrier with a soft (open) coat. It is a shaggy blond dog of medium size that does not shed. It is, however, much more than the previous two simple sentences can convey. This breed truly offers something for everyone. Anyone who has seen a well-groomed SCWT will acknowledge the beauty of its coat -- abundant, medium long and falling in waves that range from shimmering reddish gold to a gold so light it is nearly silver and which ripples and shines with the play of the muscles beneath. The breed has the stamina, strength, gameness, joy-of-life, and intelligence (stubbornness?) of its terrier heritage. True to its development as an Irish farm dog, the breed is steadier than most terriers and intensely loyal to its human family. It is a dog that has not been overly refined; it retains the air of a country gentlemen with courage and power balanced by intelligence, gaiety, and gentleness.

The origins of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are a bit misty, but the breed is thought to date back over 200 years. With the historical Irish emphasis on oral traditions over written ones, it is not too surprising that the history of terriers belonging to farmers and the poorer folk is not well documented. References place long-legged terriers with open coats and wheaten color in the areas around Cork and Wicklow (southern Ireland) as well as around Ballymena (northern Ireland). These were general purpose farmers' dogs -- a hard life requiring solid, intelligent dogs with enough size to enforce authority, but not so large that upkeep was expensive. He was the enemy of all vermin, would guard the family larder, could herd sheep and cattle and would patrol the boundaries of the small farms to warn off trespassers. He could also be used as a hunting dog and was capable of tracking otter and badgers, taking them both on land and water. Some old-timers referred to him as "... the best dog ever for poaching." In short, he was a strong, medium sized dog of great intelligence and versatility.