On 1 Dec 2005 18:33:23 GMT, Rocky , clicked their
heels and said:


When I see one at the off-leashes with a female owner, I
sometimes call "April", but no one comes.

lol. dog stalkers......


--
Janet B
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bestfr...bedience/album

Janet B wrote:


They appeal to a lot of people because they are non-shedding, medium
sized and cute. Unfortunately, most people don't seem prepared for
the dig-in-your-heels stubborness that comes along with them.


Stubborn doesn't describe the Wheatens I know. Tough as nails and a very
serious dog under that fluffy coat does.

And yes, they take a lot of grooming. My friend spends about a half hour
each morning, plus about 4 hours once a week. All in grooming. Thank you no.

Now I know one with an "Irish" coat, which is not in style in the ring
but also not a disqualification. It's a very shiny coat and sort of lays
flat. I would think it would be a much easier groom. Interestingly, his
other Wheaten has a very poodle-like coat.

From: (Robin*Nuttall)
He's a Ch, only the second Wheaten to ever get a CDX (with scores in
the 190s yet),

An acquaintance's wheaten has recently earned a HIT and a High Combined
at all breed trials. If what you say is true, he must be the other one!

Debbie

"Debbie S" wrote in message
...

From: (Robin Nuttall)
He's a Ch, only the second Wheaten to ever get a CDX (with scores in
the 190s yet),

An acquaintance's wheaten has recently earned a HIT and a High Combined
at all breed trials. If what you say is true, he must be the other one!

Debbie


Delurking here.
I have 3 Wheaten Terriers, 2 from show breeders and one from our rescue
group. Yeah, there is a terrier hiding under that teddy bear exterior, but,
after having had Airedales for years, they are a much softer breed, less
headstrong and more loving. I know of a lot of Wheatens with many titles,
including MACH. They do have their moments when the crowd is much more
interesting than the obstacles and take a detour, but, for the most part,
they do well. Some wheaten owners are also participating in herding
instinct trials and the dogs are doing very well in this.

Yes, the coat takes a lot of care. My Irish coated boy doesn't mat as
quickly as the females and they all go through a coat change between 12-18
months when just looking at them causes mats. There is the protein loss
disease of the kidneys and the gut, PLN/PLE. There is research being done
on the mode of inheritance at a couple of universities now. The true
serious breeders are keeping records, testing, testing, testing and removing
affected breeding stock. I was showing my female until the diseases appeared
in her full siblings from a previous breeding. I didn't want to risk
producing any affected puppies so we had her spayed. She is 6 and very
healthy, as are the other 2 at 8 and 3 years of age.

Every Wheaten I know adores children but can knock them over in their
exuberance. Some get along very well with other dogs, some don't, like any
breed. I have had many fosters come through my home and only one didn't
care for other dogs. That was because of his upbringing, having to fight
for his food and being chained outside. Several others come for grooming
and they enjoy play dates here afterwards. We march every year in the St.
Patrick's Day parade here with about 25-30 Wheatens. At times it is like
herding cats because they like to visit with the crowd, but there has never
been an incident.

There are some bad apples in the breed, like all breeds. But our rescue
group has placed Wheatens with novice owners and they have done well. We
have placed some with owners experienced with other breeds and they have had
to be rehomed. These owners expected them to be like their former placid
breeds and weren't expecting after dinner zoomies, beard wipes, selective
deafness and that condition known as the Wheaten Greetin' Disorder when they
can spring up to eye level from a sit to say HI! Each dog is different,
like their owners and the entire breed shouldn't be painted as bad because
of a few and a few owners who can't control or train their dog.

Now, back to my regularly scheduled luring!
Jan

"AJ" wrote in message
.net...
Delurking here.
I have 3 Wheaten Terriers, 2 from show breeders and one from our rescue
group.
There is the protein loss
disease of the kidneys and the gut, PLN/PLE. There is research being done
on the mode of inheritance at a couple of universities now. The true
serious breeders are keeping records, testing, testing, testing and
removing
affected breeding stock.

I'm really glad to hear this. You can't improve any breed by ignoring their
health and temperament issues. I knew there were "good guys" out there.

It's really hard for good breeders when a breed goes through a period of
great popularity. They love their breed and can understand why others would
also. But especially when there are known health problems - and temperament
never seems to be improved by the BYBs - it's hard to always know the best
things to do. You know if you don't breed and fill the demand, that someone
else - someone who doesn't have the breed's best interests at heart - will.

But our rescue
group has placed Wheatens with novice owners and they have done well. We
have placed some with owners experienced with other breeds and they have
had
to be rehomed. These owners expected them to be like their former placid
breeds

True of all breeds. A dog is a dog is a dog. Except that each breed does
have its own characteristics and its own challenges for the owner. I think
my schnauzers are pretty placid for terriers (and I'm kind of in the group
that says maybe they *aren't* true terriers) but I know one woman who
replaced her elderly lab with a six month old schnauzer. NOT a good match.
A completely novice owner who is open to learning and accepting and working
is not a bad start for almost any breed. Often a better choice than the
previous dog owner who thinks that he already knows all about dogs.

Each dog is different,
like their owners and the entire breed shouldn't be painted as bad because
of a few and a few owners who can't control or train their dog.

I hope that you don't think that we did that. I think at least most of us
indicated that we had known some that were pretty darned good dogs. I do
maintain that they present perhaps more challenges to the owner than the
typical (here comes the stereotype) golden. And the health problems are
very real. As is the multitude of BYBs here in the northeast. Which is why
I directed the OP to both the www.dog-play.com site (if you haven't been
there, you should check it out) and to the breed club via AKC. I was
hopeful that by contacting a responsible breeder, armed with the information
from the dog-play site, that they (along with the breeder) could determine
if a wheaten was a good match for them.

Now, back to my regularly scheduled luring!
Jan

You do "luring" with your wheatens? ;-) Wow! They really *are* versatile
dogs!

~~Judy

"Judy" wrote in message
...
Now, back to my regularly scheduled luring!
Jan

You do "luring" with your wheatens? ;-) Wow! They really *are*
versatile
dogs!

~~Judy


Hey, I never said Wheaten Owners were good typists :-o! I missed the "k",
lurking.
Jan

Just want to add my two cents about Wheaten Terriers. They are
absolutely not for everyone as are many breeds including and esp.
Border Collies, various terriers, and any number of breeds. That said,
as a first time Wheaten owner having only had a Mini Schnauzer growing
up (nice, trained but very barky) I've learned a great deal and have
gone a great way with my Wheaten. The reputable breeders are paying
close attention to PLE/PLN problems as well as other health issues.
Any purebred dog breed has their own set of issues - when you have a
limited gene pool and play God, and don't know everything there is to
know about genetics (some day soon we'll know more) you get illnesses
specific to a breed. A breed with a small gene pool does not have the
luxury of not breeding any dog or bitch without any question marks in
their past, although parents and grandparents should hopefully be
long-lived and okay. A lot of the difficult Wheatens out there are pet
shop puppy mill dogs and we've heard all about them from groomers and
vets.

Wheaten terrier owners were led to believe that Wheatens couldn't be
trained for performance and other activities. A whole bunch of us have
proved them wrong. We even sponsor a day at the Montgomery Terrier
Agility trials and this year all-terrier obedience trial. I have also
given the CGC test two years in a row to Wheatens at the National
Specialty with good results and growing support.

My gut feeling here is that they are a softer terrier temperament-wise
with herding dog in there (hence the soft coat and less desire to
actually EAT the sheep). That's not to say they are easy, but they are
not untrainable either. You need a sense of humor to have a Wheaten as
they like to play, have fun and make you smile a big toothy grin a
couple of times a day. In my book that's a good thing. They ARE high
maintenance (30 min. combing and brushing every day preferably) but
well worth it to the right owner. I don't think you will see a more
enthusiastic bunch madly in love with their dogs than Wheaten owners.

My Wheaten Jeter and I have participated in conformation, therapy dog,
agility, obedience, freestyle, herding, tracking and rally. As you can
see by my dog's titles, not bad for my first Wheaten and first dog ever
trained.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Stone and Jeter
Am/Can Ch. Shandalee Daredevil, CD, OAP, AJP, CGC, TDIAOV, Versatility
Dog, Herding Instinct Tested, 2000 Westminster Award of Merit Winner