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