O'Briens Wheatens

General Description: 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 Wheaten Terrier is distinctive: he has a compact, well-knit body expressive of agile strength and power. His average height is 18.5 inches and he usually weighs from 30 to 45 pounds (bitches about 10% smaller). Wheatens have a deep chest and well-sprung ribs. They have straight forelegs and powerful hind legs, bent at the stifles with hocks well let down. The tail is customarily docked to a length of 3-5 inches. The ears are smallish, set at the topskull level, carried in front and dropped (they may have blue-gray shading). Their eyes are dark reddish brown or brown, slightly almond-shaped, and medium-sized -- yet seem larger due to black coloring of the eyerims. The eyes gaze at you from beneath a curtain of bangs which naturally fall forward over the eyes to shade and protect them. The muzzle is relatively short for a terrier with a definite stop and crowned by a large black nose.