Owning dogs, especially providing care for the soft-coated wheaten terrier, is a specialty of humans. Historians theorize that dogs were domesticated between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that all dogs evolved from the wolf. Since then, human beings have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, which range in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-foot stature earns them the title of the tallest pooch. But the most preferred pooches are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The soft-coated wheaten terrier is another popular pick with canine owners. Some owners are unaware, however, of some important soft-coated wheaten terrier care tips.
Cost of care for your soft-coated wheaten terrier
The annual cost of raising your soft-coated wheaten terrier—including everything from food and snacks, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This is not even considering capital expenses for sterilization operations, dog collar and a leash, a dog carrier and a dog crate. Tip: Be positive you have obtained all the required supplies before getting your soft-coated wheaten terrier home for the 1st time.
Basic soft-coated wheaten terrier Care
soft-coated wheaten terrier Feeding Schedule
- soft-coated wheaten terrier pups between 8 and twelve weeks need four meals in a day.
- Feed soft-coated wheaten terrier puppies 3 to 6 months old 3 meals every day.
- Feed puppies six months old to 1 year old two times in a day.
- When the soft-coated wheaten terrier makes his or her 1st birthday, one bowl every 24 hours is enough.
- Sometimes adult soft-coated wheaten terriers might eat 2 smaller servings. It is your responsibility to learn your soft-coated wheaten terrier’s eating habits.
Top-quality dry dog food ensures a well-balanced diet to adult soft-coated wheaten terriers and can mix with canned food, broth, or water. Your soft-coated wheaten terrier may have a taste for cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables, and cooked eggs, but these foods should not be more than ten pct of his daily allowance. soft-coated wheaten terrier pups should probably be given excellent-quality, brand-name puppy food. Please cut down on “people food”, though, since it can cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, bone and teeth concerns, and might create extremely picky eating habits as well as obesity. Give fresh, potable water at all times, and be certain to wash water and food dishes daily.
soft-coated wheaten terrier Care Tips: Your soft-coated wheaten terrier needs exercise daily
soft-coated wheaten terriers need some physical activity to stay healthy, recharge their minds, and remain in good health. Exercise also tends to help soft-coated wheaten terriers fight boredom, which would often lead to naughty behavior. Going outside can quench many of your soft-coated wheaten terrier’s desires to dig, chase, herd, chew and retrieve. Individual exercise needs are dependent on your soft-coated wheaten terrier’s age and his or her level of health—but ten minutes outside and a couple of walks down the street every day probably will not be enough. If your soft-coated wheaten terrier is a six to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will be much higher.
soft-coated wheaten terrier Grooming Tips
Regular brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your soft-coated wheaten terrier clean. Inspect for ticks and fleas daily during warm weather. Many soft-coated wheaten terriers don’t need a bath more than a few times during the year. Before bathing, cut out or comb any and all mats from the soft-coated wheaten terrier’s coat. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your soft-coated wheaten terrier
Pups, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to handle. While carrying the soft-coated wheaten terrier pup, take one of your hands and put it under your dog’s chest, with either your forearm or other hand supporting her back legs and rump. Don’t attempt to lift or grab your pup by his or her front legs, nape or tail. If you must pick up a larger, adult soft-coated wheaten terrier, pick it up from underneath, holding his or her chest with one of your arms and rump with the other.
How to House your soft-coated wheaten terrier
Your soft-coated wheaten terrier needs a comfy peaceful location in order to sleep apart from all drafts and away from the ground or floor. You might want to purchase a dog bed, or try making one out of a wood box. Put a clean sheet or pillow in the bed. Wash the soft-coated wheaten terrier’s bed covering often. If the soft-coated wheaten terrier will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be certain she has plenty of cool water and covering in hot weather, and a dry, covered, warm area in the cold.
soft-coated wheaten terrier Licensing and Identification
Heed the community’s licensing regulations. You should connect the license to your soft-coated wheaten terrier’s collar. This, together with an identification tag, may help you recover your soft-coated wheaten terrier should he get lost.
Information on soft-coated wheaten terrier Behavior
About Training the soft-coated wheaten terrier
A well-behaved, companion soft-coated wheaten terrier can truly be a joy to raise. However, untrained, your dog will most likely be a big pain. Training your soft-coated wheaten terrier on the minimums—”Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, and “Leave it”—improves the relationship both with the soft-coated wheaten terrier and your family. If you’re the owner of a pup, begin training him on the appropriate behavior as soon as humanly possible! Use snacks as an incentive and a reward. Puppies should begin obedience class when they are adequately vaccinated. Call the local humane society or SPCA for information about obedience schools. It is best to keep your soft-coated wheaten terrier on a leash when, even as a pup. Just be sure your doggie will come back to you every time you tell him. A disobedient or aggressive soft-coated wheaten terrier should not be allowed to play with children.
The Health of Your soft-coated wheaten terrier
soft-coated wheaten terriers should visit the veterinarian for a complete diagnosis, vaccinations and a heartworm assessment each year, and ASAP when she is sick or injured.
Knowing Your soft-coated wheaten terrier’s Oral Health
While many of us may simply dislike our soft-coated wheaten terrier’s bad breath, we must pay attention to what it might mean. Halitosis is a sign that your soft-coated wheaten terrier needs a dental screening. Plaque , which is caused by germs results in a terrible odor that necessitates professional treatment. Once your soft-coated wheaten terrier has had a professional dental cleaning, the mouth may be kept healthy by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. The vet can provide you with additional information on minimizing dental problems as well as halitosis. You can clean the soft-coated wheaten terrier’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a homemade paste made of baking soda and water a couple of times a week. You can clean them with a gauze pad, a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched across your finger, or a child’s soft toothbrush. Some soft-coated wheaten terriers are afflicted by periodontal disease, which is an infection between the tooth and the gum. This painful affliction will sometimes lead to loss of teeth and also spread infections throughout her body. Veterinarians will sometimes brush her teeth as a regular part of your soft-coated wheaten terrier’s health screening.
soft-coated wheaten terrier Breath Gone Wild!
While periodontal disease by itself is not that big of a deal when detected early, bad breath may be indicative of more serious, chronic causes for concern. A fruity, even pleasant smell may sometimes be indicative of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. Kidney disease is a possible cause if your soft-coated wheaten terrier’s breath smells like ammonia or urine. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your soft-coated wheaten terrier has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Fleas and Ticks in soft-coated wheaten terriers
When it’s warm, it’s important for you to perform daily checks of your soft-coated wheaten terrier for fleas and ticks. Find fleas with a flea comb. There are numerous new methods of flea and tick reduction. Ask your soft-coated wheaten terrier’s doctor about these and other recommendations.
Heartworms in soft-coated wheaten terriers
Your soft-coated wheaten terrier is at risk of contracting heartworms if she is exposed to lots of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes transport the worm from dog to dog. Many soft-coated wheaten terriers die yearly due to heartworms. It is very critical you make sure your soft-coated wheaten terrier has a blood screening for worms each year during the spring. A once-a-month tablet given throughout the course of the warm, wet time of the year will help to protect your soft-coated wheaten terrier. If you ever travel in a warmer-than-usual climate with your soft-coated wheaten terrier in winter, he must be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some areas, usually the places with milder climates, where veterinarians advise parasite pills be given continuously.
Poisons and Medications
If you’re considering giving your soft-coated wheaten terrier pills that was not prescribed for her by his veterinarian, forget about it. For example, did you know that just one regular-strength ibuprofen caplet causes stomach ulcers in some dogs Make sure your soft-coated wheaten terrier is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Be sure to immediately call your soft-coated wheaten terrier’s doctor when you have reson to think your soft-coated wheaten terrier has been exposed to a toxin. You should also immediately call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hour help.
soft-coated wheaten terriers: Spaying and Neutering
Male soft-coated wheaten terriers should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the extraction of the uterus and ovaries – by 6 months of age. Spaying before maturity significantly reduces the breast cancer risk, a common and usually deadly condition for older female soft-coated wheaten terriers. Spaying also eradicates the possibility of a sick uterus, a traumatic issue in more mature females that can only be treated with surgery. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, some hernias and certain types of aggressions can be prevented by neutering male soft-coated wheaten terriers.
Shots for your soft-coated wheaten terrier
- The combo vaccine (also called the “five-in-one shot”) must be given to your soft-coated wheaten terrier at two, three, and four months of age and again once yearly. This innoculation immunizes your puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. The soft-coated wheaten terrier must be vaccinated for at least the first 4 months of her life.
- If you have an unvaccinated soft-coated wheaten terrier older than 4 or 5 months, she must have a series of 2 immunizations two or three weeks apart, followed by a yearly innoculation.
- Your soft-coated wheaten terrier puppy’s socialization should coincide with her immunization program. Many vets advise that new owners take their soft-coated wheaten terrier pups to socialization classes, beginning at eight to 9 weeks old. At this point, they should have already received their first vaccinations.
Since rules are so different around the country, contact your local doctor for info about rabies innoculation. For instance, in NYC, the rule states that any pets older than 3 months must be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies vaccine must be followed by a subsequent immunization the next year, and then every three years. There are several vaccines that might effective for your soft-coated wheaten terrier. Ask your soft-coated wheaten terrier’s vet for his recommendation. You should be aware, if your soft-coated wheaten terrier happens to get sick because he is not immunized, the immunization can be taken after your pet recovers.
Intestinal Parasites in soft-coated wheaten terriers
soft-coated wheaten terriers are often exposed to worms and possible infestation—even in urban areas. Microscopic eggs produced by hookworms are transmitted through an infected soft-coated wheaten terrier’s stool. Even the healthiest of soft-coated wheaten terrier puppies carry intestinal worms. The key to effective treatment is early diagnosis. This will ensure that the medicine is highly effective against the worms your dog has. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your doctor can best figure out the culprit—and decide the effective medicine.
soft-coated wheaten terrier Care Tips: Additional Information
soft-coated wheaten terrier Supply Checklist
- Premium-quality dog food and treats specifically for soft-coated wheaten terriers and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush and comb for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for pups)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with quilt or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to soft-coated wheaten terriers:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate
- Raisins or grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit & stems
- Dough
Final Thoughts
Keep your soft-coated wheaten terrier on a leash when you are outdoors, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured area. When your soft-coated wheaten terrier defecates on a neighbor’s lawn, her sidewalk or any other public place, please remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about soft-coated wheaten terriers
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