The Wheaten Coat: 'Irish' or 'English'?

Over the years, two distinguishable coat types have evolved in the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier: the 'Irish' coat and the heavier coat, which is frequently referred to as the 'English' coat. You may also hear people mention 'American' coat. This is another heavy coat, often denser still. (photos)

The original 'Irish' coat (Ireland being the country of origin) is a soft, silky coat, which on the adult Wheaten, falls in waves of soft curls closely following the contours of the body. The hairs are fine and have a high sheen or gloss. In England and the USA, a heavier coat has developed, usually referred to as the 'English' coat. The adult coat again should have soft waves or curls but is much thicker and heavier, giving the dog a heavier overall appearance. It rarely has the Irish coat's sparkle.


 

The coat on an 'Irish' puppy is sparse and can be either fluffy or quite coarse in texture, giving the puppy a ragamuffin appearance. The puppies often have black ears and sometimes black masks as well, which grow out as the dog matures. The 'Irish' coat can take three or more years to mature to its full silky splendour. The leg coat in particular takes time to develop in the immature dog. The heavy coated puppy has a more abundant coat and gives the appearance of a cuddly bear. The pups have black ears, masks and occasionally markings. Any black on the body should have grown out by two years of age but some grey is usually retained on the ears and muzzle. The English pup is quicker to gain a mature looking coat, although the final coat may take as long to achieve as the Irish type.

The majority of puppies bred in England are of the heavier coat type. Whilst a few breed pure Irish lines, in some cases they are being interbred resulting in both types in the same litter. The breeder will be aware if there is a possibility of a 'mixed' litter from the pedigrees of the parents. It should be remembered that the pure Irish gene is dominant over the 'heavy coat' recessive gene. Interbreeding does not produce a "midway" or "in-between" coat. Some Irish coats are sparser than others and similarly some of the heavier ones are denser than others but the adults can usually be identified as one type or the other.

To avoid disappointment in the future, it is advisable if possible to see adult Wheatens of both types before buying a puppy. Most dog books only feature the heavier coats but the Club's Breed Handbook (and the video) have photographs of both types. Ask to see these if you visit an Area Representative or one of the SCWT Club events.