White Shepherd vs Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier - Breed Comparison

White Shepherd vs Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier - Breed ComparisonSoft-Coated Wheaten Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but White Shepherd is originated from United States. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier may grow 15 cm / 5 inches shorter than White Shepherd. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier may weigh 20 kg / 44 pounds lesser than White Shepherd. Both Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier and White Shepherd has almost same life span. Both Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier and White Shepherd has almost same litter size. Both Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier and White Shepherd requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Herding dogs
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United Kingdom
United States
Height Male:
43 - 50 cm
16 - 20 inches
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
Height Female:
43 - 50 cm
16 - 20 inches
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
13 - 20 kg
28 - 45 pounds
35 - 40 kg
77 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
13 - 20 kg
28 - 45 pounds
35 - 40 kg
77 - 89 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
2 - 10
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Wheaten, Wheatie
American White Shepherd
Colors Available:
tan, gingerish, Fawn, wheaten
White
Coat:
Soft, silky, wavy to curly
Medium length, dense, straight
Shedding:
Minimal
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

soft coated wheaten terrierThis wheaten colored terrier hails from Ireland. Although the Wheaten has been around for a long time, it was in 1937 that he was recognized as a breed in Ireland.

The British Kennel Club also recognized the Wheaten and the dog was also exported to the United States. Serious interest started being shown for the Terrier in the 1970s. It was in 1973 that they were recognised by the American Kennel Club.

white shepherdThe German Shepherd and the white German Shepherd are the same dog - the only thing is that their coat colors vary.

The White Shepherd evolved because people were looking for a working companion dog with a high degree of intelligence and a white coat.

The development of the White Shepherd began at the time of the 19th and 20th centuries. A breeding program was started but in 1933, the white coat color was made a disqualification in the German Shepherd Dog breed standard.

Not to be deterred, it was in 1969 that the U.S. and Canada formed White German Shepherd breed clubs and the breed was actually recognized by the UKC in 1999.

Description

soft coated wheaten terrier puppy - descriptionThe Wheaten is a medium sized dog standing at between 43 and 50cm and weighing between 13 and 20kg both male and female. The coat of the dog is soft, silky and wavy to even curly and is a wheaten to ginger color.

The coat of the puppy is dark but as he grows up it changes into the wheaten color although the ears may be a dark brown color. Pet owners like that the Wheaten is a very low shedding dog.

Temperament:

Playful, social and friendly, the Wheaten has always been put to good use on the farm. These days he is pet and companion. He is energetic and playful so children love having him around.

He is slightly more hyper and energetic than other Terrier breeds so will require a good dose of exercise.

He is smart and strong willed, and training and socialization turns him into an amicable pet to have around, so much so that he is sought after as a therapy-dog.

They’re easy-going dogs with no aggression issues but they still make great watch dogs and want to do whatever it takes to look after- and protect their human family.

white shepherd puppy - descriptionThe White Shepherd is a true beauty and is a medium to large-sized dog that is muscular and strong. He stands at between 55 and 65cm in height and weighs between 35 and 40kg.

He is somewhat longer than tall. The double coat is medium length, dense, straight and white. He is a fairly heavy shedder. He has an intelligent face, a long muzzle and erect ears. The long tail is low-set.

Temperament:

This beautiful dog’s face tells you that he is highly intelligent. He can be easily trained. The bright eyes are eager and alert and he is ready to be an excellent guard dog and take his role as protector and guardian seriously.

The White Shepherd loves his human family and isn't overly enthusiastic around strangers. They’re playful dogs and will make great playmates for children. They also aren’t aggressive with other dogs and will get on well with other pets in the house.

Characteristics

soft coated wheaten terrier dog - characteristicsThe Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has always made an excellent farm dog, but today he is more suited as pet and companion.

He adapts easily to life in the city or the countryside. Wherever he is, he will need his exercise. He also longs to be an active part of his human family, and then he’s happy, lively, social and friendly and is a great playmate for children.

He also gets on well with other dogs and will make you a fantastic family pet.

white shepherd dog - characteristicsThe White Shepherd is such a beautiful dog and he has some great characteristics to match his good looks.

He is friendly and amicable with his human family and is a great protector as well. He isn’t aggressive yet he makes a great watchdog.

He is loving and loyal and forms strong bonds with his human family. Bringing him into your home and heart is guaranteed to confirm the opinion held that dogs are man's best friend.

Health Problems

soft coated wheaten terrier puppies - health problemsWhen you bring a Wheaten Terrier into your home, you’re not likely to have too many vet fees as he tends to be a healthy dog breed, being able to reach 13, 14 or 15 years of age with good care.

Look out for a dog ailment known as Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). This is a condition where the dog isn’t able to properly absorb protein in the digestive tract, so that it is passed in their stools.

It can be fatal, but if caught early, some dietary changes can keep it under control.

Also, look out for inflammatory bowel disease. This disease occurs when the stomach of the dog has a large number of inflammatory cells which can change the lining of the digestive tract, preventing the normal absorption of food.

white shepherd puppies - health problemsThe White Shepherd shares health problems much the same as the German Shepherd, and one of these is hip dysplasia.

These dogs are at risk of getting hip dysplasia. It’s a congenital disorder with dogs inheriting the disease from their parents. Some young dogs can get the disease too. Because they are such active dogs, the White Shepherd is at risk of dysplasia. There are a number of signs you can look for in your dog and some of these are -

trouble standing up

limping

favoring the use of one particular leg

reduced activity

weight gain

Your vet may want x-rays to examine your dog's hips. Your vet will want to slow the development of the disease and also ease the pain in your pet. There are other steps the vet will suggest to you that can make it as comfortable as possible for your pet.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

soft coated wheaten terrier dogs - caringBrush your pet’s silky coat twice a week. Such a silky coat can get all tangled and matted. If you prefer, many people opt to rather have the Wheaten’s coat professionally clipped as then it is easier to handle. They like to have the hair clipped that hangs over the dog’s eyes.

Other grooming tasks require you to check inside his ears for redness which could indicate an infection. Trim his nails and check him over for ticks and fleas.

Training:

Have your Wheatie trained and socialized as he is a stubborn dog breed and you want him to be well mannered and obedient.

Exercise:

Terriers like this are energetic dogs and he is going to need exercise every day. A walk for a dog is always a welcome experience as it gives him the opportunity to sniff around and pick up new smells. Play ball- or frisbee games with him as this can tire him out a bit.

Veterinary Care:

If your dog shows signs of illness, get him to the vet. He is such a feisty dog that it can be unbearable to see him out of sorts.

Diet:

Terriers are energetic dogs so if you feed your dog one of the commercial dog foods, make sure the label indicates what food it is. This is because the foods are manufactured according to the type of dog it is, its age, size and energy levels.

Always try and go for the high quality foods which don’t have all those unhealthy ingredients in them. Try to include some home-made food – nothing exotic and spicy – just plain, wholesome food that won’t upset his stomach.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. You can chop it up and add it to your pet’s kibble twice a week.

Try and include a little bit of raw meat to his diet occasionally as this can go towards ensuring he doesn’t get skin diseases. Always ensure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water available.

Grooming:

white shepherd dogs - caringThe White Shepherd's weather-resistant double coat will need to be brushed regularly as he is quite a heavy shedder. When brushing him, check for ticks and fleas as well as any unusual lumps.

Exercise:

This beautiful dog was developed from a herding breed so he is very active. He will love a walk every day but that won’t be sufficient. He just loves ball games, and if you take him to the park, he’ll love you throwing sticks for him or the frisbee.

Because of his intelligence, he will require mental and physical stimulation. You get some toys for dogs where you can put some kibble in the toy and he has to figure out a way to get the food out.

Diet:

The White Shepherd is an active dog, so to keep him that way, ensure he gets good food which has the right balance of vitamins.

There are good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market, but the idea is to know how to choose the high-quality ones and to avoid the ones that can actually jeopardize your dog’s health.

Always read the write-up on the packaging and choose according to your pet’s age and his activity levels.

It is always a good idea to give such a dog some home-made food too. Not any kind of home-made food either because you have to be careful with dogs to avoid them suffering from abdominal pain. They like their food plain and simple – boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables.

Some raw meat occasionally is also good. Don’t forget to ensure a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

Comparison with other breeds

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  8. White Shepherd vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. White Shepherd vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
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  29. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison