Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Aussie Doodles - Breed Comparison

This 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.

It is interesting to note that the Australian Shepherd doesn’t have much in common with the land ‘down under’. The dog has always been a popular companion dog in the United States as a working dog. As a hybrid, the Aussiedoodle is a new breed that doesn’t have a detailed history, but it is worth taking not that the 2 breeds that have been used to create the Aussiedoodle do have long histories each.

It is believed that the name of the Australian Shepherd is because the ancestors of the dog arrived from Australia in the United States and were named from where their ancestors previously resided. The Aussiedoodle has only emerged on the scene in the last 10 years and is becoming hugely popular. The breed isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club but are recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club.

The 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.

The Australian Shepherd was bred to herd livestock together, and with the Aussiedoodle, you’ll still sometimes see this trait, and he may well try to herd his human family into the car. The Aussiedoodle can’t always be expected to look the same as they come in many sizes and shades of colour, some leaning more towards the Poodle and others more towards the Australian Shepherd. He is a medium- to large sized dog with a strong-boned, muscular structure.

The Coat - Straight or Curly

The coat of the Aussiedoodle can differ somewhat, with most having wavy or curly hair while others have fairly straight hair. The dogs are available in many different colours, from solids to patterned and in shades such as black, grey, silver and blue merles. Size can vary too, depending on whether the Aussiedoodle had a miniature or standard poople involved with the pairing.

Intelligent and Highly Trainable

The Aussiedoodle is exceptionally clever and also very energetic. This dog breed will require training, socialization and exercise. Training an Aussiedoodle is easy as you will see he is eager to please.

Family Focused

The Aussiedoodle loves his family and this isn’t a dog that can be left outdoors all day on his own. He is lively and energetic, and left too long on his own, he can become bored and destructive. This hybrid makes the perfect pet for families with kids, with no aggressive tendencies. He can also be introduced to other pets in the home as he is a friendly, amicable breed who wants to please.

The 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.

Loyal, Lively and Loving

The Aussiedoodle is an intelligent, outgoing, patient and devoted family pet who will happily slot into any home where there are children and other pets.

Make Time to Include Lots of Activities

Most Aussiedoodles love being active and you’ll want to include him in all your activities – walking, swimming, ball games and herding.

Yes, it is true that the temperament of your Aussiedoodle will depend on the canine parents but he will also be influenced by your lifestyle and environment too.

When 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.

As with most mixed-breeds, Aussiedoodles are a healthy breed, and your pet won’t come with any hereditary ailments. Both Australian Shepherds and Poodles have few inherent diseases, and by mixing the two, you get a robust breed.

Having said that, you always have to be aware that any dog, including your Aussiedoodle can inherit certain health problems of both the Poodle and the Australian Shepherd.

Each Breed has It’s own Unique Health Issues

The Australian Shepherd is susceptible to vision problems and some health problems with the Poodle include epilepsy, renal disease and cancer, but in spit of this, the good news is that there aren’t many documented health issues with Aussiedoodles.

Research Breeders and get your Puppy Vaccinated

Always research and find a reputable breeder of Aussiedoodles who has certificates that the parents are sound and free from common health defects. Make sure that you get your puppy vaccinated from 8 weeks of age to avoid the common, deadly canine diseases that can rob you of your puppy. The very first vaccination will be for distemper, measles and parainfluenza.

Grooming:

Brush 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.

General Grooming

The coat of Aussiedoodles need minimal maintenance. This is because of the Poodle input which is a low shedding dog. Aussiedoodles shed very little, but you will still need to give your dog a regular brush every other day to remove loose hairs and to also prevent matting. You can even include some professional grooming as his thick coat can quickly look dirty and unruly.

Brush the teeth of your Aussiedoodle with special dog brushes and toothpaste to prevent plaque forming. You can also book an appointment at your local vet to have his teeth cleaned if you are reluctant to do it. it.

Diet and Meals

An Ausiedoodle under 6 months of age should be fed 3 or 4 times daily. Once your Aussiedoodle is 1 year of age you can cut the meals down to 1 or 2 meals a day.

Always select high quality foods and understand the labels and ingredients. Cheaper foods with ‘bad’ ingredients can mean more medical bills because of malnutrition.

Speak to your vet about feeding your Aussiedoodle. You can also prepare cooked meals for your dog and include chicken, meat, rice and vegetables. Remember this is a high energy dog and he will require foods high in protein to meat his daily energy and nutritional requirements.