Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison

Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Setter - Breed ComparisonBoth Wheaten Terrier and Irish Setter are originated from Ireland. Wheaten Terrier may grow 21 cm / 8 inches shorter than Irish Setter. Wheaten Terrier may weigh 14 kg / 30 pounds lesser than Irish Setter. Wheaten Terrier may live 3 years less than Irish Setter. Wheaten Terrier may have less litter size than Irish Setter. Both Wheaten Terrier and Irish Setter requires Moderate maintenance.

History

The Wheaten Terrier hails from Ireland, some 200 years ago.

wheaten terrier - historyThe dog was bred to be a useful dog to have around the farm. He was needed to help with the guarding and herding of livestock and to keep the rat population down.

This little dog has a long history, but in spite of this, he wasn’t recognized as a breed in his home country by the Irish Kennel Club until 1937.

It was in 1943 that the Wheaten was recognized by the British Kennel Club. They were exported to the United States in the 1940s and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973.

irish setter - historyThe Irish Setter is a gun dog, originating in Ireland and recognized by his beautiful red or mahogany coat.

Descending from the Setter group, the Irish Setter, also known as the Red Setter, has a solid pedigree. It was in the 1800s that they were brought to the United States.

The Irish Setter wasn't always what it looks like today and in fact the solid red color was created because of selective breeding practices. The Irish Setter has long medium length floppy ears, brown eyes and he is deep chested.

Description

wheaten terrier puppy - descriptionThe Wheaten Terrier is a robustly built, medium-sized dog with males and females standing at between 43 to 50cm in height and weighing between 13 to 20kg.

The soft, single coat is a silky texture and a wheaten, gingery color. A bonus is that the coat doesn’t shed much. Puppies are born with darkish coats of a reddish-brown color but the coat lightens significantly as the puppy grows older.

Most Wheaten Terrier owners opt to have the dog professionally groomed. Their tails have always been docked.

Temperament:

Your Wheaten Terrier is a smart dog, albeit headstrong and stubborn. His intelligence makes it easy to have him trained.

They love their human family and aren’t known for any aggression issues. They’re energetic, playful dogs and are sometimes even looked upon as being hyperactive. They’re able to get along well with other dogs and cats in the house. They generally make great family pets.

These dogs are well suited to life in the city as well as the countryside just so long as he gets his daily walks and other forms of exercise.

irish setter puppy - descriptionThe Irish Setter is a large dog, beautiful and elegant looking, standing at 61 to 71cm in height and weighing anything from 25 to 34kg, males and females.

The coat is a rich red color and is short to medium length but feathers in places such as the tail, the chest and abdomen, the legs and the tail. The head is long and lean, the ears are long and silky and the tail long and feathery.

Temperament:

The Irish Setter is a playful, friendly, sweet, mischievous, high energy dog who makes a superb family pet, getting on well with children in the home.

It was noticed that in about 1845, Setters in Ireland were mostly red, red and white or even a mustardy-lemon type of color, but there was preference for the solid red coloring. The breed standard for the modern Irish Setter was drawn up in Dublin by the Irish Red Setter Club and approved in 1886.

The dog was essentially bred for hunting game birds, using their excellent sense of smell to locate the bird. He is an alert, intelligent dog and will learn easily. Training and socialization will make him obedient and relaxed.

He isn't an assertive kind of breed and therefore isn't going to make the best of watchdogs. They've got such amicable, kind temperaments that they make popular therapy dogs.

Characteristics

wheaten terrier dog - characteristicsThe Wheaten Terrier is such a bouncy, lively little dog that he brings joy into any home.

He is energetic, playful and full of the joys of living but you don’t want to take advantage of his good nature.

Don’t leave him stuck in your back yard but include him in all your family activities. He’s your best friend, providing you with unconditional love that few humans can equal.

irish setter dog - characteristicsIrish Setters are going to make you a wonderful pet. He has a friendly, confident disposition that makes them ideal pets for families with children who have been taught how to respect- and be kind to animals.

He is a big dog, but with training and socialization he becomes well behaved and obedient. Social and outgoing, this is a dog which just loves the companionship of their human family and will require a good deal of exercise too.

Keep him well exercised, feed him good food that promotes health, give him a nice warm, dry place to sleep and he’ll fit perfectly well into your family and make a splendid pet.

Health Problems

wheaten terrier puppies - health problemsYour Wheaten Terrier is a dog breed that can live healthily with you for a good number of years.

Just like most other dogs, they are prone to some heritable diseases. Perhaps a condition to look out for with this particular dog is protein wasting conditions - protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE).

Both of these diseases are actually fatal but if caught early enough, they can be managed with dietary changes and medication.

Your dog produces proteins known as enzymes, one group being digestive enzymes that help with the breakdown and digestion of food. When your pet battles with malabsorption, digestive enzymes don’t absorb protein and it passes through the large intestine into the faeces. Your dog will have inflammatory bowel disease.

Dogs with PLE for instance, will have vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss.

irish setter puppies - health problemsIrish Setters are quite a healthy breed but they are also prone to getting some of the common dog illnesses such as hip dysplasia, cancer, bloat and canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency.

Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency:

Known as CLAD, this is a disease of the immune system found in Irish Setters. True, it is a rare disease and affected animals show signs of skin lesions, bone disorders, anorexia and generalized lymphadenopathy.

Bloat:

Irish Setters can develop bloat, a life-threatening condition where the stomach distends with gas and can twist. This is known as gastric torsion and you’ll see your dog’s restlessness. He may even ‘hide away’ somewhere, lying down and drooling, while trying to vomit. This is an illness which requires immediate veterinary intervention.

Caring The Pet

wheaten terrier dogs - caringBrush your pet’s coat twice a week to keep it healthy and have him professionally trimmed to keep him looking nice and groomed.

Dental disease is a common problem with dogs, and more specifically small dogs. Dental problems start with tartar build-up on the teeth and then infection of the gums and roots can set in too. The teeth have to be kept in good condition as rotten teeth can have a negative impact on other important body parts like the heart and kidneys.

Have your pet vaccinated against bacterial and viral infections such as rabies and parvo.

Speak to your vet about the many worms and other parasites that can invade your pet’s body.

Have your Wheaten spayed or neutered if you want to avoid unwanted puppies.

Provide your Wheaten with the best food there is to encourage good health and longevity. Keep his meals simple and consistent and always go for high-quality foods that are in keeping with your dog’s age, Kibble as well as home-made food are good choices. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Provide your Wheaten Terrier with good exercise. Remember though that these dogs are sensitive to warm temperatures, and you don’t want to have him exercising in hot weather because of the fear of heat stress.

Exercise:

irish setter dogs - caringIrish Setters are lean and muscular and an active breed. They love nothing more than to run off in wide open spaces, and if you live in the city and have a large garden, he will need to be taken on long walks. If he is a country dog, he may well run off and be gone for an hour or two before he returns home.

They are dogs which are used to having a job to do such as hunting, so he won't do well if he is put into a small back yard and left to his own device. He is a social dog and wants to be with his human family, relying on them to include him in all their activities.

Diet:

Your Irish Setters is a lean, muscular, active dog, and to keep him that way he will require a nutritious diet. If you feed him commercially manufactured kibble, make sure it is the very best quality one. It is a good idea to mix in protein such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Some raw meat added in from time to time can be very beneficial to him too.

With your beautiful Irish Setter, it is best to avoid feeding your dog processed foods altogether. A good diet is essential for good health. Never leave your dog without a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

Grooming:

The Red Setter’s coat is fairly long on the body but short and smooth on the head. The coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to prevent matting.

Trim his nails as needed, and find out how to keep his teeth healthy too with vet approved canine dog toothpaste- and brush.

Also check his long, floppy ears because it is so easy for ear infections to develop with these long-eared dogs.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Gun dog
Origin:
Ireland
Ireland
Height Male:
43 - 50 cm
16 - 20 inches
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
Height Female:
43 - 50 cm
16 - 20 inches
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
13 - 20 kg
28 - 45 pounds
25 - 34 kg
55 - 75 pounds
Weight Female:
13 - 20 kg
28 - 45 pounds
25 - 34 kg
55 - 75 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
11 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
7 - 12
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
The Wheaten
Red Setter
Colors Available:
Wheaten, gingery
Red
Coat:
Soft single coat
Medium Length, silky and feathery
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Wheaten Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Wheaten Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Wheaten Terrier vs Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  4. Wheaten Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  5. Wheaten Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Wheaten Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Wheaten Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  8. Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Wheaten Terrier vs Fox Terrier (Smooth) - Breed Comparison
  10. Wheaten Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Wheaten Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  12. Wheaten Terrier vs Lakeland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Wheaten Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Wheaten Terrier vs Jagdterrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Wheaten Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Wheaten Terrier vs Indian Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Wheaten Terrier vs Japanese Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Wheaten Terrier vs Brazilian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Wheaten Terrier vs Old English Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Wheaten Terrier vs Scoland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Wheaten Terrier vs Skye Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Wheaten Terrier vs Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Wheaten Terrier vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Irish Setter vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  27. Irish Setter vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  28. Irish Setter vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  29. Irish Setter vs Irish Red and White Setter - Breed Comparison
  30. Irish Setter vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  31. Irish Setter vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  32. Portuguese Pointer vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  33. Perdiguero de Burgos vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  34. Pachon Navarro vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  35. Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  36. Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  37. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  38. Spanish Pointer vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  39. Spinone Italiano vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  40. Talbot vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  41. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  42. Weimaraner vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  43. Longhaired Weimaraner vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  44. Samoyed vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  45. Labradoodle vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  46. Mixed vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  47. Old English Sheepdog vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  48. Presa Canario vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  49. Labrador Husky vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  50. Perro de Presa Canario vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds