A Wheatie's coat is moderately long and is made up of silky, slightly wavy hair which is longer on a dog’s face. Although they don’t shed, they are high maintenance in the grooming department. Ideally, a Wheatie's coat needs to be brushed on a daily basis to remove any debris they may have picked up and to prevent any knots or tangles from forming. Particular attention has to be paid to a dog's muzzle which needs wiping with a soft, damp cloth after a Wheatie has eaten.
They also need to be professionally groomed several times a year to keep their coats in good condition, bearing in mind that their grooming needs are higher when they are younger and before their adult coats grow through. It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears, it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short, prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.
Wheaties are energetic, intelligent little terriers and as such they need to be given the right amount of daily exercise and mental stimulation for them to be truly happy, well balanced dogs. If they are not given enough to occupy their minds and enough outdoor time, these little dogs can become unruly and wilful. They are best suited to families who live in the country and who lead more active, outdoor lives because although small, a Wheatie needs to have lots of room to express themselves. They need to be given at least 60 minutes exercise a day and more if possible to keep them from getting bored. If a Wheatie does get bored it could lead to dogs developing all sorts of behavioural issues which includes excessive barking and being destructive around the home.
A shorter walk in the morning would be fine, but a longer more interesting one in the afternoon is a must. These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam. However, the fencing has to be extremely secure to keep these energetic, inquisitive dogs in because if they find a weakness in the fence, they will soon escape out and get into all sorts of trouble.
With this said, Wheatie puppies should not be over exercised because their joints and bones are still growing. This includes not letting a dog jump up and down from furniture or going up or down the stairs. Too much pressure placed on their joints and spines at an early age could result in a dog developing serious problems later in their lives.
If you get a Wheatie puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
