Wheaten Terrier Grooming

It’s best to start grooming your Wheaten Terrier early in order to get them used to the procedure; especially since many dogs are uncomfortable about having their muzzles, ears, and paws touched and require a great deal of socialization before they will be comfortable with and enjoy grooming. You can most easily do this with plenty of encouragement, patience, and treats.

Start a Grooming Routine

Once your terrier is used to the idea of being groomed, and is five months of age, you have to start a twice weekly routine of layer grooming. This is because your Wheaten Terrier‘s hair grows in layers and if each layer isn’t taken care of, it gets matted that much faster and easier. Start with the layer closest to the skin and work your way out, using a slicker brush, comb, and rake (you can read more about the different grooming tools in one of our previous posts). A slicker brush is used first against the lie of the fur in order to wrinkle out any mats or tangles and get rid of them. Then begin grooming the fur downwards to smooth it out, starting with the layer closest to the skin and working your way out.

Get Rid of Larger Knots and Dead Hair

The comb can be used to get rid of larger knots and tangles-stick to a wide toothed comb for this task. The rake is then used to get rid of dead hair which helps to prevent matting. Brush out your Wheaten Terrier’s chest, sides, neck, belly and tail, but don’t go near the eyes or nose because you may accidentally hurt or startle your pet. If this happens, give your pet a treat to soothe any hurt feelings.

Bathing your Wheaten Terrier

Don’t overbathe your terrier – This strips the fur of essential oils and nutrients, but you can tell when your dog needs a bath. If, even with regular grooming, your dog’s fur is hard to comb and looks scruffy even after a brushing, it’s time for a bath. Always thoroughly brush your dog before the bath or else any mats lurking in the fur will become that much worse. Use gentle dog shampoo and a great deal of patience. Some dogs enjoy baths, others hate it, so make sure to block out a good chunk of time and be prepared for some messes.

You can also clean out your Wheaten Terrier’s ears with soft cotton, clip her nails with a toenail clipper (be very careful of the quick-the reddish area of the nail where the nerves are) and do a bit of trimming of any scraggly furs at about the same rate as bathing. Finally, make sure to brush your dog’s teeth a couple times a week with a dab of toothpaste for dogs and a toothbrush. This is to remove plaque build up so you don’t have to worry about your dog getting gingivitis.

Grooming your Wheaten Terrier can be a great bonding experience as long as you approach it with love and patience. Your dog will certainly appreciate being clean and you’ll appreciate all of the comments you’ll get about your beautiful dog!

Resources

Wheaten Terrier Grooming Supplies

Wheaten Terrier on Wikipedia

Wheaten Terrier Videos

Terrier Bathing

Grooming your terrier is essential to keeping him healthy and looking his best! It’s also a great way for you to bond with your terrier. It is important to develop a trusting relationship with your terrier, so that grooming will be a pleasant experience for both of you. One good, and healthy, way to strenghten your relationship is terrier bathing …

Getting Your Terrier Used to Bathing

The temperature of the water is important, the water should be neither too cold or too hot. You can check the temperature by using your wrist – it should feel slightly warmer than the skin on the inside of your wrist.

Some terriers take to the water right away while others are much more reluctant. To help a reluctant puppy, keep a hold of him and talk soothingly to him, to give him a sense of security and to ease his mind about the new surrounding. Make sure to praise him for being a good dog! Slowly with one hand always touching the puppy use your other hand to scoop some of the water up and on to your puppy. When you can see that he is becoming more comfortable start by letting him stand in the water for a moment without the comfort of your hands, but be sure to stay close and constantly reassure him that you are there and he is safe. When your puppy becomes confident enough to stand on his own in the tub without trying to jump out he is ready for terrier bathing!

Terrier Bathing - Shampoo

Choosing the right shampoo for your terrier is important, most pet stores carry a wide variety.

For the longer haired terrier’s such as the Scottish, Sealyham, West Highland, etc. Be sure to use a shampoo that prevents tangles, this will make brushing him afterwards much easier.

If you have noticed your terrier has been itching – Check for fleas or mites and use a shampoo designed to kill and prevent the bugs. If your dog has been itching but you do not see fleas or mites try using a shampoo that will calm dry irritated skin, such as an oatmeal based shampoo. You should always consult your vet if you are unsure of what shampoo to use, or before buying any strong/medical one!

When your terrier bathing adventure has finished, use a towel to remove the excess water, a hairdryer can also be used. Make sure that you don’t set the hairdrayer on a too high heat level though if you use this option!

No matter what type of terrier you have they all love a good brushing after a nice bath. This helps to prevent tangles and matting in the longer haired breeds, and brushing is a nice welcome treat after the bath!