Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Puppy Checklist

Before Puppy Comes Home

Wheaten Puppy Prep: PLN Protocol and Grooming Tools

Before your Wheaten puppy arrives, two priorities stand above the usual checklist items: making sure your vet understands this breed's PLN/PLE monitoring requirements, and getting your grooming tools ready to start from day one. The grooming habit is easier to build in puppyhood than after the adult coat develops.

Pre-Purchase: What to Ask the Breeder

• Ask about the breeder's kidney and gut health tracking in their lines — responsible Wheaten breeders monitor outcomes in their puppies and are aware of PLN/PLE risk
• Review any available health history for the parents, particularly digestive or kidney issues
• Confirm the breeder provides post-purchase support if health issues emerge

Essential Gear Checklist

• Medium crate (30-inch, with divider for puppyhood)
• Dog bed
• Stainless steel food and water bowls
• Flat collar + ID tag (engrave on arrival day)
• Harness for walks
• 4–6 ft leash
• Wide-tooth steel comb — the most important grooming tool for this coat
• Slicker brush
• Mat splitter or dematting comb
• Dog-safe shampoo and conditioner for silky coats
• High-value training treats (the Wheaten greeting needs to be addressed immediately)
• Enzymatic cleaner
• First professional grooming appointment booked for approximately week 6–8 of ownership

First Week Setup

First Vet Visit: Establish PLN Monitoring Protocol

First Vet Visit (Within 48–72 Hours)

• Full physical exam
• Vaccine schedule continuation and parasite prevention
• Enroll in pet insurance before this appointment or immediately after — this is time-sensitive
• Specifically tell your vet this is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and ask them to establish the annual PLN/PLE monitoring protocol — urine protein:creatinine ratio annually, fecal protein monitoring annually. If your vet is unfamiliar with Wheaten-specific health monitoring, this is the moment to educate them or consider a vet with experience in the breed
• Discuss Addison's disease risk awareness — familiarize both yourself and your vet with the vague presenting symptoms
• Microchip if not done by breeder

Training the Wheaten Greeting: Start Immediately

The Wheaten greeting — jumping on everyone who enters — will become a habit within days if not addressed. Start training an alternative behavior from day one:

• Establish "sit" as the greeting behavior — the dog sits before anyone enters or before the dog receives any attention
• Practice this every time you enter a room, every time a visitor enters, every single interaction
• Never allow jumping, even when the puppy is small — the behavior that's cute at 15 lbs is a hazard at 40 lbs
• Instruct all family members and visitors to withhold attention until all four paws are on the floor

Coat Handling From Day One

The adult Wheaten coat requires regular combing. The time to build tolerance for this is now, with the soft puppy coat:

• Run the wide-tooth comb through the entire coat 2–3 times per week from day one
• Use treats to make grooming sessions positive — brief sessions (3–5 minutes) multiple times per week build habit without the dog becoming overwhelmed
• Handle paws, ears, and mouth daily to prepare for nail trims, ear checks, and dental care

Training and Socialization

Socialization and Early Training Priorities

Socialization Window (8–16 Weeks)

Wheatens are naturally social and friendly — socialization for this breed is about expanding that natural friendliness to a wide range of people, environments, and stimuli, so the adult dog is confident in any context.

• Introduce to diverse people (different ages, appearances, uniforms) in positive settings
• Expose to urban environments, traffic, other animals, indoor and outdoor settings
• Enroll in puppy class at 8–10 weeks — critical for socialization and for beginning to address the greeting behavior in a structured setting

Priority Training Commands for Wheatens

• Sit: The foundation for the greeting behavior management — establish this first
• Off: Direct command for when jumping occurs — consistent, firm, not angry
• Leave it: Important for a terrier with prey drive
• Come: Recall training should begin immediately — practice in controlled low-distraction environments and build gradually
• Loose-leash walking — Wheatens are strong enough that pulling habits matter

Prey Drive Management

Wheatens are terriers with real prey drive. Introduce small pets (cats, rabbits) carefully and supervise all interactions indefinitely. A Wheaten raised with cats from puppyhood generally tolerates them; an adult Wheaten introduced to a cat is unpredictable. Plan your introduction protocol before the puppy arrives if you have other small animals.