Buyer beware. As adorable as they may look, soft coated wheaten terrier puppies sold by backyard breeders may not be genetically sound. Excellent breeding doesn’t happen by accident. We recently heard about an owner of a female wheaten with hip dysplasia in search of a male wheaten for breeding. Hip dysplasia is a genetic disease and largely preventable by not breeding dogs that have it.
Unfortunately, irresponsible breeding is all too common. Reputable breeders ensure their dogs have a healthy family line going back several generations, including healthy hips.
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America’s Code of Ethics lists responsible practices for its member breeders including;
· Only breeding dogs whose progeny are eligible for AKC registration
· Hip and eye clearances on the sire and the dam
· PLN Variant Gene Test results on the sire and dam (or the puppy)
· A four-generation pedigree
· Annual blood testing and urinalysis
If you or someone you know is thinking about adding a soft coated wheaten terrier puppy to your family, please review the SCWTCA Wheaten Buyer’s Guide. You also can view our list of SCWTCGTB member breeders here. SCWTCGTB breeders follow the same Code of Ethics as SCWTCA. As part of your research before buying a puppy, be sure to ask breeders about their genetic testing protocols and other breeding practices. Buying from a reputable breeder who is a member of their local or national breed club ensures that every effort has been made to ensure a healthy puppy.
A quality puppy is worth the wait!