Pro Technique: How to Groom a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier throws a lot of newer groomers, because it is a terrier that behaves nothing like the other terriers. Forget the harsh, wiry, hand-stripped jackets of its relatives. The Wheaten wears a single, soft, silky coat that waves gently and, crucially, keeps growing rather than shedding, much closer to human hair than to a typical dog coat. That soft, non-shedding texture is exactly what makes it beautiful and exactly what makes it matt. Every Wheaten that comes across my table is really a lesson in managing a coat that mats silently against the skin if the owner lets the brushing slide.

Here is how I work a Wheaten, and where the trim choices lie.

Understand the coat before you plan the trim

Because a Wheaten does not shed, dead hair stays in the coat and tangles with the growing coat, so mats form from the skin outwards where you cannot see them. The soft, slightly greasy silkiness means a slicker skims over the surface and misses the felt beneath. The breed's coat is soft and silky, loosely waved or curly, and there are recognised coat types, the silkier Irish coat and the heavier, fuller American coat, which behave a little differently under the comb.

Your first job, every time, is to get a comb to the skin all over. Check behind the ears, the beard, the armpits, the belly, the trousers and the feet. If the comb will not pass, you have matting, and that dictates your plan.

Welfare note: A pelted soft coat cannot be brushed out humanely. Dragging a slicker through felt on skin this fine is painful and can cause bruising or nicks. If a Wheaten is tightly matted, clipping the mats off for the dog's comfort is the right call, even if the owner hoped to keep length. A short, comfortable dog beats a long, sore one every time.

The trim options

• Irish or breed trim: the coat is kept a moderate length and scissored into a soft, natural, flowing outline with the characteristic full furnishings, tidy body and shaped, rectangular head with a fall over the eyes and a full beard. This is the classic Wheaten look and needs committed home brushing to maintain.
• Pet trim: a shorter, tidy, all-over scissor or clip that keeps the Wheaten shape but is far easier for the owner to look after between grooms. This suits most pet homes, and there is no shame in recommending it where the daily brushing will not happen.

Step by step through the groom

1. Brush and de-mat on the dry coat. Never bath first, as water tightens a soft coat into felt instantly. Line brush thoroughly from the skin outwards with a slicker, then comb every section to prove it is clear. Take your time in the beard, armpits and trousers.
2. Bath with the right products. Use a gentle shampoo suited to a soft, fine coat, working it down to the skin. A light conditioner helps the coat comb out and reduces static, but go easy so you do not leave the coat limp.
3. Rinse fully. Product left in a soft coat causes itching and a flat, greasy finish. Rinse until the water runs clear, then once more.
4. High-velocity dry, straightening as you go. Dry with the high-velocity dryer while brushing the coat straight, section by section. This is your chance to set a smooth, straight base to scissor into and to lift any remaining loose hair. A damp Wheaten matts fast, so dry fully to the skin.
5. Scissor to shape. This is a scissoring breed, so most of the finish is done with your shears, not clippers. Work the body to your chosen length, blend into fuller legs, and shape a clean, balanced outline. Keep the natural, soft look; a Wheaten should not look sculpted or barbered hard.
6. The head. Scissor the classic Wheaten head: a soft rectangle, a fall of hair over the eyes tidied so the dog can see, clean cheeks, and a full, shaped beard. The head is what makes the trim read as a Wheaten.

Feet, ears and finishing

Trim the feet into a tidy, rounded shape and scissor between the pads. Clean and check the ears, keeping any hair management light. Tidy the sanitary area and the underline, then go back over the whole outline, comb up and rescissor any high spots. A final light blast and comb-through shows off the soft, even finish.

Frequently asked questions

How often does a Wheaten need professional grooming? Every four to six weeks for a bath, tidy and scissor keeps a Wheaten looking right, provided the owner brushes and combs thoroughly several times a week at home. Because the coat does not shed, home maintenance is non-negotiable; without it, matting is inevitable.

Do you ever hand-strip a Wheaten? No. Unlike its wire-coated terrier cousins, the Wheaten has a soft single coat that is scissored and clipped, never stripped. Stripping is for harsh coats; applying it here would be wrong for the coat type.

Why does a Wheaten matt so badly? Because it does not shed, so dead hair stays in the coat and tangles with the growing coat, and the soft, fine texture means mats form from the skin out where a slicker misses them. That is why combing to the skin and honest home care matter so much.

Irish trim or pet trim for a client? Match it to the home. Owners who will brush daily can carry the fuller Irish or breed trim. Owners who realistically will not are far better with a shorter pet trim that keeps the dog comfortable and mat-free between visits.

Written from the salon floor by Lucy, City & Guilds Level 2 & 3 qualified groomer and owner of Fluffs, a one-to-one dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York. For more professional grooming guides, explore the Fluffs grooming blog.