How to Groom a Wheaten Terrier

Wheaten terriers are lovable bundles of energy. They may not want to sit still and be groomed regularly; however, grooming is necessary, as their fur gets matted and tangled easily. Get your Wheater terrier pup used to being handled right from the start so that this process is painless for both you and the dog. A Wheaten terrier will usually need to be groomed by the age of five months.

Things You'll Need

  • Grooming table
  • Wide-toothed steel comb
  • Clippers with #4 blade and attachments
  • Large cotton balls
  • Dog ear cleaner
  • Straight scissors
  • Undercoat rake
  • Dog toothpaste
  • Dog toothbrush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place your dog on the grooming table and clip his collar to the upright bar so that you can groom him more easily. Use the wide-toothed comb to disentangle the snarls from his coat, then use the undercoat rake to get rid of some of the matted fur.

    • 2

      Use the #4 blade on the clippers and gently work it over the dog's back and rump. The fur should be clipped about 2 inches above the elbow bend in the front legs and 1 inch below the thigh for the back legs. Blend or feather the coat to prevent creating an abrupt edge in the dog's coat.

    • 3

      Use straight scissors to carefully cut the hair that falls over your dog's eyes. The traditional style is to allow the hair to cascade over the eyes; however, you can cut it closer to the head if you choose. Traditionally-groomed Wheatens also have a full beard, but you can shorten the beard if you wish.

    • 4

      Dip a large cotton ball in dog-ear cleaner. Lift your dog's ears and carefully wipe each one clean. If you don't already brush your dog's teeth each day, now is a good time to give those pearly whites a good brush. Use dog toothpaste, as toothpaste formulated for people will froth and frighten the dogs. Dog toothpaste comes in yummy flavors such as poultry, beef and peanut butter.