[5] The Wheaten was bred in Ireland for over two hundred years to be an all-purpose farm dog whose duties included herding, watching and guarding livestock, and vermin hunting and killing.

[8] Despite its long history, the Wheaten was not recognized as a breed in Ireland by the Irish Kennel Club until 1937.

[11] The first Wheatens were exported to Lydia Vogel in the United States in the 1940s, but serious interest in the breed took another ten years to develop.

[14] Today, Wheatens compete in obedience, agility, and tracking and are occasionally used in animal-assisted therapy as well.

[16] The Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized dog, which ranges on average from 17 to 20 inches (43 to 51 cm) in height and about 30 to 45 pounds (14 to 20 kg) in weight.

[17] The Irish coat tends to be thinner and silkier than the American variety and it has a devoted following in Ireland and Europe.

The Irish coat still requires daily brushing to stay free of matted hair.

The Wheatens seen in Ireland today are of the same size, shape, and coat texture as those seen and documented well over 100 years ago.

Evidence of this can be seen from the famous artwork "The Aran Fisherman's Drowned Child" by the Irish painter Frederic William Burton.

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.7 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

Both PLN and PLE are potentially fatal, but if caught early enough, can sometimes be managed with strict dietary changes and pharmaceuticals.

Some Wheatens can suffer from food and environmental allergies, and can be prone to developing the skin disease atopic dermatitis.

[22] Potential owners of Wheaten Terriers should discuss health issues with a breeder before deciding to get a puppy.

It is an enthusiastic greeter, and will often jump up to lick a person's face, commonly referred to as the "Wheaten greetin".