Both wheaten terriers and poodles are known as affectionate, playful dogs that make wonderful pets. However, each dog breed is different and has different care requirements.
Learning more about both breeds can help you select the dog that suits you, your family, and your lifestyle the best.
Coat and Colors
Wheaten terriers have soft, long fur that curls slightly. As their name suggests, they are a wheat color, and their coats can range from off-white to a golden tan.
Puppies have much darker coats that lighten as they age, so some young dogs may have darker patches of fur.
Poodles have curly coats of long fur. They can be a range of colors, including solid white, black, brown, red, apricot, or gray, and they can also have spots or be multi-colored.
Size
Wheaten terriers usually weigh between 30 and 40 pounds and stand between 17 and 19 inches tall at the shoulder. Females are usually slightly smaller than males, weighing about 5 pounds less and standing about an inch shorter.
Poodles have four recognized sizes, which are standard, medium, miniature, and toy. Standard poodles are the largest, weighing between 45 and 70 pounds and standing 18 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder.
Medium poodles are between 14 and 18 inches tall and weigh between 33 and 42 pounds. Miniature poodles weigh between 26 and 31 pounds and stand between 11 and 14 inches tall, and toy poodles stand between 9.5 and 11 inches tall and weigh between 14 and 17 pounds.
Temperament
Poodles are considered to be one of the smartest dog breeds. They’re also known for their loyalty. Poodles can be playful and energetic, but they often display an outwardly calm, almost aloof personality.
Poodles are also incredibly protective and can alert their owners to strangers. Because of this, poodles may take some time to warm up to new people.
Poodles that were raised with other dogs or pets such as cats generally make excellent family pets. However, poodles that aren’t used to other animals may need some encouragement to become friendly toward new pets.
Wheaten terriers are friendly dogs. They love to play and make excellent family pets. These dogs are also highly intelligent, and they can also be headstrong. This gives them amusing, mischievous personalities that are fun but can also sometimes be frustrating.
Wheaten terriers are also good with other animals, since they’re rarely aggressive, but because they’re terriers, they have a strong prey instinct and may chase small animals, including cats.
Poodles and wheaten terriers prefer to spend as much time with their owners as possible. They don’t do well when left alone for long periods, and being left alone can lead to destructive habits.
For these reasons, both breeds are best kept by families or people who are home often.
Energy Level
Poodles have a relatively high energy level. They are excellent house dogs and enjoy living with their owners, but they’ll benefit from plenty of exercise, including frequent walks or playing in the backyard or at the park.
The larger poodle varieties are also a good choice if you want to run with your dog.
Like poodles, wheaten terriers have a high energy level, but they’re quite adaptable. As long as they receive plenty of exercise, wheaten terriers make great apartment dogs.
These dogs also enjoy digging, so watch them carefully if they’re allowed to roam freely in the yard.
Trainability
Wheaten terriers are stubborn and willful. This, paired with their intelligence, can make them challenging to train. They often require firm commands and steady training from an early age.
However, training with this dog breed must be gentle and should focus on positive reinforcement. Wheaten terriers are friendly and loving, and they don’t react well to harsh training.
Poodles are considered to be quite easy to train. They’re smart and loyal, so they’re eager to please their owners. They’re also energetic, so they enjoy long training sessions that might wear other dog breeds out.
Like wheaten terriers, poodles react best to positive reinforcement and firm but gentle training techniques.
Both poodles and wheaten terriers should begin training at an early age to curb any bad habits, such as barking. It’s also best to socialize these dogs as soon as possible.
Both breeds are naturally friendly, but they can become timid if they haven’t been properly socialized.
Grooming Requirements
Wheaten terriers have no undercoat, which makes grooming somewhat easier and decreases shedding. These dogs require at least two or three sessions with a grooming brush each week, but each session can be relatively short.
If you want the dog’s coat to be silkier, it’s best to brush them daily. You may also need to trim the hair around a wheaten terrier’s eyes.
Poodles require a large amount of grooming. Most poodles will need to be clipped every three to six weeks to keep their coat manageable.
They also require daily brushing. Poodles do not shed, but loose hair can still collect in their coat, so they need to be brushed to remove this and keep the coat looking and feeling smooth and shiny.
Both poodles and wheaten terriers should have their nails trimmed regularly, and it’s also a good idea to clean their faces and eyes daily. While grooming your dog, gently clean their ears, and check their skin for any signs of irritation.
Health Issues
Poodles are considered to be a relatively healthy breed with few major issues, but they are prone to some conditions. Bloat can sometimes be an issue, particularly in larger dogs.
Larger poodles also sometimes have hip dysplasia, which often requires surgery to correct. Poodles are also prone to Cushing’s disease and epilepsy, both of which can be treated with medications.
Wheaten terriers are also generally healthy, but they can experience some health issues. Some wheaten terriers develop protein-losing nephropathy or protein-losing enteropathy, which are conditions that cause necessary proteins and plasma to be discarded by the body.
These conditions can cause a range of issues, and there is no cure, but the diseases can be managed through diet and medication.
Life Expectancy
Both poodles and wheaten terriers usually live for between 12 and 15 years. Toy and miniature poodles often live slightly longer than medium and standard poodles.