Aussie Wheaten

The name Aussie Wheaten is a combination of the nicknames of its two parent breeds, the Australian Shepherd, also known as an “Aussie”, and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, also known as a “Wheaten” or affectionately “Wheatie”. The Aussie Wheaten’s Shepherd parent is not originally from Australia, despite its name. Australians Shepherds are likely to have been bred from Collie varieties in the early 1900s to herd sheep in the western United States. The Australian Shepherd’s popularity boomed during the 1950s and they are now employed as handicap guides, therapy dogs, drug detectors, search and rescue workers, and beloved family pets. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a large Terrier breed from Ireland. Originally, Wheaties were bred for demanding farm work and were particularly talented at herding livestock, hunting vermin, and guard duties. They came to the United States with Irish immigrants in the mid-1900s and were recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1973. Currently, the Aussie Wheaten is not widely recognized and lives in the shadow of more popular Australian Shepherd mixes. Even though this breed is relatively new and its personality isn’t stabilized, breeders have found that Aussie Wheatens generally maintain their parent breeds’ affectionate, alert, and protective character traits. These desirable characteristics are part of the reason they have the reputation in North America as lovable pets for active families. Note, however, that Aussie Wheatens are not yet recognized by the AKC, and thus, Aussie Wheaten breeders should be researched thoroughly if you intend to purchase from them.