Soft Coated Wheatzer

While the Soft Coated Wheatzer has been around for about 30 years, they have not made much of a history for themselves. Therefore, you have to look at the histories of the Miniature Schnauzer and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. The Miniature Schnauzer is a German breed that is the smallest of the Schnauzers and was bred in the 1800s to hunt rats and mice. They were developed by combining small Standard Schnauzers with Poodles and Affenpinschers to create a smaller and more affectionate breed that would be a good ratter and family pet. They were known as the Wirehaired Pinscher at one time but were finally given their new name although they are still in the small Terrier group. The name Schnauzer means small beard, which is how they got their modern name and how they got a nickname of the old man. The breed once came in many different colors but now only comes in salt and pepper, black, silver, and gray. They are the 17th most common dog breed in the United States and have been part of the American Kennel Club since 1926. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier was bred to work on farms in the 18th century from various types of Terriers such as the Glen of Imaal, Irish, and Kerry Blue. They were not officially considered a true dog breed until the late 1930s even though they had a long history in Ireland before this. However, there were no records kept about this breed previously. According to the British Penal Codes, Irish citizens were not able to own dogs worth more than five pounds and if any British man was interested in these dogs, the Irish man had to sell it to him. In the 20th century, the Catholics were able to rescind the laws that made it illegal for the Irish to own better dogs and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier declined in popularity. But, in the 1930s, this breed became popular again and even became acknowledged by the Irish Kennel Club. They made it to America in the 1940s, were accepted by the AKC in 1973, and now they are the 50th most well-liked dog in the United States.