Wheagle

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier was bred as a farm dog for the working class in Ireland. This strong, compact dog was used to herd livestock and hunt vermin, including rats. Irish commoners were not legally allowed to own Hounds, so they created this breed to help them out. The Wheaten Terrier wasn’t officially admitted to the Irish Kennel Club until 1937. Fittingly, this took place on Saint Patrick’s Day. This jovial breed made its first trip to the United States in 1946 but wasn’t admitted to the American Kennel Club until 1973. The Beagle is an old breed whose ancestors date back as early as the Roman times! They are believed to be descended from the, now extinct, Talbot Hound, a hunting dog that was brought to England by William the Conqueror in 1066. Elizabeth I reportedly had packs of dogs called Pocket Beagles, a tiny version of what we now refer to as a Beagle. These dogs were used for hunting but were soon replaced by the larger Foxhound which was much faster due to having longer legs. Thankfully the Beagle breed managed to survive and had a resurgence in popularity during the 1800s when they began to be used for hunting rabbits. They soon won over Americans with their dashing good looks and began to be imported to the United States. They were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885, and have remained a popular breed ever since. The Wheagle is a recent hybrid breed and therefore not much is known about its history. Due to the friendly personalities, convenient sizes, and intelligence of its parent breeds, there’s no doubt that it’s a winning combination!