Beagle versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Beagle Versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Beagle and for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Beagle or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

Beagle versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Beagle is a small-sized dog while the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Beagle belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

On the other hand, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Beagle versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Beagle to the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

FactorBeagleSoft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
General Health1/54/5
Easy To Train1/54/5
Life Span10 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Height13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight18 to 30 pounds30 to 40 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather2/52/5
Good For Novice Owners3/54/5
Does NOT Shed3/54/5
Does NOT chew on things3/54/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/55/5
Easygoing2/52/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Easy To Groom4/53/5
Intelligence4/54/5
NOT Rambunctious2/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/52/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Dog Friendly5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/55/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight1/53/5
Low Prey Drive1/53/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander1/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/53/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Average Lifespan12.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$1160$2230
Price Range$650 – $1450$1675 – $2500
Temperament Score79.7 percent73.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Advanced Cardiac Evaluation
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • FACTOR VII Deficiency
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • MLS
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
    • Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)7240

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Beagle in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Beagle is 71 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is 89 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a better pet than the Beagle. So, you should get the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are most different:

    • Beagles have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Beagles are not easy to train. However, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very easy to train.

    The Similarities Between the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    The Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are most similar:

    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very easy to groom.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very playful.

    Size Comparison of Beagle versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    Beagles weigh 18 to 30 pounds when fully grown. Beagles are 13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers weigh 30 to 40 pounds when fully grown. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Beagle versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    The lifespan of Beagles is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Beagles is 12.5 years.

    The lifespan of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers is 13.5 years.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers live longer than Beagles.

    Temperament of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Versus the Beagle

    The Beagle has a better temperament than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Beagle is 79.7 percent while the temperament score for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is 73.0 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 79.7 percent, the Beagle has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 73.0 percent, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 79 Beagles and 37 Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.

    Price of Beagle versus Price of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    The average price of the Beagle puppy is $1160. The price of the Beagle typically ranges from $650 – $1450. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1017 Beagle puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy is $2230. The price of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier typically ranges from $1675 – $2500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 84 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is more expensive than the Beagle.

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Beagle and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Beagle puppies or how many Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Beagles. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Beagles. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Beagle puppy or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    The Intelligence of the Beagle versus the Intelligence of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

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    Beagle Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 72 out of 130 dog breeds 40 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
    • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
    • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
    • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

    Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Beagle has an obedience intelligence rank of 72 out of 130 dog breeds. The Beagle belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Beagles tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 40 out of 130 dog breeds. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is more intelligent than the Beagle.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    Health Problems of Beagle versus Health Problems of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Beagle is prone to more genetic health problems than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Beagle than for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    9 health tests are recommended for Beagle while 2 tests are recommended for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Beagles and in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.

    Beagle Health Problems

    Beagles are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Beagle puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Beagle puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Beagle breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Beagles for:

  • Advanced Cardiac Evaluation
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • FACTOR VII Deficiency
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • MLS
  • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Beagles here.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Health Problems

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Beagle versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Beagles do not like to be left alone.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Beagles shed more than Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

    Beagles shed moderately.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Beagle or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Beagles do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Beagle or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Beagles are very easy to groom.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Beagle Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Beagles have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Beagles Bark and Howl? What about Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

    Beagles are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Beagles Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Beagles cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Beagle vs. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Beagles have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Beagles Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Beagles can tolerate hot weather.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Beagle or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Beagles get along very well with other dogs.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Beagles good family dogs? What about Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

    Beagles are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Beagles and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

    Beagles get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Beagle Easier to Train than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Beagles are not easy to train.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very easy to train.

    Is the Beagle Better for Apartment Owners than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Beagles adapt very well to apartment living.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Beagle or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Beagles are OK for new dog owners.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Beagle versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Beagle and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier better suits you and your family.