Breed Comparison: Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

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Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Overview

Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are similar in size. The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

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.

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Flat-Coated Retriever 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.

Factor Flat-Coated Retriever Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 30 to 40 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1350 $1810
Price Range $1150 – $1800 $1050 – $2200
Temperament Score 92.0 percent 73.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 94 51
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 18 40

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 a Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a 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 Flat-Coated Retriever. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

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

  • Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

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

  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very easy to train.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

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

    Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet 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.

    Temperament of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Versus the Flat-Coated Retriever

    The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 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 they 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 92.0 percent, the Flat-Coated Retriever has an above-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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers and 37 Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.

    Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy is $1810. The price of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier typically ranges from $1050 – $2200. However, the price of a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier can be as low as $500 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 170 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is more expensive than the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
    Average Price $1350 $1810
    Price Range $1150 to $1800 $1050 to $2200

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

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

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever versus Adopting the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Flat-Coated Retrievers and many Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Flat-Coated Retriever named Palisade that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Flat-Coated Retrievers like Palisade on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Flat-Coated Retrievers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Manny is a Male Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers like Manny that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Kaluha is the name of another Flat-Coated Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Flat-Coated Retrievers and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Flat-Coated Retriever Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 18 out of 130 dog breeds 40 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions 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 Flat-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Flat-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    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 Flat-Coated Retriever is more intelligent than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    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.

    The Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Flat-Coated Retriever. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is 51 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Popularity of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Year Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 94 51
    2014 92 49
    2015 86 47
    2016 89 50
    2017 96 49
    2018 91 53
    2019 104 54
    2020 102 58

    Health Problems of Flat-Coated Retriever 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. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever than for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    3 health tests are recommended for Flat-Coated Retriever while 2 tests are recommended for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Flat-Coated Retrievers 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.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Flat-Coated Retriever Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks 28 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 241 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 14 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Flat-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Flat-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 28 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 85 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 129 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 129 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 172 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Breed is Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems.

    This is because the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 54 Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, 11 of them had Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, and how common these diseases are in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 7 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 46 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 79 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 126 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 162 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Flat-Coated Retriever and in Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier:

    Disease Flat-Coated Retriever Rank Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Rank
    Thyroid problems 28 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 85 out of 145 dog breeds 79 out of 145 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 129 out of 144 dog breeds 46 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 129 out of 182 dog breeds 126 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 172 out of 198 dog breeds 162 out of 198 dog breeds
    Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 7 out of 70 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

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

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

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

    Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

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

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very easy to train.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Flat-Coated Retrievers 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.

    Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retrievers and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

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

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Flat-Coated Retriever:

  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (81 percent match with Flat-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier:

  • Cavachon (82 percent match with Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Cavachon.
  • Lowchen (80 percent match with Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Lowchen.
  • Cockalier (81 percent match with Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Cockalier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Flat-Coated Retriever and how the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever and of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier to other breeds:

    Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Dane     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Bordoodle     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Miniature Schnauzer     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Basset Hound     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Pharaoh Hound     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Schnoodle     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Shih Tzu     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Goldendoodle     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Belgian Malinois     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Borzoi     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Ibizan Hound     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Greyhound     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus English Cocker Spaniel     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Borzoi     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Rottweiler     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Maltese     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Chi-Poo     

    Conclusion: Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier better suits you and your family.