Is the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Better than the Yorkshire Terrier as a Pet? Answer…

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Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Versus Yorkshire Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and for the Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier.

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

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Yorkshire Terrier

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Yorkshire Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Yorkshire Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier to the Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier

Factor Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Yorkshire Terrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Height 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Weight 30 to 40 pounds 4 to 6 pounds
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1810 $2420
Price Range $1050 – $2200 $1600 – $2950
Temperament Score 73.0 percent 83.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 51 9
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 40 27

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is 89 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Yorkshire Terrier is 76 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a better pet than the Yorkshire Terrier. 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Yorkshire Terrier

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

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

  • Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very friendly towards strangers. However, Yorkshire Terriers are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • The Similarities Between the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier

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

  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier are very easy to train.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Yorkshire Terrier

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

    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.

    On the other hand, Yorkshire Terriers weigh 4 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Yorkshire Terriers are 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Yorkshire Terrier

    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.

    The lifespan of Yorkshire Terriers is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Yorkshire Terriers is 13.5 years.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Yorkshire Terrier

    Temperament of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Versus the Yorkshire Terrier

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Yorkshire Terrier is 83.7 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 73.0 percent, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 83.7 percent, the Yorkshire Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 37 Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and 43 Yorkshire Terriers.

    Price of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Price of Yorkshire Terrier

    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 reviewing the prices of 170 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Yorkshire Terrier puppy is $2420. The price of the Yorkshire Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2950. However, the price of the Yorkshire Terrier can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 957 Yorkshire Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Yorkshire Terrier
    Average Price $1810 $2420
    Price Range $1050 to $2200 $1600 to $2950

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy or the Yorkshire 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.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Yorkshire Terrier

    Adopting the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Adopting the Yorkshire Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and many Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier named Jimmy that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers like Jimmy on pefinder.com.

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

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

    Barley is the name of another Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Rocky is an adorable Male Yorkshire Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and Yorkshire Terriers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

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

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Yorkshire Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 40 out of 130 dog breeds 27 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 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 Yorkshire Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 27 out of 130 dog breeds. The Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Yorkshire Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Yorkshire Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Popularity of Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Yorkshire Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Yorkshire Terrier is 9 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is 51 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Popularity of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Year Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Popularity Rank Yorkshire Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 51 6
    2014 49 6
    2015 47 7
    2016 50 9
    2017 49 9
    2018 53 10
    2019 54 12
    2020 58 13

    Health Problems of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Health Problems of Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier than for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    2 health tests are recommended for Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier while 7 tests are recommended for the Yorkshire Terrier.

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

    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.

    Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems

    Yorkshire Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terriers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Yorkshire Terriers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and Yorkshire 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 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
  • 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 Yorkshire Terrier Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    This is because the Yorkshire Terrier ranks 1 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 321 Yorkshire Terriers, 9 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

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

  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 1 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 3 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 23 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 88 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 159 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and in Yorkshire Terrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier:

    Disease Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Rank Yorkshire Terrier Rank
    Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems 1 out of 1 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 7 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 46 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 79 out of 145 dog breeds 3 out of 145 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 126 out of 182 dog breeds 88 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 162 out of 198 dog breeds 159 out of 198 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 1 out of 40 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 23 out of 49 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Yorkshire Terrier

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers shed more than Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Yorkshire Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs. Yorkshire Terrier

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

    Yorkshire Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very easy to train.

    Yorkshire Terriers are fairly easy to train.

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Yorkshire Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    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 Yorkshire Terrier vs Cavachon.
  • Lowchen (80 percent match with Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier vs Lowchen.
  • Cockalier (81 percent match with Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier vs Cockalier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Yorkshire Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier:

  • Affenpinscher (74 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Affenpinscher.
  • Lhasa Apso (75 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Lhasa Apso.
  • Lhasapoo (75 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Lhasapoo.
  • Chorkie (83 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Chorkie.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus German Shepherd Dog     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Borzoi     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Chorkie     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Collie     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Bluetick Coonhound     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Shiloh Shepherd     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Fila Brasileiro     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Finnish Lapphund     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Norwegian Lundehund     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Gordon Setter     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Newfoundland     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Italian Greyhound     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Toy Poodle     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Carolina Dog     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Kishu Ken     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Sussex Spaniel     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Belgian Malinois     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus French Spaniel     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus German Shepherd Dog     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Akita Chow     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Lakeland Terrier     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Cockapoo     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus American Pit Bull Terrier     

    Yorkshire Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Chinook     Yorkshire Terrier versus Gordon Setter     Yorkshire Terrier versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Goldendoodle     Yorkshire Terrier versus Shiba Inu     Yorkshire Terrier versus Chow Chow     Yorkshire Terrier versus Whoodle     Yorkshire Terrier versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Havanese     Yorkshire Terrier versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus English Toy Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Pomchi     Yorkshire Terrier versus Shetland Sheepdog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Akita     Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasa Apso     Yorkshire Terrier versus Australian Cattle Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Norwich Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Yorkshire Terrier versus Azawakh     Yorkshire Terrier versus Jack Russell Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Great Dane     Yorkshire Terrier versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     

    Conclusion: Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Yorkshire 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier better suits you and your family.