Standard Poodle vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

A Poodle (Standard)
Photo: John Leslie from London, UK
A Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Photo: SusanSmithGSU

Side by side

Standard Poodle
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Adult weight
Males 27–32 kg (60–70 lb); females 18–23 kg (40–50 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 16–18 kg (35–40 lb); females 14–16 kg (30–35 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 45–60 cm; females 45–60 cm3
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 14 years4
Median 13.7 years4
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes5
Group
Companion & toy3
Terriers6
Coat
Curly coat or corded coat3
Wavy coat6
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Sheds through the year
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
A modest amount
A moderate amount
Health
No sourced figure
Blood-vessel cancer of the spleen (much more likely)7
Class
Family
Family

Which suits you

Size
The Standard Poodle is larger on average: about 25 kg (55 lb) as an adult, against 16 kg (35 lb) for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Standard Poodle holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier sheds through the year.
Exercise
Plan for a moderate amount of exercise with the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, and a modest amount with the Standard Poodle.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Standard Poodle: affectionate on its own terms; Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: a lap or leaning dog) and on independence (Standard Poodle: keen to work with you; Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: cooperative, with its own ideas).
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Standard Poodle
Companion & toy · Medium

In temperament the Standard is alert, quick to learn and energetic, moving with a springy gait and a proud carriage.

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Terriers · Medium

In temperament the breed is friendly, cheerful and closely attached to its family. It is generally less combative than many terriers but keeps the terrier's quick energy and urge to chase.

The Standard Poodle page →The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Standard Poodle
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Activity
Differs
Needs lots of exercise
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Differs
Needs daily brain work
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Standard Poodle
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Keen to work with you
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Standard Poodle
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Standard Poodle grows to the heavier adult, about 25 kg against the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier's 16 kg.
Standard Poodle
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
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More comparisons

Compare the Standard Poodle with
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerStandard Poodle vs Toy PoodleMiniature Poodle vs Standard PoodleLabradoodle vs Standard PoodleBichon Frise vs Standard PoodleGoldendoodle vs Standard PoodleAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·