Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Standard Schnauzer
Side by side
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Adult weight
Males 16–18 kg (35–40 lb); females 14–16 kg (30–35 lb) (breed club figure)1
14–20 kg (31–44 lb)2
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Class
Family
Watchdog
Which suits you
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier sheds through the year, the Standard Schnauzer holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out.
Grooming
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier needs more grooming, brushing a few times a week, where the Standard Schnauzer needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: a lap or leaning dog; Standard Schnauzer: affectionate on its own terms) and on loyalty (Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: bonded to its family; Standard Schnauzer: sticks close to its people).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 16 kg (35 lb) for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and 17 kg (37 lb) for the Standard Schnauzer.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
What they're like
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.
Standard Schnauzer
Pinschers & molossoids · Medium
The breed is alert, intelligent and energetic, with a strong instinct to guard home and family. It tends to be reserved with strangers but devoted to its own people.
Breed traits
Day to day
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 16 kg.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
More comparisons
Compare the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier with
Sources
- 1American Kennel Club. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier breed page. ↑
- 2
- 3
- 4Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
- 5
- 6
- 7Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 8Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 9American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
- 10
Parts of this page were written by AI ·