Wheaten Terrier Development: Aidan - Weeks 20 & 21

Firstly, I'd like to apologize for missing a few weeks. Aidan's daddy had some complications due to a minor surgery and we have been trying to take care of him.

At week 20 Aidan weighed 25.4 lbs and at 21 weeks he is 26.4 lbs. He continues to be a spunky little guy. He loves to run and play and learn new things. At school he learns all his commands and is happy doing them, but when he has to sit quietly while the instructor talks, he'd rather try to leave or play with the other dogs. He is very smart and if he isn't being challenged to do something he wants to play or just do his own thing.  We find around the house, he likes to play by himself. He can entertain himself for hours with his toys and really only wants us to play with him after dinner most nights. (I think we've programmed a schedule into him without even trying!)

His coat continues to grow and change colour. Almost all the black markings he had on his back are now gone, being replaced by the wheaten colour. Hopefully he will keep a little of his apricot colouring but at this stage it is looking like that won't happen. He gets a daily combing, if not the hair starts to mat a bit, especially under his chin and on his legs. Since we started this when he was 10 weeks old, he doesn't mind it and in fact runs to our combing area when I tell him its time to make him look pretty....He is a little vain. He comes running when we say "where's that pretty boy?" or "where's our handsome guy".

 
He enjoys being outside and doesn't mind the rain. We had heard that a lot of Wheaten's don't like the rain, but it doesn't slow him down. We haven't had him swimming yet (still a little too cold around here), but he has no problems walking out into the river to get a drink when we are out for a walk. See how he plays by himself outside.

Wheaten Terrier Development: Aidan - Weeks 17 & 18

 At 17 weeks Aidan was 23 lbs and this week he is 24.2 lbs. He continues to grow like a weed. Up again,  and not out. He was long legs and a skinny little butt. His colour is still slowly changing and his hair is growing. Most days it looks as if he needs a good brushing but it is done daily and since we started this from day one, he actually enjoys getting it done. His favourite part is having his belly combed which he tries to get me to do first instead of last.  We have been extremely lucky with his teething. He continues to chew on his toys and not on any of our stuff! If he's not chewing on a toy he is usually sleeping, not sure if this is normal or not but we are chalking it up to the teething. We bought him a new bed.

But of course he likes our bed better....he seldom gets a chance to get on it, so when he does, he snuggles down into the pillows.

But his favourite spot is under the dining room table, curled up on the table legs.

We've heard that Wheaten's enjoy sleeping under something. Around here its the dining room table, coffee table or desk, he just stretches out and dreams. His legs twitch, his nose and ears wiggles, his tail wags and he even lets out a little woof now and then in his sleep. (although he really isn't much of a barker!)

15 Weeks Old

Aidan's 15 weeks old and weighs in at a whopping 17.6 lbs, must be all the treats his dad and his grandparents have been feeding him! A 2.2 lb gain in a week, but then again he is a growing boy.

His legs are growing and he is getting longer in the body, but really hasn't filled out much. You can see a few blonde (wheaten) coloured hairs starting to come in on his back. Slowly he will turn that colour all over except for his beard. It's going to be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

'Experts' say that you really can't train dogs commands before they are 16 weeks old, but we started at 14 weeks and continue to prove that a young dog can learn just as well. From week 14 to week 15 he has mastered the sit and the shake a paw as well as something we didn't teach him!  Have a watch.

Check back next week to see what is happening with Aidan.