Wheaten Eskimo

Being a newer, more emergent dog breed unfortunately means that the Wheaten Eskimo is not as well known as either of its parents are. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers make up the first half of the mixture and have roots that trace back all the way to Ireland. The Wheatens of old were bred to be adept guard dogs, excellent vermin hunters, and impressive herding pups. This varied resume helped the Wheaten survive the brutal Irish Potato Famine and find prevalence in the aftermath. Many of the useful skills and traits that the Wheaten employed to survive such a catastrophe were passed on to the Wheaten Eskimo later on down the line, leading the Wheaten Eskimo to be quite proficient as a guard dog as well. The American Eskimo actually comes from Germany, but 20th century anti-German practices led to the renaming of the breed in order to distance it from the political and nationalistic sentiments of the time. American Eskimos are also well regarded for making excellent guard dogs, which is why this specific trait has manifested so prevalently in the Wheaten Eskimo. Wheaten Eskimos were bred very recently, having only been around for a matter of decades compared to the number of centuries that many other dog breeds have persisted through. The Wheaten Eskimo is also not a commonly known about dog, even amongst most other hybrid dog owners and breeders. Nevertheless, these charming, intelligent, fun-loving dogs makes great guardians due to their heritage and shouldn't be counted out of the kennel just because they're newcomers to the scene.