Why were the earliest Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier histories often unrecorded in Ireland?

The practice was often deliberate to avoid taxation or penalties on owning dogs.

The obscurity surrounding the early history of the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier stems directly from socio-economic conditions prevalent among Irish tenant farmers. These dogs were indispensable working animals whose utility far surpassed any concern for pedigree documentation. A key reason for keeping their existence low-profile was the existence of heavy taxation imposed by authorities, sometimes specifically targeting dog ownership or certain types of working animals. Therefore, breeders and farmers often actively chose not to register their valuable working dogs, preferring to maintain a low profile to prevent financial burdens or restrictions associated with owning them. This practical necessity overshadowed the desire for formal recognition or recording until much later efforts were made toward standardization.