What makes the Wire Fox Terrier Unique?
The Wire Fox Terrier is a typical terrier with his keen expression and readiness to spring into action at the slightest provocation. Active, friendly and playful, the breed is highly trainable and excels in events such as agility. They are predominantly white in color with black or tan markings and possess a dense, wiry coat.
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Is the Wire Fox Terrier Right For You?
The Wire Fox Terrier has a wire-haired coat which sheds minimally. Its sturdiness and size combined with its friendly and playful nature make it an excellent companion for children. They are bold but not aggressive towards people. Fox Terriers make excellent watch dogs in the home. Although seldom used for hunting today, the breed still maintains its drive and determination. They will dig tirelessly for underground vermin.
In 5 Words
- Bold
- Alert
- Quick
- Friendly
- Fearless
Characteristics
Learn About the Wire Fox Terrier
Description
General Description
The Wirehaired Fox Terrier is a medium-sized dog. The skull is flat, moderately narrowing to the eyes. The stop is slight. The muzzle gradually tapers to the black nose. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite. The eyes and eye rims are dark in color. The small, V-shaped ears drop forward close to the cheeks. The neck is thick and muscular. The legs are straight. The tail is high set and is usually docked by 1/4, leaving 3/4 of the original length. Note: the practice of docking tails is illegal in most parts of Europe. The wiry coat has dense, twisted hairs, similar to the hair on the outside of a coconut. The hairs are so thick and close together that when they are parted you cannot see the skin. It has a short, soft undercoat. The coat is predominately white with black or brown markings.
Size
The wire fox terrier is a sturdy, balanced dog weighing between 7 and 9.5 kg (15 and 21 lb). It should not be more than 15 1/2 in (39.37 cm) in height. Its rough, broken coat is distinctive.
Coat
Coat color consists of a predominant white base with brown markings of the face and ears, and usually a black saddle or large splotch of color; there may be other black or brown markings on the body.
Short History of the Wire Fox Terrier
The wire fox terrier resulted from breeding programs that were held in the early 19th century. The dog originated from the United Kingdom. History records state that the white terrier was first around in the year 1790. Before then, what existed were small hunting dogs that were used by the Romans. The modern day fox terrier developed its black-tan color from the breeding program. There are no official reports, but the dogs that are believed to have been used in the process are English Toy terriers, Old English bulldogs, beagles, Dalmatians, and Pointers. The dog was officially bred for hunting foxes. However, after breeding, the breed grew too large to hunt. Due to this hunting ability, the fox terrier was not allowed in home settings. This, however, changed in the early 1930s, when people were allowed to domesticate them.
Temperament
This breed enjoys playing, running, hunting, chasing, and exploring. A real “live-wire,” the Wire Fox Terrier is independent, mischievous, and always looking for adventure. Unlike the Smooth Fox Terrier, this breed may display aggression towards other dogs, and is generally reserved with strangers.
Caring for Your Wire Fox Terrier
General Health
The Wire Fox Terrier, which has an average lifespan of 10 to 13 years, may suffer from patellar luxation and deafness. It is also prone to minor health concerns, such as lens luxation, cataract, distichiasis, and Legg-Perthes Disease. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may regular eye tests for the dog.
Grooming & Bathing
If your Wire Fox Terrier will be a pet, you can get away with brushing it with a firm bristle brush and bathing only when necessary. To keep the coat looking its best, it must be stripped several times a year and more frequently for show dogs. There is a complex show-grooming routine. Professional groomers have quite a bag of tricks to keep the Wire looking its best for the show ring. The Wire sheds little to no hair and is good for allergy sufferers.
Exercise & Training
The fox terrier must have daily exercise. It will do much to exercise itself given the room, but it profits from a good walk on leash, a vigorous play session or an off-lead outing in a safe area. This breed can live outdoors in a temperate to warm climate, but it does better as an indoor dog.
Wire Fox Terrier Picture Gallery
