Wire Fox Terrier

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Wire Fox Terrier

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The Wire Fox Terrier is short backed and also square proportioned, but standing over a lot of ground at the same time. They are bred to be a bolting dog in fox hunting and noted for their speed, endurance, and power. And they still remain a popular hunting breed today and has become favorite companion dog as well. 

Other Names Fox Terrier De Pelo Alambre, Fox Terrier, Drahthaar, Fox Terrier, Wire, Fox Terrier, Wirehaired, Fox-Terrier A Poil Dur
Color White, White & Black, White & Tan, White Black & Tan, White Tan & Black
Height Males: 15-16 inches. Females: 15-16 inches.
Weight Males: 16-18 pounds. Females: 15-17 pounds.
Life Span 12-15 years
Personality Confident, Alert, Gregarious
Exercise Regular Exercise
Origin
Popularity #99
Groom Needs Weekly
Kids Friendly Yes
Dog Friendly Yes with supervision
Watch Dog
Family Dog
Litter Size 3-6

Wire Fox Terrier Pictures

Wire Fox Terrier Video

Introduction

A rough- and broken-coated dog full of elegance and optimism; symmetrical and sturdy in stature; brings home joy when it comes around. This is a rather clumsy description of the Wire Fox Terrier, as they are more than a gaudy affair to behold. Shrouded in a coat that is broadly white (especially around the lower body parts), with patches of brown and/or black, the Wire Fox Terrier is quite a delightful doggy package with a coat of many colors. However, they tend to be independent, gregarious, and easily provoked to tantrums. Training is recommended to begin early as puppies, but with patience and humor. They become harder to train with advancing age.

Full-grown Wire Fox Terriers tip the weighing scales somewhere around 15-18 pounds and would stand about 14-17 inches tall when measured at shoulder level, although the females run smaller than the males. A long-lived member of the Terrier Group, a Wire Fox Terrier has an average life expectancy of 11-15 years.

Living with Wire Fox Terrier

Grooming a Wire Fox Terrier can require a huge difference in time and effort according to what you plan to do with your dog. If you want to enter your Wire Fox Terrier in conformation contests, the coat will require a great deal of attention to keep in show-ready shape. You need to learn to hand-strip his coat or take your dog to visit a professional groomer. If you just want your dog to be a companion, you can have him clipped instead of stripped. Brushing your Foxy several times a week to make sure to brush out knots and tangles. 

And they need a bath once a month, or when they get dirty. Besides, check your dog’s ears every week for signs of infection, irritation, or wax buildup. Brush their teeth at least once a week to prevent tartar buildup and gum disease. Trim your dog’s nails once a month if he doesn’t wear the toenails down naturally.

Like most terriers, the Wire Fox requires a good bit of exercise. They are bred for hunting and tracking, and they prefer being outdoors. As an active and lively breed, the Foxy can be exercised indoors and out, long walks with the owner, chasing tennis in the fenced backyard, or playing in a large and securely area are good options to exercise your dog, and benefit him both in body and spirit. When you take your dog outside walking, be sure that your dog on a leash at all times, because the hunting instincts will lead him to chase any small animals.

Generally, it is recommended to feed a Wire Fox Terrier with one and a half to two cups of high-quality dry dog food every day, divided into two meals. And there should be clean and fresh water at all times. More importantly, the food amount should depend on the dog’s weight, size, age, and activity level. 

Some dogs are easy to get overweight, so you need to watch their calorie consumption and weight level all the time. Treats may be an important aid in training, but excessive intake can lead to obesity. Also, owners need to distinguish which human food is safe for dogs and which are not. If you have any problems with your dog’s weight or diet, just consult from your veterinarian.

Wire Fox Terriers are prone to the following health conditions: hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, Legg-Perthes disease, pulmonic stenosis, mast cell tumors, corneal ulceration, eye conditions, including cataracts and lens luxation, etc. 

Major concerns: none

Minor concerns: distichiasis, lens luxation, Legg–Perthes, cataract

Occasionally seen: patellar luxation, deafness

Suggested tests:

Cardiac Exam

Patella Evaluation

Total Annual Cost: $2674

Cost is estimated for the first year and may vary depending on many factors, such as dog food, health care, leash, collar, licensing, possible fencing, crates, training and obedience classes, dog-walking, grooming, treats, toys, flea, tick, and heart-worm meds, microchips, etc.

Wire Fox Terriers can be challenging to train because sometimes they’re so willful, although they are highly intelligent. It requires consistency, patience, and a great sense of humor when training the Wire Fox Terrier. And they react well to positive training methods and will shut down if treated harshly. 

Wire Fox Terriers would get bored easily, so it is very important to keep sessions fun, challenging, and short. With plenty of positive reinforcement and dog treats when training, the Foxies can be well-mannered dogs.

Continued training is a smart way to keep Wire Fox Terrier active and involved. They enjoy advanced training in obedience, agility and dog sports, and excel in Earthdog trials.

History

Although the Wire Fox Terrier is now regarded as a distinct breed in many countries, it had to begin as a mere variety of the small-sized breed of Fox Terriers. Many centuries ago, there were no Wire Fox Terriers in England where it developed. All there was were small terriers identified by the specific quarry they preyed on. So, it was common to describe a Fox Terrier, Bull Terrier, Rat Terriers, and all that. The Fox Terriers were kept as foxhunts, carried in baskets or boxes to hunts. Their main duty was to bolt the foxes out of their burrows after the hound dog must have followed the trail and discovered the lair. Hence, Fox Terriers of old had short legs and were small-sized, although as yet they weren’t distinguished into separate breeds. They could be smooth-coated, rough-coated, or broken-coated. 

It wasn’t until the 18th century that the possibility of having further distinct breeds from the broad-based Fox Terrier began to take shape. Around that time, the Fox Terrier was refined and tune-up by breeders and foxhunt enthusiasts following the trend to achieve the desired hunting dog that was quite leggy and reduced in substance. The Wire Fox Terrier became a distinct breed in England long before it was recognized as such in the U.S. This is because the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier were much alike, except for the difference in their coat textures. Many believe that the Wire Fox Terrier was created from Fox Terriers by crossing with rough-coated breeds such as the Bull Terrier, Toy Terrier, Beagle, Black and Tan Terrier, Dalmatian, and the Pointer. It was later recognized as a separate breed by the American Kennel Club in 1885. 

The 20th century found the Wire Fox Terrier excelling in dog shows and enthralling a large crowd of fanciers. This breed had won the highest number of Best Show Dog awards at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show than any other breed, by 2019.

Helpful Information

Breed Club: AMERICAN FOX TERRIER CLUB

Breed Club Link: http://www.aftc.org/

Breed Club Rescue: 

Breed Club Rescue Link: