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Breed Characteristics
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Wire Fox Terrier
| Other Names | Wire hair fox terrier, Wirehaired terrier, Fox terrier |
| Nicknames | Wire |
| Country of Origin | Great Britain |
| Weight | Males: 15 - 20 lbs. (7-9 kg) Females: 13 - 18 lbs. (6 - 8 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 14 - 16 in. (36 - 41 cm) Females: 13 - 15 in. (33 - 38 cm) |
| Coat | The best coat for the Wire Fox Terrier is one that appears to be broken, with hairs that have a tendency to twist. The texture should be dense and wiry resembling coconut matting. It should be so dense that when the hair is parted the skin cannot be seen. The undercoat is found at the base of the thick hairs that is softer and finer. |
| Colour | The typical colouring for the Wire Fox Terrier is white with black or brown markings. |
| Litter Size | 3 - 6 puppies |
| Life Span | 12 - 15 years |
| Origin & History | The wire fox terrier was developed in England by fox hunting enthusiasts and is believed to be descended from a now-extinct rough-coated, black-and-tan working terrier of Wales, Derbyshire, and Durham. The breed was also thought to have been bred to chase foxes into their underground burrows; the dogs' short, strong, usually docked tails were used as handles by the hunter to pull them back out. Although it is said Queen Victoria owned one, and her son and heir, King Edward VII, did own a wire fox terrier named Caesar, the breed was not popular as a family pet until the 1930s, when The Thin Man series of feature films was created. Asta, the canine member of the Charles family, was a wire fox terrier, and the popularity of the breed soared. Milou (Snowy) from The Adventures of Tintin comic strip is also a wire fox terrier. In the late 20th century, the popularity of the breed declined again, most likely due to changing living conditions in the Western world and the difficulty of keeping hunting terriers in cities due to their strong prey instincts. As of 2014, the wire fox terrier has the distinction of having received more Best in Show titles at Westminster Kennel Club dog shows (currently 14) than any other breed. Matford Vic, a wire fox terrier, is one of only five dogs to have won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on more than one occasion. She won the competition twice, in 1915 and 1916. The only dog to win it on more occasions was Warren Remedy, a smooth fox terrier, who won it on three occasions between 1907 and 1909. |
| Personality | The Wirehaired Fox Terrier is a brave and bold terrier. It is cheerful, lovable, enthusiastic and playful, especially with children. Affectionate, very devoted and loyal with the family, it truly enjoys their company. Because of its strong hunting instincts, the Wire Fox Terrier will also hunt and possibly kill other none K-9 animals, such as rabbits and birds, if given the chance. Keep this breed properly leashed or in a completely enclosed area, because the Wire Fox Terrier likes to go off and explore. If the Wire Fox Terrier is properly socialized and introduced it can get along just fine with other dogs. Very intelligent, this breed can be taught to perform tricks. This is a relatively dominant, very high-energy dog that can become stressed and frustrated without the proper type and amount of exercise, both mental and physical. It not only needs its body exercised but its mind as well. It is paramount you are this dogs 100% firm, consistent pack leader. If the dog has meek owners and they allow this terrier to take over the home, developing Small Dog Syndrome, it will begin to display varying degrees of behavior issues. The issues may include, but are not limited to, dominance challenges, guarding objects or places or even its own food from the owner, excessive barking, jealousy, separation anxiety, destructiveness, dog aggressiveness, willfulness, growling, snapping, biting and untrustworthiness with kids and sometimes adults. The dog may become ready to charge at all times, scrappy and impulsive, as it attempts to defend ITS top position in the alpha order. These are not Wire Fox Terrier traits, but rather behaviors brought on by the way the dog is treated by the people around it. These behaviors can be corrected as soon as the dog's instincts are met: stable, firm, consistent rules to follow, limits as to what it is and is not allowed to do, along with a daily pack walk or jog. |
Care Requirements
| Health | Epilepsy is highly suspected to have a genetic component in this breed. Some minor concerns are post nasal drip, lens luxation, distichiasis, cataracts, Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome and shoulder dislocation. Prone to mast cell tumors. |
| Grooming | If your Wirehaired 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 | Wirehaired Fox Terriers need a daily walk or jog. If it is possible, they would love to run free in a safe area. Keep this dog on a leash if there are small animals around. The urge for these dogs to hunt is strong and they are likely to take off chasing a small animal. |
| Other Considerations | The Wire Fox Terrier will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is very active indoors and will do okay without a yard. Noteworthy wire fox terriers; Archie, owned by Gill Raddings Stunt Dogs starred in ITV's Catwalk Dogs. Asta, from the film adaptation of The Thin Man (the novel's breed was a Schnauzer) Bob, from the Hercule Poirot episode Dumb Witness Bunny, from Hudson Hawk Bella, who played Snoopy in the movie "Moonrise Kingdom" Caesar, the companion of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom Charles, brought to Ceylon by Leonard Woolf in 1905 Chester, in the film Jack Frost Dášeňka, the dog of Czechoslovak writer and journalist Karel Čapek - also featured as the hero of his book Dášeňka čili život štěněte Dodger Herbie Tobacco (only a mutt in the film) from "Oliver & Company" is actually a Wire Fox Terrier. George, from Bringing Up Baby (played by Skippy) Ike Larue, from the Ike Larue series, written and illustrated by Mark Teague Mickey, the companion of French composer Francis Poulenc. Moll, from the book Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man Montmorency, from the book Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome Mr. Atlas, from Topper Takes a Trip (played by Skippy) Mr. Smith, from The Awful Truth (played by Skippy) Pan, the companion of A.L. Westgard, AAA pathfinder. Pan was the mascot of the dedication tour for the National Park to Park Highway in 1920. Polly, a white rough terrier companion to Charles Darwin Scruffy, the Muirs' wire fox terrier on The Ghost and Mrs. Muir television series Skippy, also known as Asta, starred in many films including The Thin Man (film) and Bringing Up Baby Sky, winner of the 2012 Purina Thanksgiving Dog Show[3] and the 2014 Westminster Dog Show. Snowy (French: Milou), companion of Tintin Van Gogh, Paul Meltsner's dog featured in his famous painting Paul, Marcella and Van Gogh Vicki, Rudyard Kipling's dog Wessex, the dog of British novelist (Tess of the d'Urbervilles) Thomas Hardy Willy, from Ask the Dust Wuffles, the Patrician's dog in the Discworld Series Rufus from Open Season 2 Mel from Balto III: Wings of Change |
