Wire Fox Terrier

The Wire's coat is crinkled and wiry with a soft undercoat. He needs brushing twice weekly and clipping every few months. Fox Terriers are lively little dogs--busy, bouncy, alert and always ready for action. The Fox Terrier is loads of fun for older children who can give him daily play and exercise. He has a saucy manner and a happy sense of humour.

Wire Fox Terrier breed facts

The Wire Fox Terrier is characterised by a hardy constitution and cocksure personality.

The Wire Fox Terrier was originally bred to "go to ground" to chase small game from their dens.
The Wire Fox Terrier's energy is boundless and his antics are endless.

Information you should know before owning a Wire Fox Terrier

The Wire Fox Terrier will instinctively alert its owner of someone approaching.

They are easily trained and do well in obedience. Wire Fox Terriers are alert and quick of movement.

The Wire Fox Terrier character is imparted by the expression of the eyes and by the carriage of ears and tail.

The Wire Fox Terrier's coat needs brushing weekly.

The Fox Terrier is an old English breed. For almost 100 years it was registered and shown in the United States as one breed with two varieties, Smooth and Wire. However, in 1984 the American Kennel Club approved separate standards for the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier; this ruling became effective on June 1, 1985.

Authorities believe the two Fox Terriers probably originated from very different sources. The ancestor of the Wire is thought to be the old rough-coated, black-and-tan working terrier of Wales, Derbyshire, and Durham. The important ancestors of the Smooth are believed to include the smooth-coated black-and-tan terrier, the Bull Terrier, the Greyhound, and the Beagle.

One of the first records of the breed was made in 1790, when Colonel Thornton's "Pitch" - a smooth-coated white Fox Terrier - was immortalized in print and paintings.

Smooth Fox Terriers preceded the Wires in the show ring by 15 to 20 years. At first they were classified with sporting dogs, a tribute to their keen nose, remarkable eyesight, and stamina in driving foxes from their hole.

Early breeders liberally crossed Wire Fox Terriers with Smooths to give the former predominantly white pigmentation, a cleaner-cut head, and a more classical outline. However, interbreeding has been almost universally discontinued for many years.

The original breed standard was so well drawn in 1876 by the Fox Terrier Club in Great Britain that, with the exception of reducing the weight of a male dog in show condition from 20 pounds to 18 pounds, changes were unnecessary for many decades. The American Fox Terrier Club, the parent club of the breed in this country, adopted this standard when the club was founded in 1885.

Is this a vulnerable breed? Yes, No	No
What size is this dog? Small, Medium, Large	Medium
How much excercise is required? 30 mins a day, 1 hour a day, Over 2 hours a day	1 hour a day
How long is this dog's coat? Short, Medium, Long	Medium
How much grooming is required? Once a week, More than once a week, Every day	More than once a week
Does this dog shed? Does shed, Does not shed	Does shed
What area is this dog best suited to? Town, Country, Either	Either
What size house is required for this breed? Flat/Apartment, Small House, Large House	Small House
What size of garden is required? Small Garden, Large Garden, No Garden	Small garden

	General Appearance Active and lively, bone and strength in small compass, never cloddy or coarse. Conformation to show perfect balance; in particular this applies to the relative proportions of skull and foreface, and similarly height at withers and length of body from shoulder point to buttocks appear approximately equal. Standing like a short-backed hunter covering a lot of ground.
	Characteristics Alert, quick of movement, keen of expression, on tiptoe of expectation at slightest provocation.
	Temperament Friendly, forthcoming and fearless.
	Eyes Dark, full of fire and intelligence, moderately small, not prominent. As near circular in shape as possible. Not too far apart nor too high in skull nor too near ears. Light eyes highly undesirable.
	Mouth Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
	Neck Clean, muscular, of fair length, free from throatiness, broadening to shoulders, presenting a graceful curve when viewed from side.
	Forequarters Seen from front, shoulders slope steeply down from junction with neck towards points which should be fine; viewed from side, long and well laid back and sloping obliquely backwards. Withers always clean-cut. Chest deep, not broad. Viewed from any direction, legs straight, bone strong right down to feet. Elbows perpendicular to body, working free of sides, carried straight when moving.
	Body Back short, level and strong without slackness, loin muscular, slightly arched. Brisket deep, front ribs moderately arched, rear ribs deep, well sprung. Very short coupled.
	Hindquarters Strong, muscular and free from droop or crouch. Thighs long and powerful. Stifles well bent, turning neither in nor out. Hocks well let down, upright and parallel when viewed from rear. Combination of short second thigh and straight stifle highly undesirable.
	Feet Round, compact with small, tough and well cushioned pads, toes moderately arched. Turning neither in nor out.
	Tail Customarily docked. Docked: Set high. Carried erect, not over back or curled. Of good strength and fair length. Undocked: Set high. Carried erect, not over back or curled. Of good strength and fair length to maintain a balanced appearance.
	Gait / Movement Active and lively, bone and strength in small compass, never cloddy or coarse. Conformation to show perfect balance; in particular this applies to the relative proportions of skull and foreface, and similarly height at withers and length of body from shoulder point to buttocks appear approximately equal. Standing like a short-backed hunter covering a lot of ground.
	Coat Dense, very wiry texture, 2 cms (3/4 in) on shoulder to 4 cms (11/2 ins) on withers, back, ribs and quarters with undercoat of short, softer hair. Back and quarters harsher than sides. Hair on jaws crisp and of sufficient length to impart appearance of strength to foreface. Leg hair dense and crisp.
	Colour White predominates with black, black and tan or tan markings. Brindle, red, liver or slate-blue marking undesirable.
	Size Height at withers not exceeding 39 cms (151/2 ins) in dogs, bitches slightly less. Ideal weight in show condition 8 kgs (18 lbs) for dogs, bitches slightly less.