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Wire Fox Terrier
The Wire Fox Terrier is a highly alert breed. Originally bred to hunt vermin, they are always ready for sport.
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Physical Characteristics
- Coat: Tight, wiry hair with a soft undercoat
- Longer hair on muzzle are a breed trait
- Tail is set high and docked
- "V" shaped ears fold over with tips near cheeks
- Small but strong build
- Small, dark eyes
- Height: 14-15.5 inches
- Weight: 16-18pounds
- Average lifespan: 13-14 years
Temperament
- Bold, energetic, playful, affectionate, alert, eager, boisterous, willful
- Interaction with people: Loyal to family
- Interaction with animals: Can be aggressive with other dogs or pets
- Training: Needs firm training and socialization
- Bark: Can be highly vocal
- Protection: Good watchdog
Medical Conditions
- Deafness
- Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
- Ophthalmic disorders (including cataracts and distichiasis)
- Patellar luxation
While the listed ailments may be common in this breed, not all members of the breed suffer from these conditions. Responsible breeders screen for orthopedic and genetic diseases.
At Home
- OK for apartments
- Needs daily walks
Grooming
- Light shedder
- Use a firm-bristle brush once a week
- Can strip coat a few times a year or have professionally trimmed
Other Facts
- Bred to chase animals for hunting
- Ancestor thought to be the extinct wirehaired, working terrier from Great Britain's coal mining districts of Wales, Derbyshire and Durham
- Appeared in the show ring in 1870, 20 years after the Smooth Fox Terrier debuted
Breed History
- Originated in England
- Breed was separated into the Smooth Fox and the Wire Fox Terriers in 1985
- Initially bred to drive out burrowed foxes
For more information about this breed and breeder referral contacts, please visit the American Fox Terrier Club For breed rescue opportunities, visit AFTC Rescue
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