The Wire Fox Terrier breed is basically the same as the Smooth Fox Terriers except for their wiry coats. They are muscular yet agile, able to keep up with foxhounds in a hunt. They make excellent housepets because of their intelligence and good disposition toward family members.
The Wire Fox Terrier's Behavior
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Recommended for: pet, working dog
The Wire Fox Terrier dog breed is active, alert, friendly, and lively without being high-strung. The dog's overall bearing, keen expression and upright stance, gives the impression of a dog that is ready to go anywhere and do anything. They are bold yet not aggressive and are affectionate with children though some would find them a handful for kids. Though seldom used for hunting, the urge for pursuing vermin that has gone underground is still strong and will even go as far as digging after it.
Remember that breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog's actual behavior. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.
The Wire Fox Terrier's Physical Characteristics
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Here are some of the characteristics of the Wire Fox Terrier breed as determined by the American Kennel Club's published breed standard.
- Size: 15 1/2 inches at the withers, 12 inches from withers to tail base, 18 pounds
- Coat: broken appearance, twisting hairs, dense, wiry texture
- Color: dominantly white, any other color
- Eyes: dark, moderately small, circular, not too far apart
- Ears: small, V-shaped, moderate thickness
- Nose: black
- Tail: set high, good strength and substance, fair length
The Wire Fox Terrier's Origins and History
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Country/Region of Origin: England
Original purpose: hunting
Name: Also simply called Fox Terriers.
Historical notes: When fox hunting became popular in the late 1600's, hunters found out they needed terriers that could catch up with a pack of foxhounds. They then bred longer legged terriers with predominantly white color to avoid being mistaken for a fox. Smooth coats were the norm but the wire coat was never stamped out and was soon accepted. By the start of the 1900's, interbreeding between smooth-coated and wire-coated fox terriers ceased. The two breeds are identical except for the coats.