Description

The Wire Fox Terrier is an elegant and well built dog. It has a lot of strength compacted into a small structure. They are hunting and tracking dogs by nature and therefore are built with agility and many other hunting qualities. They have strong well developed jaws and teeth, eagerness, and physical strength. Above all else though, they pack a lot of courage. These are considered its weapons of attack. The eyes are dark, small, and deep set. Their neck is thick and extremely muscular. The skull is flat, tapering, and narrow skull. The ears are v-shaped and fold forward. The hair on the upper and lower jaws should only be long enough to give the impression of strength. The length of the coat depends on the climate, owner\'s preference, seasons, and individual animal but is typically 3/4-1 inch on the shoulders and neck. The coat is a longer 1.5 inches on the back, quarters, withers, and ribs.

The chest should be deep but not too broad or too narrow. The brisket should be deep, the front ribs arched moderately, and the back ribs should be deep and well sprung. The shoulders should slope steeply down towards the points, which should be fine. A shoulder that is well laid back combined with a short back is considered very desirable in the Wire Fox Terrier. Hindquarters should be strong and muscular with long and powerful thighs. The feet should be round and compact with pads that are tough and well-cushioned.

The gait of the Wire Fox Terrier is crucial. They should be carried straight forward while traveling with forelegs that hang perpendicular and swinging parallel to the sides. This gives the look of a pendulum clock. The power and propulsion of the Wire Fox Terrier is derived from its powerful and long thighs.

Coat Description

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.

History

The Wire Fox Terrier originated in England in the 1800\'s. Before the introduction of the Wire Fox Terrier fox hunting would end as soon as the fox reached the hole. The Wire Fox Terrier was bred to assist in fox hunting. The Wire Fox Terrier was bred from the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Rough-Coated Tan and Black Terrier. If the fox reached the hole and went into the ground, the Terrier would be sent in after it. Terriers needed to have stamina to run with the foxhounds and they also needed to be small enough to follow the fox down into its lair. Lastly, the Terrier needed to be tough. The fox would view the Wire Fox Terrier as an intruder and would fight back. The Terrier needed to be stronger than the fox and conquer the animal. The fox would eventually flee from its lair and the hunters would then be able to hunt the fox. The Wire Fox Terrier would achieve this by snapping, growling, and lunging at the fox. They are sometimes regarded as the same breed as the Smooth Fox Terrier although in the United States the two breeds have been differentiated since 1986.

Temperament

The Wire Fox Terrier is a happy, eager to please, excitable dog. They are always eager to play and make excellent pets for the active person. They do have a streak of dominance in them and therefore they can become frustrating if they are able to obtain the upper hand in the household. They were originally bred for hunting and tracking and love to dig under fences, in the garden, and even through sofas if the mood strikes them. If they get out of the yard they are gone. The owners need to be patient and have a good sense of humor. It is said that only a very specific type of person can put up with the antics of the Wire Fox Terrier.

Because of their nature as hunting dogs, they are driven to chase smaller animals such as squirrels, rabbits, or cats. For this reason, the Wire Fox Terrier cannot be trusted off leash. They need to be leashed at all times because they will run away and chase small animals or start altercations with larger dogs. They can be quite aggressive with a great deal of courage. They will not back down even to dogs that are several times their size. Despite all of this, they are very cheerful and excitable dogs and can brighten even the darkest of days.

There are some cautions to be aware of in the Wire Fox Terrier. Although they are said to make excellent family pets and they do love to play, especially with children, they are known to bite. The Wire Fox Terrier should always be supervised around children for this reason. They will react if they are being bothered or pestered. In addition to this, they excessively bark. They are quick to bark at any new sight or sound, so the owner must be equally as fast to stop them. For this reason, the Wire Fox Terrier should not be left outside alone because their barks can be very high pitched and cause annoyance for neighbors and owners. Furthermore, the Wire Fox Terrier has strong defense reactions. For instance, if the Terrier feelings like they were reprimanded beyond what was necessary they are more likely to growl and snap than other breeds. The root of this could be found that they were taught to always be more aggressive than their prey.

Thyroid Disease - Medium Risk

The Wire Fox Terrier ranks #74 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. While this is not a high risk breed, there is still a good chance of disease transmission through breeding. Therefore, all dogs intended for breeding should be tested first. 

You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here

Other Health Problems

• Epilepsy: Causes seizures.

• Cataracts: Causes cloudiness to the lens of the eye and can result in vision loss.

• Legg Perthes disease: Extreme muscle loss in the legs.

• Distichiasis: Extra hairs growing on the edge of the eyelid. They can cause pressure and discomfort to the eye.

• Post Nasal Drip

• Deafness