Wire fox terriers are affectionate, energetic, and intelligent dogs. These former fox hunters brim with personality and well-earned confidence.
Wire Fox Terrier Characteristics
Wire fox terrier size. The body of a wire fox terrier is sturdy and lean, ready to run at a moment's notice. They stand with their head held high and legs outstretched.
The average height of a wire fox terrier is 15 1/2 inches for males and females. Males weigh around 18 pounds, while females weigh a little less, at 15 to 17 pounds.
Head and body shape. Wire fox terriers are lean. The most notable characteristics of their silhouette are their slender head and long legs.
As fox hunters, the wire fox terrier originally had two main jobs: get the fox out of its lair and chase it. Its unique head shape and lean build made it perfect for diving into the foxholes.
Wire coat. The wire fox terrier gets its name from its wiry, rough coat. Its coat also differentiates it from the smooth fox terrier breed.
Wire fox terrier lifespan. Wire fox terriers have a longer-than-average life expectancy between 12 and 15 years.
Wire fox terrier personality. Wire fox terriers are confident and make friends with everyone they meet, even other dogs with enough time. New friends will never rank higher than their family, though. Wire fox terriers are highly affectionate and protective of their loved ones.
Wire fox terriers are energetic. They devote their energy to playing, protecting, and working. This energy is leftover from their former jobs as fox hunters. Even without prey to catch, they have a lot of energy to expend.
Caring for Wire Fox Terriers
Competition coat care. You can groom the wire fox terrier's unique coat in different ways. Depending on the style you choose, upkeep and grooming will vary.
Wire fox terriers need to be hand-stripped if you intend to show them in competitions.
Hand-stripping is the process of plucking dead hairs with your fingers. Hand-stripping accompanies weekly brushing with a pin brush, combing with a medium-tooth comb, and combing with a fine-tooth comb.
The tedious process of hand-stripping maintains the coat's coloring, glossiness, and texture. Hand-stripping is a necessity for your dog to fit the breed standard in competitions.
Everyday coat care. For people who don't intend for their wire fox terrier to compete, coat care can be much simpler.
Your pet wire fox terrier will need its coat trimmed monthly and require baths at least once a month. They'll also need regular brushing a couple of times a week to prevent matting.
Regularly clipping their coat instead of hand-stripping makes the colors less vibrant and makes the coat soft and curly.
Feeding and nutrition. You should feed your wire fox terrier at least twice each day. Your dog's age, health, size, and temperament will affect exactly how much you need to feed them at mealtime.
When deciding what to feed them, you have options. Most dogs do well with the commercially available wet and dry foods.
You can also pursue a fresh and natural diet for your dog, but you must work with your vet to develop a nutritionally complete diet.
As your wire fox terrier gets older, you may need to change its diet. Always talk with your vet to make sure your dog is getting all their necessary nutrients.
Exercise and activity. Wire fox terriers need a decent amount of exercise. They need a combination of mental and physical stimulation, so a variety of activities are necessary.
Long walks, playing fetch, and running in a fenced-in area are sufficient activities. Always take them out on a lead so that they don't chase after a small animal.
Training. Wire fox terriers are intelligent, but this sometimes makes them challenging to train. They get bored if their training isn't fun and exciting.
Training them is possible, though. With patience and positivity, a wire fox terrier can compete in a variety of obedience competitions.
Don't give your wire fox terrier too many treats while training, though. Treats are like junk food and can lead to obesity. Obesity can open the door to even more health problems, so opt for bits of kibble instead.
Parasite prevention. Protecting your wire fox terrier from parasites like ticks, fleas, and heartworms year-round is crucial. Parasites can transmit serious diseases or even dangerous parasites.
Your wire fox terrier will receive parasite protection at around 2 months old. Your vet can help you figure out which medication is best for your dog.
Tooth and nail care. You should trim your wire fox terrier's nails about once a month. You can trim them yourself or take them to your vet or groomer.
Taking care of your dog's teeth is a necessity. Some options for dental care include:
- Daily teeth brushing
- Dental treats
- Dental chews
Your vet can also clean their teeth professionally. This option also allows your vet to catch dental problems early.
Vet visits. All dogs need regular vet visits throughout their life. Your vet will update your pup’s health records and perform various tests to catch potential health problems as soon as possible.
Wire fox terriers need to visit the vet monthly until they're 6 months old to track their development. They'll also receive a core set of vaccines during these early visits for conditions like parvo and rabies.
Adult terriers need a checkup once a year to monitor weight gain or loss, keep their records updated, and renew vaccines. Of course, you should also take your dog to the vet if they seem ill or show strange symptoms.
Senior wire fox terriers need checkups every 6 months. Your vet will monitor signs of age like your dog's mobility, vision, and bladder control.
Health Problems to Watch for with Wire Fox Terriers
Eye problems. Wire fox terriers are genetically predisposed to certain eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and primary lens luxation (PLL). Many such conditions are genetic or naturally occur with age, which makes them difficult to prevent.
Keep an eye out for the following symptoms to catch any conditions early:
- Squinting
- Teary eyes
- Cloudiness in the eyes
- Redness in the whites of their eyes
Early treatment is advised. Eye problems can advance to blindness in severe cases.
Patellar luxation. This condition causes your dog's kneecap to slide out of place, making it difficult for them to run and jump. They may also pick up their leg or skip to avoid putting weight on the leg.
You can treat minor patella luxation with medication. Severe patellar luxation may require surgery to align the kneecap.
Hip and elbow dysplasia. Dysplasia causes the hip or elbow joints to become arthritic and stiff. Your wire fox terrier may have difficulty moving.
You can treat dysplasia's symptoms by using arthritis medications to reduce discomfort and pain. A vet can also correct severe dysplasia with surgery.
Wobbler disease. Wobbler disease is a neurological condition sometimes called wobbler syndrome or wobbler's gait. It causes your dog to walk at a drunken or uneven pace.
This disease causes narrowed vertebrae that pinch the spinal cord, causing your dog to lose feeling in its feet. Wobbler disease can be treated with medications, rehabilitation, and surgery.
Wobbler disease is genetic and most common in larger dogs.
Special Considerations for Wire Fox Terriers
Are they good with kids? Wire fox terriers are protective and social, making them great companions for children. Always supervise your dog around young kids.
Are they good with other pets? Wire fox terriers may take some time to warm up to other animals. They have a strong prey drive, so they may chase cats and other small pets.
Are they hypoallergenic? Wire fox terriers don't shed much, but their hair and dander can still cause allergies.
Proper grooming can also decrease dead hair and dander, lowering the chances of triggering allergies.
Do they bark? These dogs are vocal because they're watchful. As fox hunters, they had to let the hunters know when they found a fox.
History of Wire Fox Terriers
The wire fox terrier were bred in England as fox hunters in the 1700s. They would scare the foxes out of their holes, giving the hunters a chance to catch them.
People adored King Edward VII's wire fox terrier, Caesar. Similar terriers steadily grew in popularity until another terrier, Asta, made it to the big screen.
After Asta's success, wire fox terriers became popular as pets in the 1930s and beyond.
They've also excelled as show dogs. As of 2021, wire fox terriers have won 15 Best in Show awards, almost doubling the record of the Scottish terrier, which is in second place with eight wins.
A wire fox terrier has a lot of personality. You may think of this regal breed more as a roommate or family member than a pet!
