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Fox Terrier Wire Coat

General
Other Names		Wire
Dog Group Kennel Club		Terrier
Breed Classification		The Wire Fox Terrier is a member of the terrier group. They were originally used for locating the position of foxes in their tunnels, killing vermin and hunting rabbits. Today they are still used as hunters but more commonly as companions.
Cost of Ownership
Average Food Cost		£4-7.50 per week
Feeding Requirements		The Wire is not demanding in its feeding requirements. They do eat a lot considering their size but they are active little dogs. Costs can be up to £4.50 per week
		Try Royal Canin Breed Specific Dog Food
Other Expenses		A puppy will cost between £350 to £500 depending on which part of the country you purchase from. Their coats do need to be hand plucked 2/3 times a year so unless you can do this yourself, a professional groomer will be needed.
Average Puppy Price		£300-500
Lifespan		9 - 15 years These dogs live to between 13-14 years.
Average Litter Size		5 The average size of litter is 4 - 6 puppies.
General Physical Description		The Wire is a small active and lively terrier. They have a narrow head and a short back. Their top coats are dense with a wiry texture and undercoats have shorter, softer hair.
Height Min Max Bitch 0cm (0") 38cm (15") Dog 0cm (0") 39cm (15") Weight Min Max Bitch 7kg (15lbs) 8kg (18lbs) Dog 6kg (13lbs) 7kg (15lbs)
Size Category		Small
Weight Height Range		Dogs should measure no more than 39cms at the withers, bitches being slightly smaller. Dogs weigh between 7.3-8.2kgs and bitches should ideally weigh between 6.8-7.7kgs.
Ailments		As a breed the Wire is a hardy dog that doesn’t suffer from many health problems and any problems they do have tend to be as individuals and non-breed specific. The breed’s hardy constitution and known longevity has never led to the need for breed testing for clinical or hereditary defects.
Common Ailments
Susceptibility To Illness		Low
Other
History		The Wire is thought to have come about from crosses of the Old English Terrier, smooth coated Black and Tan terriers of England, Bull Terriers, Greyhounds and Beagles. They were used by hunters with the foxhounds to locate foxes when they went to ground by barking and so pinpointing the position of the fox for the huntsman.. They can be traced back to the middle of the 19th century when both smooth and broken coated were from the same origins and classed as one breed. Later, devotees of both coats bred like to like and developed the Wire and Smooth Fox Terrier as we know it today.. The breed Standard for this dog was drawn up in 1876 by Officers of The Fox Terrier Club and there are few differences with today’s Standard. Now the weight for dogs is more clearly stated and docking, though customary, is optional.
Intelligence		The Wire is an intelligent terrier but can be a bit stubborn like most terriers. Training is relatively easy but owners must be consistent and firm. They like to bark and dig so must be trained to stop these actions on command. They can be quite dominant over other dogs so should be properly socialised as puppies.
Show Characteristics		The Wire Fox Terrier should have a flat skull and a narrow head. The jaws should be strong and muscular with a complete scissor bite. The eyes should be small, round, dark and deep set. The ears are V shaped and drop forward close to the cheeks. The neck is muscular and of a good length. The chest should be deep but not too broad, the shoulders long and sloping. The topline should be level with a short and straight back. The front legs should be straight when viewed from any angle and the back legs should be strong and muscular. The feet should be small, round and compact. The tail should be high set and carried erect but not curling over the back. Tails are customarily docked by approximately one third, but this is now optional. The topcoat should be dense and wiry and the undercoat should be short and soft. Hair should be longer on the muzzle and legs. The colours desired are white with black, black and tan or black markings. White should predominate.
Country Of Origin		Great Britain
Famous Examples
Records Held
Characteristics
Energy		High
Overall Exercise		80 - 100 minutes per day. This dog should have lots of exercise, they are full of energy and like nothing better than a long walk. They do well in agility and fly ball games. A Wire will happily join in with any outdoor games the children are playing, the rougher and dirtier the better.
Distress Caused if Left Alone		Medium
Personal Protection		Medium
Suitability As Guard Dog		Medium
Risk of Sheep Worrying		Medium
Tendency to Bark		Medium
Ease of Transportation		High
Level of Aggression		Medium
Compatibility With Other Animals		Medium
Suitable For Children		High
General Character And Temperament		In general the Wire is a friendly, devoted and affectionate dog with lots of personality. They can be protective if they feel a member of their family is in danger or being threatened. In the past they have had a reputation a being a bit snappy and wilful but if you select your puppy carefully this should not be a problem. Wires get on well with children and do make ideal family pets. They have to be socialised from an early age especially with cats and any other household pets. Keen gardeners may find that this dog digs up their plants rather quickly as digging is one of their favourite pastimes if not corrected, but as with many other breeds, with initial training this is not a problem. The breed is suitable for hot, sunny climates but also thrives in cool ones.
Grooming
Coat Length		Short/Medium
Grooming Requirement		> Once a week
Trimming		Occassional
Requires Professional Groomer		True
Grooming		Grooming the Wire does require a bit of time and it can be expensive, as you will need to get a professional groomer to keep the dog’s coat looking its best. Hand trimming will be necessary several times a year; this can be time consuming so it can be easier to get someone else to do it for you. The distinctive Wire Fox Terrier trimming should be first carried out when the puppy is around three months old. The Wire should be brushed and combed several times a week to keep the coat clean and tangle free.
Colour		The Wire Fox Terrier can be white with black, black and tan or tan markings. White should predominate.
Shedding		Little
Suffers From Allergies
Tendency to Cause Allergies

Breed results: F-J
Field Spaniel Finnish Lapphund Finnish Spitz Flat-Coated Retriever Fox Terrier Smooth Coat Fox Terrier Wire Coat Fox Terrier Wire Coat Foxhound French Bulldog German Shepherd Dog German Short-Haired Pointer German Spitz Klein German Spitz Mittel German Wire-Haired Pointer Giant Schnauzer Golden Retriever Gordon Setter Grand Bleu de Gascogne Great Dane Greyhound	Hamiltonstovare Havanese Hovawart Hungarian Kuvasz Hungarian Puli Hungarian Vizsla Hungarian Wire-Haired Vizsla Ibizan Hound Irish Red and White Setter Irish Setter Irish Soft-Coated Terrier Irish Terrier Irish Water Spaniel Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Italian Spinone Italian Spinone Japanese Chin Japanese Shibu Inu Japanese Spitz