Wire Fox Terrier

The Wire Fox Terrier is one of several distinct Fox Terrier breeds developed in Great Britain to hunt vermin on the farm, and for use during the fox hunt. These determined little dogs would follow the Fox Hounds when they picked up the fox's scent. Once the fox was located, it was the job of the Fox Terrier to "bolt"� the fox: that is, flush it from its hole so that the chase could begin anew. It is still used in the hunt, and is also a house pet, although it is not as commonly seen as many of the terrier breeds. However, it is very important historically as an old breed from which all other terriers are descended. The Wire Fox Terrier is active, cheerful, lively and very playful. It is a sturdy, muscular, well-proportioned dog of medium bone, standing an average 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder. Its head tapers into a very long muzzle. Its ears are high-set, triangular and not prick, but dropping toward the front. The eyes are alert, dark and intelligent. The tail is set fairly high, and is held either straight or curved like a sickle, but never curled. Docking of the tail is optional. The coat is dense, coarse and wiry, given the dog a rustic look. This coat consists of hairs that grow tightly twisted, so that if one parts the hair with one's fingers the skin cannot be seen. This protects the dog completely from adverse weather. The color is generally white as are most fox-hunting dogs, the more easily to be spotted during the hunt - with colored patches of any other color combination. The face The Wire Fox Terrier gives an overall impression of readiness and endurance. This breed is believed to have been developed in the 17th century from various hounds, including the Smooth Fox Terrier, and the Welsh Rough Black and Tan from which it inherits its rough coat. The Fox Terrier is the predecessor of various types of terriers that were traditionally used on farms to hunt vermin around the barn and stable, to keep them from grain and feed supplies. Its usefulness as part of a team of dogs used in the fox hunt was soon discovered. Its job was to go to ground after the fox, snapping, barking and harassing it from its hole until it "bolted"� behavior echoing that of its hound relatives. This Fox Terrier to bark when working is the root of the tendency of many terriers to bark excessively when excited. The smaller Smooth Fox Terrier was appearing at the earliest dog shows of Great Britain, by the mid-19th century, classified as part of the Sporting Group, there being no terrier category. One of the earliest to be officially recognized as a breed, it gained Kennel Club recognition in 1875. At that point it was considered to be of two variants: the smooth coat and the wire-haired coat. The two were not recognized as separate breeds for near one hundred years, and at that time it was agreed that they have very different foundation lineage, the Wire Fox Terrier being primarily directly descended from the Welsh Rough Black and Tan. The two were liberally, and not occasionally, crossbred right up until the American Kennel Club declared them to be separate breeds in 1984. The Wire Fox Terrier is an extremely energetic dog with strong hunting instincts. It is important that this dog get daily vigorous exercise or unwanted behaviors are likely to ensue. This dog enjoys having a fenced yard to tear around in, but it is important that the fence is secure and that the owner check it regularly for any openings. The Wire Fox Terrier has a strong desire to dig, and will tunnel its way out if given the chance. This breed does fine in an apartment setting if it is given adequate outdoor exercise daily. It is very natural for this breed to want to bark, and the owner must work consistently to put limits on that behavior so that it doesn't become obsessive. The coat of the Wire Fox Terrier is very easy to care for; it may be brushed occasionally, and is often "stripped"� professionally from time to time. This breed will shed minimally. Occasional brushing will help to keep the coat looking good and the skin healthy. This breed may be bathed as needed. The Wire Fox Terrier is generally very healthy. The average lifespan is 12 to 15 years, but individuals frequently live to be 19. When ailments are present, they often involve eye disorders such as cataracts, distachiasis or lens luxation. The hip disorder Legg-Calve-Perthes disease has appeared occasionally in this breed, and shoulder dislocations are not uncommon. Myasthenia gravis may appear, and also epilepsy. Many of these issues can be avoided through responsible and careful breeding practices. Prospective owners should ask be prepared to ask a lot of pertinent questions of the breeder and particularly inquire as to whether genetic testing has been done. This breed occasionally displays a harmless post-nasal drip the owner should not be alarmed by what sounds like coughing and snorting. Because the attentions of a professional groomer are not likely to be important for the Wire Fox Terrier who is not in the show ring, the owner should work to familiarize the dog at an early age with being handled for grooming by the owner; having its feet handled and toenails clipped, its ears cleaned and being brushed, are all things that should happen regularly and frequently so that they become routine early in life. This breed is extremely head-strong, and it is important that training and socialization begin early and be given consistently throughout the dog's life. The Wire Fox Terrier is prone as a breed to be dominant and even aggressive toward other dogs; the more nice dogs the puppy can be exposed to, the better chance the owner has of controlling this tendency in the future. The Wire Fox Terrier is a very playful breed and enjoys human interaction and interplay. Toys such as balls and squeak toys will be quite popular with this dog.

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