Wire Fox Terrier: temperament, size, care and health

About the Wire Fox Terrier

The Wire Fox Terrier is a square, balanced dog about 14 to 15.5 inches tall, with a long, flat head, small folded ears, and an upright, jaunty stance. The coat is its signature: harsh, twisted wire that is trimmed into a boxy outline with a beard and leg furnishings. The base color is white, with black, tan, or black-and-tan markings.

It was developed to run with foxhounds, bolt foxes from earths, and handle vermin around stables. Today it is a lively companion and one of the great show-ring breeds, with an exceptional record at the Westminster Kennel Club show.

Temperament and family life

Wire Fox Terriers are extroverted, curious, and quick to react. They are fond of people and usually good with children who play kindly, but they are noisy, bouncy, and not tolerant of teasing. They need a family willing to channel the energy rather than complain about it.

Most are friendly to strangers while remaining watchful, and they will bark at anything unusual. Their reputation for squabbling with other dogs is deserved; many are bossy and some are quick to escalate. Cats may be acceptable if raised with the dog, but small outdoor animals are fair game. The terrier urge to dig and escape means yards need strong fencing.

Exercise and training

A Wire Fox Terrier needs an hour or more of daily exercise, including some off-leash time in a safe place and energetic play. Agility, flyball, and earthdog trials are all good outlets. A dog that does not get enough activity will bark, dig, and find a way to amuse itself.

The breed is intelligent and learns fast, but it also forgets what it chooses to forget. Training should be brief, varied, and reward-based, with early socialization to other dogs and plenty of practice at calm behavior indoors. The recall is never perfectly reliable.

Grooming and shedding

The wire coat barely sheds, which is a plus, but it requires professional work. Show owners hand-strip the coat several times a year; pet owners often choose clipping, which changes the color and feel of the coat.

Brush two or three times a week and comb the beard and legs, which collect debris. Wash the beard after meals. Trim nails, clean the ears, and watch the skin, which can be sensitive.

Health

The breed is generally sturdy. Primary lens luxation is a known inherited eye condition for which a DNA test exists, and cataracts and glaucoma are also reported. Deafness, epilepsy, kneecap luxation, and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease have been noted in terriers of this type. Breeders typically screen eyes and use the available DNA test.

Treat this as general information and take questions about a specific Wire Fox Terrier to a veterinarian.

History

The Wire Fox Terrier is generally traced to nineteenth-century England, where hunters wanted a terrier that could keep up with a pack of hounds and was white so it would not be mistaken for the fox. It descends from rough-coated working terriers, and for a time the wire and smooth varieties were shown together. The wire variety became a favorite exhibition breed and has won Best in Show at Westminster more often than any other breed.

Is the Wire Fox Terrier right for you?

A Wire Fox Terrier suits owners who like an entertaining, tireless dog and can provide exercise, training, grooming, and a safely enclosed yard. It is less suitable for those who want a quiet, easygoing pet, who have small animals, or who are away for long hours.

The Smooth Fox Terrier is the same dog in a short coat, and the Toy Fox Terrier is a much smaller breed. For a calmer wire-coated terrier consider the Lakeland Terrier or the Welsh Terrier.