Are you considering getting a Wire Fox Terrier? Or are you just interested in the breed? Well this is the perfect place to start! This post is a short summary of the Wire Fox Terrier breed characteristics from their size to how much exercise they need.
Breed overview
Wire Fox Terriers were originally bred to flush foxes out of hiding during fox hunts so are classed as a working breed. They are a small breed standing at no more than 15.5” to the withers, weighing between 7 and 9 Kgwith a lifespan of 12+ years. They have a short but very thick, wire coat meaning that they don’t need a lot of grooming. The main breed standard colours are black and white, black tan and white, black white and tan, hound marked, tan and white, tricolour, white and tan and finally white black and tan. However, there are many more colour combinations that are not considered breed standard.
Grooming
As I mentioned above Wire Fox Terriers need very little grooming. Unless you want the classic breed standard coat which is achieved by hand stripping. They will need brushing (about once a week) and bath. Obviously, Wire Fox Terriers will also need their nails trimmed and teeth cleaned regularly exactly the same as all other dogs.
Exercise
As Wire Fox Terriers are a working breed they need a reasonable amount of exercise, ideally 1 hour a day. Not only do they need physical exercise like walking or running but also mental stimulation. This can be done by training, which your Wire Fox Terrier will love (even if they are a bit stubborn sometimes) or using puzzle toys.
Health
Generally, Wire Fox Terriers are quite a robust breed. However, unfortunately like most purebred dogs they are prone to some health conditions. These include deafness, cataracts, legg-perthes disease, lens luxation and hip dysplasia. However, all good breeders have both parents genetically tested/screened for these problems. This means that when you buy a puppy you know it’s got a much smaller chance of developing these problems when its older.
Temperament
Wire Fox Terriers are prone to being mischievous and sly. But they are also lively, alert, smart and goofy. They are very intelligent, but their independent nature can make training a bit more challenging. So, keep training sessions short, fun and engaging! Wire Fox Terriers also generally have a natural prey drive so will need good and consistent recall training to be able to go off lead.
So, overall Wire Fox Terriers are a small dog with a giant personality! They are hunting/working dogs so need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. But they are well worth the effort. As long as you exercise them sufficiently you will have a goofy, loving and loyal friend.
P.s. you can shop all our Wire Fox Terrier products here!
