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Wirehaired Fox Terrier: Personality, Health, Grooming
About Wire Fox Terrier
Country of Origin, History of Wire Fox Terriers
Terriers were developed through crosses of ancient Dachshunds, the English Hound, the Fox Hound and the Beagle. The Fox Terrier is one of the oldest terriers and was used in England to hunt foxes during the 18th century. Its job was to harass the fox out of its hole by snapping, growling and lunging at the fox until it bolted. They were also very useful in eradicating rats.
Today’s Fox Terriers are mainly companion dogs. They are great at hunting, tracking, watchdogging, agility, and performing tricks.
Wire Fox Terrier Tools
Breed Selector Tool - is the Wire Fox Terrier the right breed for you?
Is the Wire Fox Terrier the right breed for you and your family?
Find out by using our Free Dog Breed Selector Tool
Check Your Wire Fox Terrier's Learning Style
Are you aware dogs also have a learning style that can greatly affect their ability to housetrain as well as be trained correctly. Evaluate your Wire Fox Terrier's learning style and personality using our free Learning Style tool so that you are better able to provide him with the proper Wire Fox Terrier training methods.
Is your Wire Fox Terrier dominating over you?
Does your Wire Fox Terrier bark unnecessarily? Does your Wire Fox Terrier come to you when you call? Download a FREE Report on Dog Dominance for you and your Wire Fox Terrier and learn how to control your dog.
Do you make these mistakes with your Wire Fox Terrier?
Are you inadvertently snow-balling bad behavior in your Wire Fox Terrier? Evaluate your Dog Training Style from our Free Tool and learn how best to deal with your dog.
Wire Fox Terrier Calorie Calculator
Do you know how many calories your Wire Fox Terrier needs every day and how many cups of food you should be giving it every day? Click here to use our Wire Fox Terrier Calorie Calculator.
A General Appearance of the Dog
The Wire Fox Terrier’s back is shorter than his legs are long. He shows good muscle throughout. He appears to be on tiptoe with expectation. His eyes, ears and tail all give the impression of being alert and ready. His tail is docked to ¼ its length and stands straight up most of the time.
The Wire Fox Terrier’s head is square and his V-shaped ears are folded well above his skull with the points dropping down toward his cheek. His skull should be flat and should narrow going down his muzzle.
The Fox Terrier is a well-built, elegant dog - concentrating a lot of strength in a little space. He is blessed with many weapons of attack such as strong jaws, well-developed teeth, eagerness, physical strength, and above all, courage.
Coat Color
White is the predominant color on the Wire Fox Terrier. He can have markings of any color other than brindle, red, slaty blue or liver. Black and Brown are the most common colors. Those markings can be as patches or swatches over his body.
Coat Type
The coat of the Wire Fox Terrier is coarse and wiry like a coconut matting. The hairs grow so closely and strongly together that, when parted with the fingers, the skin cannot be seen. At the base of the stiff hairs is a short, fine, soft undercoat.
The hair on the upper and lower jaws should be crisp and only sufficiently long enough to give the idea of strength.
Height
Males: 14 – 15.5 inches
Females: 13 – 15 inches
Weight
Males: 14 – 18 lbs
Females: 12 – 16 lbs
Free Wire Fox Terrier Training Secrets
Free Course on Wire Fox Terrier Training & Obedience
Stop All Bad Behavior, Excessive Barking and Biting
Wire Fox Terrier Personality Traits
Temperament of the Dog
The Wire Fox Terrier is a spunky dog who is brave and scrappy. He is a very typical terrier who is willing to take on animals several times his size. He even picks fights with other dogs. Other pets, especially small ones – and birds – are not safe with a Fox Terrier. He is also a digger.
Wire Fox Terrier is a clown of
a dog that makes a great pet for families with older
children that would enjoy the rewards obedience
or agility training could bring.
He is an eager learner and with continued reinforcement
will learn to direct its energy into positive activity.
If left bored or to its own devices, this terrier
can become disobedient and destructive.
As a family member, he is loyal
and devoted. He loves being with his family. Enthusiastically
playful with children, he loves to learn tricks
and show off.
They are willful and need to be firmly obedience
trained from an early age. Behavior problems may
include dominance challenges and guarding objects,
toys, places and their own food.
This breed is not for the timid owner and older adults will not likely enjoy their excessive energy. Wire Fox Terrier is almost too smart for his own good and is always alert to its surroundings. A small yard is good for exercise but walk on lead to keep him socialized and obedient.
Aggression with other canines, no matter the size is common, so keep him on lead around other dogs. Fox Terriers love to chase and have very quick responses, so keep them in safe area when off lead.
This breed makes a nice urban dweller but loves to bark and should be trained early when enough has been said. Crate training early will keep this pet safe and eliminate destructive behavior due to boredom.
Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?
Wire Fox Terriers prefer to live indoors.
The Wire Fox Terrier does okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. Because he is very active indoors, he will do fine without a yard or with a very small yard if he is walked.
Are they suited to homes with kids?
As a family member, he is loyal and devoted. He loves being with his family. Enthusiastically playful with children, he loves to learn tricks and show off.
Wire Fox Terrier is a clown of a dog that makes a great pet for families with older children that would enjoy the rewards obedience or agility training could bring.
Wire Fox Terrier Activity Level
How Active is the Breed?
Because he is very active indoors, he will do fine without a yard or with a very small yard if he is walked.
How Much Exercise Does the Dog Need at every stage of its Life?
Puppies, as usual, will need more exercise periods than adults.
Grooming
Wire Fox Terriers need a very complex routine to keep their coats in show condition. However, as a pet, he will only need some brushing and three to four visits a year to the professional groomer for stripping and other care. The Wire Fox Terrier sheds very little, so he can be a good breed for allergy sufferers.
Free Wire Fox Terrier Training Secrets
Free Course on Wire Fox Terrier Training & Obedience
Stop All Bad Behavior, Excessive Barking and Biting
Health and Care
Genetic Problems
Since these dogs are predominantly white, deafness can be an issue. Post nasal drip, lens luxation, distichiasis, cataracts, Legg-Perthes, and shoulder dislocation are problems with Fox Terriers.
Life Span: 15 or more years.
National Breed Clubs
National Breed Clubs
British - Fox Terrier Club –
www.thefoxterrierclub.co.uk
Wire Fox Terrier Association - www.Wirefoxterrierassociation.co.uk
US – American Fox Terrier Club – www.aftc.org
Other Recognition: CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, CET, APRI, ACR
Rescue Link: www.aftc.org/#rescue
Group: Terrier Group
AKC Popularity Ranking: 101
Also Known As: Fox Terrier (Wire), Fox Terrier (Wire-coated)
Train Your Wire Fox Terrier To Listen To You
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Sign up for our Free Wire Fox Terrier Mini Course to have a housebroken, obedient dog that happily comes to you every time you call.
You'll learn new commands to obedience-train your dog as well as how to housebreak your dog in 6 days or less.
You'll also learn how to eliminate bad habits like barking, nipping or biting, jumping, or pulling on the leash.Here's just s small fraction of what else you'll learn in the course:
How to lead and think like a pack dog - the new psychology.
3 dangerous mistakes that most Fox Terrer owners make when they are trying to potty train their dogs.
The 2 main reasons why your dog barks excessively and how to control its excessive barking.
How to obedience train your Wire Fox Terrier to permanently end behavioral problems like Jumping, Aggression, Pulling on Leash.
A surprisingly easy way to teach your dog cool new tricks.
How to improve your dog's lifespan and keep it from getting overly heavy with a healthy and nutritious diet.
Getting Pro help fast - how to get access to our expert trainers when you need them most.
One hidden psychological trigger that all Wire Fox Terriers have... that practically allows you to "analyze" and "control" your dog's every action.
Priority access to the free online seminars conducted by our training experts.
Whereas other dog training related web sites and books offer generic information for dogs in general, ours is the ONLY web site that offers Fox Terrer information specifically, from a renowned panel of experts - because as you probably know, Fox Terrers have their own special training requirements that other dogs don't have.
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