Wire Haired Fox Terrier

The Wire-haired Fox Terrier is, when well turned out, a delightful sight to see. It is intelligent, cheerful and easily trained; a first-rate children's companion with the typical terrier's 'get up and go'. Nowadays it is seen more frequently than the smooth­coated variety.

Origin and history

The Wire-haired Fox Terrier is a separate breed from the smooth­coated, although in conformation the breeds are the same. The Wire undoubtedly derived from the wire­haired terriers around the British coalmining areas of Durham, Wales and Derbyshire, where it had existed for some time before gaining the attention of fanciers. It did not appear in the ring until 1872. For many years its popularity lagged behind the smooth variety, but now the position is reversed.

Wire Hair Fox Terrier Puppies

Good points

• First-rate companion
• Good with children
• Intelligent
• Smart appearance
• Trainable

Take heed

• Needs plenty of exercise
• Not entirely suited for apartment living

Size

A full-size, well-balanced dog should not exceed 15112in (39cm) at the withers - the bitch being slightly lower - nor should the length of back from withers to root of tail exceed 12in (30cm). Weight 181b (8.2kg) in show condition, a bitch about 21b (0.9kg) less with a margin of 11b (0.45g) either way.

Exercise

The Wire-haired Fox Terrier will enjoy nothing more than going rabbiting with its master It adores sniffing out vermin and is not afraid of a fight, despite its usual good nature. It adapts well to life as a household pet but really deserves a country home rather than acityone.

Wire Hair Fox Terrier Information

General appearance
The dog should be balanced: this may be defined as the correct proportions of a certain point or points when considered In relation to another point or points. The chief points for consideration are the relative proportions of skull and foreface; head and back; the height at the withers: and the length of the body from shoulder-point to buttock. The ideal of proportion is reached when the last two measurements are the same.

Colour
White should predominate. Brindle, red, liver or slaty blue are objectionable. Otherwise, colour is of no importance.

Head and skull
The top line of the skull shold be almost flat, sloping slightly and gradually decreasing in width towards the eyes. In a well­balanced head there should be little apparent difference in length between skull and foreface. If, however, the foreface is noticeably shortec it amounts to a fault, the head looking weak and 'unfinished'. The nose should be black.

Tail
Should be set on rather high and carried gaily but not curled. It should be of good strength and substance and of fair length - a three-quarters dock is about right - because it affords the only safe grip when handling a working terrier A very short tail is suitable neither for work nor for show.

Feet
Should be round, compact and not large. The pads should be tough and well cushioned, and the toes are moderately arched and turned neither in nor out.

A terrier with good-shaped forelegs and feet will wear its nails down short by contact with the road surface, the weight of the body being evenly distributed'between the toe pads and the heels.

Wire Hair Fox Terrier Feeding & Grooming

Grooming

Hand stripping is required in spring, summer and autumn ­more frequently if it is the intention to show. Normally a frequent brushing will suffice, but watch the coat carefully as terriers are susceptible to eczema. Chalking is usual for a show.

Feeding

Recommended would be 6-130z (170-369g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added in equal part by volume, or 3,4-1112 cupfuls of a dry, complete food, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to V2 cup of hot or cold water.

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