Wire Fox Terrier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wire fox terrier

Other names	Wire hair fox terrier Wirehaired terrier Fox terrier
Common nicknames	Wire WFT
Origin	England
Classification / standards FCI standard
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Wire Fox Terrier is a lively and smart dog breed. It is also known as the Wire Hair Fox Terrier or Wirehaired Terrier. This dog is a type of terrier, which are dogs originally bred for hunting small animals. Even though it looks a bit like the Smooth Fox Terrier, these two breeds were developed separately.

What Does a Wire Fox Terrier Look Like?

Wire Fox Terriers usually have a white coat with brown or black markings.

This Wire Fox Terrier has a tri-color coat, which is common for the breed.

The Wire Fox Terrier is a strong and well-balanced dog. Males usually weigh between 7.7 and 8.6 kg (17 to 19 lb). Females are a bit smaller, weighing 6.8 to 7.7 kg (15 to 17 lb). They stand no taller than 39.4 cm (15+1/2 in) at the shoulder.

One of their most special features is their rough, wiry coat. The coat is mostly white. It has brown markings on the face and ears. Often, there's a black patch or a large spot of color on their back. Other black or brown markings can also appear on their body.

Wire Fox Terrier Personality

Wire Fox Terriers are known for being very energetic and intelligent. They get bored easily, so they need lots of activities, exercise, and attention. These dogs love being with people and need almost constant interaction.

A healthy Wire Fox Terrier should be alert and quick. They are ready to respond with lots of excitement. With good care and enough exercise, they are friendly, playful, and good at communicating. They were bred to think for themselves, which helped them hunt small animals.

Sometimes, Wire Fox Terriers are given up by their owners. This can happen because they might run away or chase things like cars, bikes, or other animals. They might even try to attack other pets, like cats or other dogs. These behaviors are actually normal for the breed. They were bred to hunt foxes, badgers, and even boars. They don't fear large animals or vehicles any more than they fear small prey.

If you have a Wire Fox Terrier as a pet, you need to be firm. You must teach them to control their hunting instincts. They also need plenty of exercise and fun activities. With careful supervision, Wire Fox Terriers can be fun, exciting, and long-lived companions.

Grooming Your Wire Fox Terrier

This four-year-old male Wire Fox Terrier has had his coat clipped.

Wire Fox Terriers that are shown in dog shows have their hair "hand stripped." This means long hairs are pulled out by hand. This helps keep the coat's bright colors and shiny look.

Many pet owners choose to have their Wire Fox Terriers clipped by a groomer once a month. Clipping makes the coat softer and curlier. It can also make the colors look duller and make the coat harder to keep clean. However, many owners prefer clipping because it's simpler and costs less than hand stripping.

History of the Wire Fox Terrier

The Wire Fox Terrier was first developed in England. People who enjoyed fox hunting created this breed. It is thought to have come from a rough-coated, black-and-tan working terrier that lived in Wales and other parts of England. These dogs were also bred to chase foxes into their underground homes. Their short, strong tails were sometimes used by hunters to pull them back out of burrows.

A Wire Fox Terrier pictured around 1915.

Even though it's said that Queen Victoria owned one, the breed didn't become popular as a family pet until the 1930s. This was thanks to the "The Thin Man" movies. Asta, the dog in these films, was a Wire Fox Terrier. His popularity made the breed very famous. Snowy (Milou in French), from "The Adventures of Tintin" comic books, is also a Wire Fox Terrier.

Later in the 20th century, the breed's popularity went down. This was likely because more people lived in cities. It's harder to keep hunting terriers in cities due to their strong hunting instincts.

As of 2019, the Wire Fox Terrier holds a special record. It has won more "Best in Show" titles at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show than any other breed. They have won 15 times! One Wire Fox Terrier named Matford Vic won the competition twice, in 1915 and 1916. Only one other dog, a Smooth Fox Terrier, has won more times.

Famous Wire Fox Terriers

• Asta from The Thin Man film series.
• Beauty, a brave dog who received the Dickin Medal for her service in military conflict.
• Caesar, the beloved dog of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom.
• Dášeňka, the dog of Czechoslovak writer Karel Čapek, who wrote a book about her.
• Dodger Herbie Tobacco from the Disney animated film Oliver & Company is based on a Wire Fox Terrier.
• Dogmatix (Idéfix in French), the loyal companion of Asterix and Obelix in the comics.
• Pard, Humphrey Bogart's own dog, Zero, who played the character in the 1941 film High Sierra.
• Skippy, a famous dog actor from the 1930s, who played Asta and other roles.
• Sky, who won the 2014 Westminster Dog Show.
• Snowy (Milou in French), the adventurous companion of Tintin.
• Watch, the pet of The Boxcar Children in their books.
• Wessex, the dog of famous British novelist Thomas Hardy.

See also

In Spanish: Fox terrier de pelo duro para niños