The Wire Fox Terrier: A Complete Guide

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The Wire Fox terrier does have more than just a passing resemblance to the Smooth Fox terrier, and they also share more similarities than just looking the same.

There is little doubt that this particular terrier has mischief in his eyes, but is also extremely loyal and loving at the same time.

This breed is also regarded as being hypoallergenic, so if you have previously suffered from allergies connected to dogs, then you should not have any real problems with this breed.

It gets its name from its type of fur, which is rather thick.

It is believed that this breed was descended from the Welsh terrier as well as the black and tan terrier.

At one point, it was believed that they were the same as the Smooth Fox terrier, but they are now regarded as being their unique breed.

They are a popular breed across both Europe as well as North America. They also saw a significant increase in their popularity after the end of World War Two, and that level of popularity remains today.

Wire Fox Terrier Puppies – Before You Buy…

Wire Fox Terrier
Training the Wire Fox Terriers may not be as easy as you may think. Image Credit By: albert.and.mathijs, instagram

Before spending money on a puppy, and everything else that comes with it, there are several points to take into consideration.

This should help you to make the perfect decision as to whether or not you should go ahead and make that purchase.

Terriers will often have a very individualistic character, and they can often be quite noisy dogs. They will also have a significant level of energy to burn through, so they do require some space to stretch their small legs.

So, before you buy, perhaps think about questions such as these:

  • Does the potential for noise worry you?
  • How good will you be at exercising them?
  • Do you require a dog that is there to protect and guard you?

Thinking about the exact reasons as to why you want to own a terrier of any kind will just help you to determine if this has indeed been the correct choice for you.

What Price are Wire Fox Terrier Puppies?

Wire Fox terriers are going to always vary in cost, so searching around could prove to be invaluable to you.

If you are looking at a puppy that has a strong family lineage, then there will always be a premium on things.

Also, the price will vary depending on your country of origin.

For example, in the United States prices should generally begin at around $700, but you can pay several times that for a dog with a superb pedigree.

The price is also comparable in the UK where the same rules connected to the price will apply.

How to Find Reputable Wire Fox Terrier Breeders?

To find reputable Wire Fox terrier breeders, you need to be prepared to do a small amount of work.

In both the United States as well as the UK, the Kennel Club always has to be your first port of call.

They often operate a register of reputable breeders, but also consider dog charities and other owners for help.

The word of mouth concept still has an important place in this world, and you can use it for this very reason.

3 Little-Known Facts About Wire Fox Terrier Puppies

A Wire Fox Terrier running in the park
The Wire Fox Terrier is just below medium-sized.

Prior to moving onto other key areas that you should know about regarding the Wire Fox terrier, there are several little-known facts that may have been overlooked.

So, perhaps these three facts may help to increase your interest in the breed.

  • They have to be the most curious breed out there.

A Wire Fox Terrier is going to have problems in keeping its energy in check. This helps them out as they are also very curious about everything that is going on.

Right from being a puppy, they want to explore every single inch you can imagine, so be prepared to have to go hunting for them.

  • They hide any ailments.

This breed of dog is surprisingly good at hiding any ailments that it has, so you need to pay close attention to them.

Of course, they will get sick in some way, but they have the ability to carry on as if nothing is wrong.

  • You better be good at games.

The Wirefox Terrier loves nothing more than to play games, and they are also pretty good at them.

They prefer to see things as being a challenge, and that is something that they are just not going to back down from either.

As you can already see, this is a breed of dog with a difference, and you are going to be in line for a whole lot of fun.

Physical Traits of the Wire Fox Terrier

With the physical traits, what you have here is a rather elegant looking terrier with perfect poise and an air of utter confidence.

It may not be the largest breed, but it does come across as being something just a little bit different.

This dog is lean muscle, and it has a huge amount of energy going through its body. You should seek to groom them at least once a week, but do remember that they are hypoallergenic as well.

There is very little fat on this dog, and it also has a strong back and neck. It tends to hold its head up high and has a rather distinctive look about it.

This is a very impressive dog that does come across as being elegant and confident even in its appearance. However, there is also a soft side to it that needs to be explored further.

How Big is a Full-Grown Wire Fox Terrier?

A full-grown Wire Fox terrier is not going to astound you with its size, but what you have here is a rather strong dog.

The male is going to be slightly larger in both weight and height compared to the female, but there is very little difference between the two.

For most, the male is going to be in the region of just over 15 inches at the withers. The female is only going to be an inch or so smaller.

With the weight, then the male is in the region of 17 to 19lbs while the female is between 15 to 17lbs.

What is the Life Expectancy of the Wire Fox Terrier?

The Wire Fox terrier does have a slightly longer life expectancy than a number of other breeds. In general, you are looking at it being anywhere from 13 to 15 years.

As is the norm, how you care for your Wirefox Terrier will have an impact on their life expectancy and what they can get out of it.

Intelligence, Temperament and Personality Traits of the Wire Fox Terrier

A Wire Fox Terrier looking at you
The Wire Fox Terrier is extremely loyal and loving at the same time.

The confident stance is not the only thing that stands out from the Wire Fox terrier. Instead, its temperament and personality are also pretty outstanding. Oh, and they are not that stupid either.

This is a breed of dog that is highly inquisitive and loves to explore. If they are taken to somewhere new, then there is a need for them to effectively go into every corner to see if there is something to hunt.

You will find that it does not cope well with boredom, so you do need to keep it entertained at all times. However, it does love a challenge, which is something that you can build into the day.

This is a dog that acts as a wonderful companion as it just loves being around people at all times.

Also, it will love nothing more than snuggling up to you and having a nap, but it will still be very alert to what is going on.

The Wirefox Terrier is exceptionally friendly while it is also rather communicative.

Training this breed does take some time thanks to their desire to explore things. Do not use harsh punishments but rather show patience and you will be rewarded for it later on.

Remember, they can be cheeky even though they are also easily distracted. You will also discover that they are rather agile.

The Wire Fox Terrier’s Diet

Getting their diet right will lead to a healthier, and happier, dog that will be a part of your family for longer.

As is the norm with any breed, do try to push the boat out for food as the cheap options can cause more harm than good. Cheap food is low in protein and nutrients, and their health is going to suffer as a result.

Typically, a Wirefox Terrier is more of a grazer rather than being able to just effectively sit down and eat meals.

Due to this, you might want to focus on purchasing very high-quality dry food that can sit there for some time without it changing consistency.

This will allow them to come and snack as and when required, and it will also prove to be more beneficial for their digestive system.

To help with their overall health, add some vegetables to their diet at various times as well, but certainly not onions.

How Much Exercise Does a Wire Fox Terrier Need?

A Wire Fox terrier does have a real need for exercise in order to help keep it as healthy as possible.

They love going on walks, and you should do so for at least one hour every day.

However, it will be even more beneficial if you have a yard or garden that they can explore throughout the day to help them burn off some additional energy.

If you do keep them in your yard, make sure that there are no escape routes as they will almost certainly find them.

Also, throw in some games on a daily basis as well or they will get bored and that is where things can start to go rather wrong.

Ultimately, they should not be kept in an apartment as that will drive them crazy and lead to a rather depressed dog.

Wire Fox Terrier Health and Conditions

The Wire Fox terrier is not exactly immune from a number of relatively common health conditions.

However, being aware of them in advance can help you to ascertain if there is a problem at the earliest opportunity.

You are advised to check if the parents have been scanned or reported any problems with the following:

  • Legg Calve Perthes Disease
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Heart Disease
  • Eye Disease
  • Problems with Blood Clots

This does sound like a horrible list as it shows potential problems with their joints, but by getting information on their parents it can help you to better understand the chances of something happening.

As we said earlier, they can also go ahead and hide some of these ailments, so learn to recognize when your dog is showing the most subtle of signs.

My Final Thoughts on the Wire Fox TerrierA Wire Fox Terrier with its paws on a fence

The Wire Fox terrier is a wonderful looking dog, and it is one that genuinely does have an air of confidence surrounding it.

This is a dog that walks well and is an amazing companion.

They have an exceptionally cheeky side to them, but that is so much of their overall appeal.

They are full of character and are willing to express themselves whenever possible, but they do then love to sleep beside their owner in order to feel safe.

Do just note that training them if you have never attempted to train a dog before may not be as easy as you think.

They will test you from time to time, but that is just all part of their overall nature.

If you are searching for a dog that is just below medium-sized and is full of life and will make you feel loved, then this is certainly the one for you.

Just remember to ask about their parents and if they have been checked for those various health issues as they can become relatively common, and that could lead to problems further down the line.

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