The Wire Fox Terrier is a breed of dog, one of many terrier breeds. It is an instantly recognizable fox terrier breed. Although it bears a resemblance to the Smooth Fox Terrier, they are believed to have been developed separately. Two of their most distinctive traits are their enormous amount of energy and intelligence. They have a low threshold for boredom and require stimulation, exercise and attention. The Wire Fox Terrier should be alert, quick, and ready to respond accordingly while being keen of expression and friendly and forthcoming. They can be very loving and exceedingly playful if they receive the proper care. They are bred to be independent thinkers, capable of tactical maneuvering for vermin and other sport. Their high level of intelligence makes them a dog that is not suited for everyone. Only the capable and appreciative owner need apply.

History

The Wire Fox Terrier was developed in England by fox hunting enthusiasts and is believed descended from a now-extinct rough-coated, black-and-tan working terrier of Wales, Derbyshire, and Durham. The breed was also believed to have been bred to chase foxes into their burrows underground, and their short, strong, usually docked, tails were used as handles by the hunter to pull them back out. Although it is said Queen Victoria owned one, and her son and heir, King Edward VII of Great Britain did own the Wire Fox Terrier, Caesar, the Wire Fox Terrier was not popular as a family pet until the 1930s, when The Thin Man series of feature films was created. Asta, the canine member of the Charles family, was a Wire-Haired Fox Terrier, and the popularity of the breed soared. Milou (Snowy) from The Adventures of Tintin comic strip is also a Wire Fox Terrier. In the late 20th century, the popularity of the breed declined again, most likely due to changing living conditions in the Western world and the difficulty of keeping hunting terriers in cities due to their strong instincts. Among the less desirable traits of all fox terriers are their energy, digging, stalking and chasing of other animals, and yelping bark. The Wire Fox Terrier has the distinction of having received more Best in Show titles at major conformation shows than any other breed.[citation needed] Wire Fox Terriers kept as pets show the loyalty, intelligence, independence, playfulness and breeding befitting such a storied breed.

Appearance and Size

The Wire Fox Terrier is a sturdy, balanced dog weighing between 7 and 9.5 kg (15 and 21 lb). Its rough, broken coat is distinctive. Coat color consists of a predominant white base with brown markings of the face and ears, and usually a black saddle or large splotch of color; there may be other black or brown markings on the body. The wire in the photo at left sports the traditional white, black and buff tri-color coat. The wire in the upper right hand photo appears to be a ginger, a wire without black markings.

Personality

Wire Fox Terriers are 'jumpy' dogs - they enjoy jumping onto surfaces and into people's arms. They enjoy being hugged and carried, whether this is considered to be healthy for them or not. They can also be quite dozy, possibly due to short-sightedness, as they do not always follow balls well. They are tenacious but generally gentle animals who bark simply for attention. Wire Fox Terriers tend to get along well with other animals, including cats and dogs. However, they have an irrational hatred of winged creatures.

Wikipedia and GNU

The content of this entry is from the Wikipedia article "Wire Fox Terrier" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.