Wire Fox Terrier
It has won more Best in Show titles at Westminster than any other breed. The wire coat is hand stripped rather than clipped, which keeps colour and texture.
Overview
The Wire Fox Terrier separated from the Smooth in 1985 and differs in coat and some head detail. Both were bred to bolt fox from earths for mounted hunts, and the wire coat protected the dog in thorn and rock.
It is the most successful breed in the history of Crufts and Westminster, and it is also the breed that plays Asta in The Thin Man films, which caused a popularity surge in the 1930s.
Temperament
Bold, quick and relentless. Wire Fox Terriers are affectionate with their families and they are proper working terriers.
They dig, they bark and they chase, and the prey drive towards small animals is serious. They can be dog aggressive, particularly with the same sex. They are clever and independent and they need real training and real exercise, and they are one of the higher energy small breeds.
Care and grooming
The dense wiry coat needs brushing twice a week plus hand stripping two or three times a year. It should not be clipped. They shed very little.
Primary lens luxation has a DNA test, and Legg Calve Perthes disease, patellar luxation and deafness occur. Twelve to fifteen years.
Living and exercise
An hour and a half a day plus mental work.
A fence sunk into the ground. They excel at earthdog and agility, and they are a poor choice for a household that wanted a smart looking small dog and nothing more.
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