Wire Fox Terrier

The Wire Fox Terrier is the harsh-coated fox terrier, and for much of the twentieth century the most-photographed dog in the world.

History

It comes from the same fox-hunting terriers as the smooth variety, with a wiry coat that stood up better to rough cover, and the two were shown as one breed until 1985. Asta in the Thin Man films and Hergé's Snowy were both wire fox terriers, and the breed's popularity in that period owed as much to those as to the field.

Temperament

The breed is known for being confident, high-spirited and inquisitive, devoted to its family and quick to challenge other dogs.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and a secure garden. The harsh coat needs hand-stripping several times a year and sheds very little. Training must be varied; boredom becomes destruction.

Health

Generally robust, with lens luxation, patellar luxation and deafness among the known tendencies. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.