Wire Fox Terrier
About the Wire Fox Terrier
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Small (10-25 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 14-16" |
| Weight | 15-18 lbs |
| Coat Type | Wire |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Regular - 2-3x/week
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,000-$2,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,200/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Wire Fox Terriers may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
- Allergy Sufferers
May Not Be Ideal For
- First-Time Owners
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Wire Fox Terrier
The story behind the Wire Fox Terrier
For much of their history the wire and smooth fox terriers counted as a single breed carrying two coat types, developed in nineteenth-century England to accompany foxhounds and bolt foxes from their earths, work that required courage, a narrow build and the confidence to face quarry underground. The wire coat is generally traced to rough-coated black and tan terriers from the English coalfield counties. Fox terriers were among the earliest breeds to have clubs and studbooks in Britain and became enormously fashionable in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, dominating early show rings and appearing widely in popular culture. British and American kennel authorities eventually separated the two coats into distinct breeds in the twentieth century. Working use has declined substantially, though some are still used in the field, and the Wire survives chiefly in pet and ring homes, at numbers well below its former popularity.
Originally bred for: Fox bolting terrier, earth dog, vermin hunter. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Wire Fox Terrier
Weigh out a good small-breed food across two sittings and resist eyeballing it. The crinkly jacket disguises a thickening waist, so run your hands over the ribs monthly, and pay for training with kibble rather than extras.
Watch for: No intolerance is tied to this breed. Harsh-jacketed terriers that scratch are more often reacting to airborne allergens or skin condition. Leave trial diets to a vet instead of improvising through one bag after another.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for small breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Wire Fox Terrier
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a comfortable no-pull harness.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.