Wire-haired fox-terrier - the dog is quite friendly, cheerful and courageous. She loves to play with children and gets along well with different pets. Such a dog can be a great companion, and for hunting lovers a good helper.
Origin
It is very difficult now to make a true story of an old breed of dog, which includes wire-haired fox-terrier. But we can safely say that it has existed since time immemorial. The first information about similar dogs that lived on the territory of modern Britain appeared around 55 BC.
The Fox Terrier breed itself has been known since about the 17th century. She was bred in England specifically for hunting badgers and foxes living in holes. That is why this breed of dog belongs to the group of burrows. But that is not all. Quite often, fox terriers are used as hounds - they raise game from the thickets.
Rock formation
It is believed that these dogs arose as a result of the crossbreeding of three types of terriers: the Old English black and tan, smooth black and white terrier, and also the disappeared white English. There is an assumption that in the process of forming for a better flair, giving greater viciousness and original marks, the blood of spaniels, bull terriers and beagles was mixed. After crossbreeding with red and brown breeds, we got a light color of dogs, and this was noticeably different from foxes. It must be said that such crosses were carried out rather carefully, since the terrier type itself remained practically unchanged.
The size and shape of the dog to a greater extent determined the diameter of the fox hole. As a result of such a long selection, a small terrier was obtained with a predominant white color in color, as well as with black and red spots. By the middle of the 19th century, the Fox Terrier breed had a beautiful appearance. A little later she gained immense popularity in England.
First exhibitions
There are two types of Fox Terriers: wire-haired and smooth-haired. The history of the latter is known. But with regard to wire-haired dogs, one can only guess about their origin. Most likely, their ancestors were coarse Welsh terriers, crossed with smooth-haired fox terriers. As a result, white color, characteristic spots and the shape of the head were added.
At the very beginning, smooth and wire-haired fox-terriers were shown at exhibitions together. In those days they were not yet divided into different species. In this case, smooth-haired representatives of the breed always dominated, since there were much more of them.
Separate classes for these dogs were established only in 1872 during the exhibition in Birmingham. Since then, varieties began to be exhibited separately. A separate standard for such a breed as a wire-haired fox-terrier was adopted in 1913. Then they founded their association. I must say that the original standard was revised many times, but only minor clarifications were added.
Breed description
Fox Terrier - a dog that has all the qualities that are necessary to attack the enemy. She has strong teeth and jaws, she is fearless and strong. The animal is well built, has an elegant look.
The dog weighs up to 8 kg, its height at the withers does not exceed 40 cm. Bitches have slightly smaller parameters. The head is slightly flat and elongated. The muzzle tapers toward the nose. The mustache and beard are well developed, they give the head a characteristic rectangular shape. The neck is quite muscular and thin. The eyes are set deep, they are small, dark and very lively. The ears are V-shaped and hang forward. Two-color or three-color: predominant white with red and black spots.
Character
The wire-haired fox-terrier is a mobile and highly excitable animal. Dogs of this breed are always ready for games and will be able to make an excellent company for people leading an active lifestyle. If they are not brought up properly, they will dominate the house and will be uncontrollable.
Foxes just love to dig. They can do this not only on the street, but also in the apartment. This behavior of a pet is not liked by all owners. The Fox Terrier breed, reviews of which indicate that owners should have a lot of patience, is not suitable for all people. Pet tricks are quite daring, and not everyone is able to endure them constantly. These dogs have an excellent defensive reaction, so it’s not easy to punish them: they can growl viciously or even bite.
It is known that most often dogs breed Fox Terrier. Owner reviews on this subject are: excessively loud sounds irritate not only the owners themselves, but also their neighbors.
As mentioned above, initially these dogs were bred for hunting. Congenital instincts force them to pursue not only cats, but also other small animals. That is why they are often lost. To prevent this from happening, you need to walk pets on a leash on the street. Foxes are belligerent in nature, so they often get involved in fights with other dogs, and the size of the opponent does not interest them at all.
At home, the animals are very friendly, they treat all members of the family well, and they also love playing with children - all this is about Fox Terrier dogs. The feedback from their owners is almost always positive. Nevertheless, it is not recommended to leave the dog alone with small children, as these four-legged dogs often bite, which can greatly frighten the child.
A fox terrier, the character description of which will be incomplete, if you do not mention the special cheerfulness, will help to greatly brighten up not the best moments in the lives of their owners.
Content
A dog that does not participate in exhibitions will not create big problems and will not require much time. The animal needs daily exercise. If it is available, the fox terrier will coexist perfectly even in a small city apartment. If he does not receive this, all the energy will be directed to furniture and other objects in the house. Also, a lack of exercise can affect the behavior of the dog. Do not forget about the intellectual load. This can be games, team execution, as well as participation in various competitions.
As you know, one of the best small game hunters are representatives of the wire-haired fox-terrier breed. Reviews and observations of the owners of these animals suggest that you need to lower the pet off the leash very carefully. Foxes literally enjoy running, so they will chase any small animal they come across.
General care
Dogs need a diet, they can not be overfed. A moving animal consumes a lot of energy. In order to make up for it, it is necessary to develop a balanced menu, which contains many different nutrients.
A pet that does not take part in show programs and exhibitions is combed at least twice a week, and bathed only when necessary. To make the coat healthy and have a beautiful appearance, apply trimming (plucking) at least once a year. This procedure can be entrusted to a professional or conduct it yourself.
As for the claws, they are sheared with a special clipper at least once every two weeks. The hair between the fingers of the dog in the paw pads is either cut out or plucked. In winter, this procedure is especially important. It will prevent the accumulation of a large amount of snow on the paws and the formation of ice between the fingers. This must be done at least once a month.
Stopping
The tail of this breed of dog should be thick, densely covered with hair and kept up. When stopping, usually leave about two-thirds of its length. This is necessary so that you can grab the dog by the tail during its operation. Cutting too short is not suitable for exhibitions or hunting.
Hair care
At the first glance at a dog, you can determine whether its owner loves and cares for it correctly. All this becomes noticeable in the appearance of the animal, and first of all, in the state of its coat.
Particular attention to themselves requires a wire-haired fox-terrier. Caring for a fur coat of such a dog is called trimming. This procedure is plucking small pieces of wool at different stages of animal growth. There is another concept - grooming. It is necessary to prepare the dog for the show.
Carefully and professionally performed trimming makes the fox terrier very beautiful and elegant. And how he attracts the enthusiastic looks of many passers-by! If the goal is to become the owner of not just a wire-haired fox-terrier, but of a dog-winner of some exhibition, then trimming cannot be neglected.
It is immediately necessary to warn that these animals are not sheared with scissors. Such a procedure will make their coat soft and thin, and its color will fade. After several haircuts, a luxurious and elegant dog can turn into a simple fallen cotton ball.
The bright color of hard wool, in addition to aesthetic, is also of practical importance. First of all, the wool is dense and does not let water through, and also almost does not get dirty. In addition, when walking through the woods or while hunting, a bright dog is clearly visible. And shorn individuals often suffer from skin diseases such as dermatitis and eczema.
You should often examine the eyes of your pet. With minor acidification, they are wiped with a clean cotton pad, previously moistened in boiled water or tea brewing. If the eyes are red and tear, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.
Health problems
Fox terriers are prone to Perthes disease and epilepsy. In addition, they have frequent problems with the eyes (cataracts, dysthiasis) and hearing. Most often, individuals with white color prevail in deafness.
If you decide to buy a dog of this breed, then, first of all, you need to consult with the breeder and find out from him about all the possible health problems of the animal that may arise in the future.
Parenting
Training a fox terrier, like a puppy of any other breed, usually comes down to executing certain commands, searching and apporting, i.e. serving various items. The first classes are held either at home or on a yard section fenced off from the street. However, the presence of other people or animals is undesirable. For activities with a puppy, it is best to use his favorite toys. It can be a doll, a ball or any other object that he happily drags and trebles.
At the first stage, they take only one of the toys, and also stock up on the puppy's favorite treat. When he fulfills the command given by the owner, he needs to be encouraged and given him a piece of food. Such classes should be carried out constantly, even several times a day.
The Wire Fox Terrier, whose reviews are mostly positive, is a very smart dog. He almost always tries to please his master, but sometimes he behaves independently and may not fulfill the commands given to him. But, as experience shows, training puppies of these dogs is not at all difficult. It is only necessary to use the method of the so-called positive reinforcement, which consists in the fact that for each executed team the animal will be praised and awarded with a piece of your favorite treat.
Hunting
Hunting with a fox terrier requires training the dog from an early age. But before you begin familiarizing your puppy with any burrowing animal in natural or artificial conditions, you need to teach him simple commands, for example, "Good!" or "You can’t!". At six months, baby teeth are completely replaced by permanent, and during this period the formation of character. Therefore, etching on burrowing animals is recommended to begin at this age. To teach a puppy to hunt, one must clearly follow the numerous recommendations of specialists. If there is at least one already adult burrow, then the training of a young and still inexperienced dog will be simplified and significantly accelerated.
As noted above, the fox terrier was bred as a hunting breed of dog. Therefore, it easily penetrates holes and can fight foxes on equal terms. Even by the name of the breed itself, this fact becomes obvious. After all, “fox” in translation from English means “fox”. These terriers have kept their hunting instincts so far, but in modern life they are basically just pets.