Wire-haired fox terrier. Character, care, photo

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The Wirehaired Fox Terrier is a rather friendly, cheerful and courageous dog. She loves to play with children and gets along well with different pets. Such a dog can become an excellent companion, and for lovers of hunting - a good helper.

Origin

It is very difficult now to make a true history of an old breed of dog, which includes the Wire 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 dogs belongs to the group of burrows. But that's not all. Quite often, fox terriers are used as hounds - they raise game from the thickets.

Breed formation

It is believed that these dogs are the result of crossing three types of terriers: the Old English black and tan, the smooth-haired black and ten terrier, and the now extinct white English. There is an assumption that in the process of formation for a better flair, giving more viciousness and original markswas mixed with the blood of spaniels, bull terriers and beagles. After crossing crossbreeds with red and brown breeds, a light color of dogs was obtained, and in this they differed markedly from foxes. I must say that such crossings were carried out quite carefully, so the terrier type itself practically did not change.

The size and shape of the dog largely 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 the 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 as for wire-haired dogs, one can only guess about their origin. Most likely, their ancestors were coarse-haired 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, the smooth-haired and wire-haired fox terriers were shown at exhibitions together. In those days, they were not yet divided into different types. At the same time, 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. It was from then on that the varieties began to be exhibited separately. A separate standard for a breed such as wirehairedfox terrier, was adopted in 1913. At the same time, their association was founded. I must say that the original standard was revised many times, but only minor refinements were added.

Description of the breed

Fox Terrier is a dog that has all the qualities that are necessary to attack the enemy. She has strong teeth and jaws and is fearless and strong. The animal is well built, has an elegant appearance.

The dog weighs up to 8 kg, its height at the withers does not exceed 40 cm. Females have slightly smaller parameters. The head is slightly flat and elongated. The muzzle tapers towards the nose. The mustache and beard are well developed, they give the head a characteristic rectangular shape. The neck is rather muscular and thin. The eyes are deep set, small, dark and very lively. The ears are V-shaped and hang forward. The color is two- or three-color: predominantly white with red and black spots.

Character

The Wirehaired Fox Terrier is a lively and excitable animal. Dogs of this breed are always ready to play and will be able to make an excellent company for people leading an active lifestyle. If they are not brought up properly, they will become dominant in the house and will be unruly.

Foxes just love to dig. They can do this not only on the street, but also in the apartment. Not all owners like this behavior of a pet. The Fox Terrier breed, reviews of which indicate that owners must have a lot of patience, is not suitable for all people. Antics of pets are quite bold, and not everyone is capable of them.endure constantly. These dogs have a great defensive reaction, so it is not easy to punish them: they can growl angrily or even bite.

It is known that fox terriers are the most barking dogs. Owners' comments on this matter are as follows: excessively loud sounds annoy not only the owners themselves, but also their neighbors.

As mentioned above, these dogs were originally bred for hunting. Inborn 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 your pets on the street only on a leash. Foxes have a warlike nature, so they often get into fights with other dogs, while the size of the opponent does not interest them at all.

At home, animals are very friendly, they treat all family members well, and also love to play with children - all this is about fox terrier dogs. Feedback from their owners is almost always positive. But still, leaving the dog alone with small children is not recommended, as these four-legged dogs often bite, which can greatly frighten the child.

The Fox Terrier, whose character description will be incomplete, if not to mention the special cheerfulness, will help to a large extent brighten up not the best moments in the life of its owners.

Contents

A dog that does not participate in exhibitions will not create big problems and will not require much time. Animals need daily exercise. If it is available, the fox terrier will get along well even insmall city apartment. If he does not receive this, all the energy will be directed to the furniture and other items in the house. Also, lack of exercise can affect the behavior of the dog. Do not forget about the intellectual load. These can be games, execution of commands, as well as participation in various competitions.

As you know, one of the best hunters for small game are representatives of the wire-haired fox terrier breed. Reviews and observations of the owners of these animals suggest that it is necessary to let 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 and should 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 that 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 keep the coat he althy and beautiful, trimming (plucking) is used at least once a year. This procedure can be entrusted to a professional or carried out by yourself.

As for the nails, they are cut with a special nail cutter at least once every two weeks. The hair between the dog's toes in the paw pads is either clipped or plucked. In winter, this procedure is especiallyimportant. It will prevent large amounts of snow from sticking to the paws and the formation of ice between the toes. This should be done at least once a month.

Cupping

The tail of this breed of dog should be thick, densely covered with hair and always raised up. When docking, usually about two-thirds of its length is left. This is necessary so that you can grab the dog by the tail during its work. Too short a cut is not suitable for show or hunting.

Grooming

When you first look at a dog, you can tell if its owner loves and cares for it properly. All this becomes noticeable in the appearance of the animal, and, first of all, in the condition of its coat.

The wire-haired fox terrier requires special attention. Grooming the coat of such a dog is called trimming. This procedure is the plucking of small pieces of hair at different stages of the animal's growth. There is another concept - grooming. It is necessary to prepare the dog for the show.

Carefully and professionally done trimming makes the Fox Terrier very beautiful and elegant. And how he attracts the enthusiastic glances of numerous passers-by! If the goal is to become the owner of not just a wire-haired fox terrier, but a winning dog of some exhibition, then trimming cannot be neglected.

Immediately it is necessary to warn that these animals are not sheared with scissors. This procedure will make their coat soft and thin, and its color will fade. After several haircuts, luxurious andan elegant dog can turn into a simple matted cotton ball.

The bright coloring of rough wool, in addition to aesthetic, has practical significance. 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 forest or while hunting, a bright dog is clearly visible. And sheared individuals often suffer from skin diseases such as dermatitis and eczema.

You should check your pet's eyes more often. In case of slight souring, they are wiped with a clean cotton pad, previously moistened with boiled water or tea leaves. If the eyes are red and watery, you should immediately seek the advice of a veterinarian.

He alth problems

Fox Terriers are prone to Perthes disease and epilepsy. In addition, they have frequent eye problems (cataracts, distichiasis) and hearing. Most often, deafness affects individuals whose color is dominated by white.

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 he alth problems of the animal that may arise in the future.

Education

Training a fox terrier, like a puppy of any other breed, usually comes down to performing certain commands, searching and retrieving, i.e. supply of various items. The first classes are held either at home or in a section of the courtyard fenced off from the street. In this case, the presence of other people or animals is undesirable. For classes withpuppy is best to use his favorite toys. It can be a doll, a ball or any other object that he enjoys dragging and shaking.

At the first stage, they take only one of the toys, and stock up on the puppy's favorite treat. When he fulfills the command given by the owner, he must be encouraged and given a piece of food. Such classes should be carried out constantly, even several times a day.

The Wirehaired Fox Terrier, with mostly positive reviews, is a very intelligent dog. He almost always tries to please his master, but sometimes behaves independently and may not follow the commands given to him. But, as experience shows, it is not at all difficult to train puppies of these dogs. It is only necessary to use the method of the so-called positive reinforcement, which consists in the fact that for each command executed, the animal will be praised and rewarded with a piece of their favorite treat.

Hunting

Hunting with a fox terrier requires training the dog from an early age. But before you begin to familiarize the puppy with any burrowing animal in natural or artificial conditions, it must be taught simple commands, for example, “Good!” or "No!". At six months, milk teeth are completely replaced by permanent ones, and during this period the formation of character takes place. Therefore, it is recommended to start grafting on burrowing animals at this age. To teach a puppy to hunt, you need to strictly follow the numerous recommendations of specialists. If there is at least one already adult burrow, then preparationa young and as yet inexperienced dog will be simplified and greatly accelerated.

As noted above, the Fox Terrier was bred as a hunting dog breed. Therefore, he 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 retained their hunting instincts to this day, but in modern life they are mostly just pets.