Now before anyone starts yelling at us that if we’re going to discuss the “Fox Terrier” dog breed, we actually need to break it up into two separate articles, one for the “Smooth” Fox Terrier and one for the “Wire” Fox Terrier.
We should point out…
That in this article, we’re not going to spend a ton of time “comparing” these two versions. Instead, we’re going to try and shed some light on what it might be like to own one of these little guys so that if you are considering adopting a new animal, you’ll have a better idea if one of these guys might be right for you.
Because…
Aside from the fact that the “Wire” Fox Terrier is going to have a coat that is going to require more work to maintain, owning either one of these dogs is pretty much the same (same as in AWESOME).
But just because…
We love these little guys doesn’t automatically mean that they are going to be the “right” kind of dog for everyone.
So…
Without further ado, let’s find out if owing a Fox Terrier is going to be “right” for you!
Fox Terrier Dog Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: England
Original Purpose: Hunting vermin and fox bolting
Height: Less than 16 inches
Weight: 15 to 19 pounds
Dog Breed Classification: Terrier Group
Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
Origin of the Fox Terrier Dog Breed
In general, most folks will agree that the Fox Terrier dog breed has been around since the late 1700’s, that part we know. Where we run into a bit of “controversy” is when we begin looking at who were the ancestors of these two different breeds.
You see…
There are some that think that the “Smooth” Fox Terriers are a mix of smooth-coated Black and Tans, Bull Terriers with a little bit of Greyhound and Beagle thrown in.
While others…
Believe that the “Wire” Fox Terriers descended from the rough-coated Black and Tan Terrier of Whales.
And while…
Agreed upon is that these two different breeds were breed together rather extensively early on which is why other than their coat, both breeds are very similar to one another.
Gradually…
Towards the beginning of the 1900’s folks stopped interbreeding the Smooth and Wire-haired Fox Terriers together which made distinguishing them as “separate” dog breeds much easier but still didn’t lead to them being “officially” recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as separate until 1985.
Physical Characteristics of Fox Terriers
As we stated before, there are two different types of Fox Terriers and while they share many of the same characteristics, there are a few differences which warrant mention.
The Smooth Fox Terrier
Smooth Fox Terriers have a short yet hard coat which is mainly white. The dog is usually between 14 to 16 inches in height and weighs between 15 to 19 pounds. This dog has small dark eyes and a long and wedge-shaped head.
The Wire Haired Fox Terrier
Wire Haired Fox Terriers are more popular and have a crisp and hard double coat with a coarse texture underneath for protection from the cold. The individual hairs on the dog’s coat are twisted, not exactly curly.
The dog is 14 to 16 inches in height and weighs between 15 to 19 pounds. The physical features are similar to that of the Smooth Fox Terrier.
Fox Terrier Temperament and Personality
Fox Terriers are lively, smart and alert dogs. Or in other words, these guys are dogs that are going to keep you on your toes.
They can easily…
Outwit you and have you laughing at their antics. They’re sort of the “class clown” that you love rather than the one that makes you nuts!
And…
Since these dogs are quite vigilant, they make excellent watchdogs and bark if they notice something suspicious. And since we mentioned “barking” we might as well point out that they do LOVE to bark.
So…
This will be something that you definitely want to think about if you live in an apartment or live in a neighborhood where your neighbors live quite close to you. Because it’s certainly possible to train your Fox Terrier to bark less, you’re never going to be able to train him to stop barking entirely.
And if…
You don’t try to prevent him from barking at all while he is just a puppy, you can bet you’re going to have a loud and boisterous Fox Terrier when he grows up.
The good news is…
That these guys are really smart so training them usually isn’t a problem. You’ll just want to be sure that you start your training early and try to begin socializing your Fox Terrier young so that we won’t like to “pick fights” with every dog he meets later on like many of these little guys do!
This early socialization…
Will also ensure that you have a great family that will behave great with kids of any ages, even if your Fox Terrier never gets to the point where he or she can tolerate the household cat!
Fox Terrier Dog Breed Health Concerns
Fox Terriers are a generally healthy breed. However, like every dog breed, they are prone to developing a few genetic problems.
Genetic problems such as:
Hip dysplasia: This heritable condition is caused when the femur doesn’t snugly fit the pelvic socket or the hip joint which causes lameness and pain in one or more legs
And while…
It’s true that these diseases are not necessarily life threatening, most if not all can become quite expensive to treat particularly if they recurring.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet always advise any new pet owner to take a moment and see what it might cost to purchase a pet insurance policy on their new loved one. This way if they ever do become sick or injured in the future, you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of the cost of treatment.
For more information on who we “feel” currently offers some of the “best” pet insurance policies on the market right now, be sure to check out our Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
