And, being Terriers, they have no trouble picking a fight with other dogs - even ones that is twice their size. These dogs have strong hunting instincts and will chase anything that moves - they have no road sense and will run in front of a car while chasing a bird or cat. If they do not get the physical and mental exercise they need they can develop destructive behaviors such as excessive barking, chewing and digging.

A good way to stimulate them mentally (as well as physically) is to participate in dog sporting events like agility, obedience, flyball and earthdog trails. They also love toys and will play fetch until they drop, many adore playing in water and can swim quite well. They enjoy going for walks and make great jogging or running partners. They have high energetic levels and need about 30 to 45 minutes of vigorous exercise each day, as well as plenty of off-leash play in the yard. Fox Terriers are escape artists, they can jump higher than you might think and will dig holes or otherwise try to escape from their yards.īecause of their smarts and stamina, they need plenty of mental and physical stimulation. Make sure that the yard is securely fenced and periodically check your fence to make sure they haven't been digging an escape route. Is this the correct pup for you, which is the best home and why?ĭespite being small dogs they are not suited to apartment life, they need at least a medium size yard where they can run off all their energy during the day. However they are prone to mischief and being charming but sly they can outwit you, yet leave you laughing at his antics. Called Foxys for short, both are outgoing, active, inquisitive, with a devil-may-care attitude.These are alert, lively little dogs that live in the moment and enjoying whatever's going on. Smooth Fox Terriers are sleek, elegant, and intelligent, while Wire Fox Terriers are handsome, happy, and quite stylish when groomed properly. It has similar features to the Smooth Fox Terrier with small dark eyes and v-shaped ears. It should be so dense that the skin cannot be seen or felt and the individual hairs should twist, but are not curly.

They have a hard and crisp double coat with a coarse texture underneath that provides protection from the cold. Early breeders then crossed them with Smooth Fox Terriers to give them more white pigmentation, a cleaner-cut head, and a more classical outline. Wire Fox Terriers are thought to have descended from rough-coated black and tan terriers from Wales, Derbyshire, and Durham. The Smooth Fox Terrier has a short, hard coat with a long, wedge shaped head, small dark eyes and v-shaped ears. Both are white with coloured markings the markings on either type can appear black at birth, but may lighten in adult life - the most common colours being tan and black.ĭespite their similarities in size, shape and temperament, they likely had different ancestry.īreeders didn't keep many records about the development of this breed, but it is likely that the original Smooth Fox Terriers were a blend of black and tan terriers with smooth coats, Bull Terriers, Greyhounds, and Beagles. They were also originally commonly interbred, but this no longer occurs in pure-bred lines.īoth breeds are essentially the same except for differences in coats type and, to some extent, head shape. Wires were favored for hunting in rough country, their coats making them less vulnerable to injury than their smooth-coated counterparts.įor many years, Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier were considered one breed of two varieties, but this changed in 1985 when they were officially listed as two separate breeds. White Smooth Fox Terriers were highly prized because they were less likely to be mistaken for the fox. Historically, they were used to 'bolt' foxes when they ran into their hiding places and drive them toward the foxhounds and hunters. Fox Terrier refers primarily to two different breeds of the terrier dog type - the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier, both of these breeds originated in England during the 19th century.

Fox terrier rescues