Frequently Asked Questions
Cartoon by world renown artist, Charles Schulz and United Feature Syndication, Inc
What kind of personality or
temperament does the Wire Fox Terrier Have?
What were they
originally bred to do and how does that affect their behavior today?
Terriers have a
reputation for being stubborn. Are Wires difficult to train?
How does the Wire get
along with other dogs, cats and small pets?
Will an older puppy
or adult dog be able to bond to his new owner?
Are Wires "hyper" or aggressive?
1. What kind of personality or temperament does the
Wire Fox Terrier have?
This spirited little terrier is known for his
alert, “ready-for anything” outlook on life. The standard describes him as being
“on the tip toe of expectation,” but he is not “hyper” or high-strung.
The Wire is devoted to his owner and will pop up
to follow his “person” from one room to another, just to be sure he isn’t
missing out on anything! His tail is always wagging and he joyfully greets his
owner, even if he has seen him only a few minutes earlier. At the end of the
day, however, the Wire is content to curl up on a lap and be petted.. He is a
loyal and loving companion.
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2. What were they
originally bred to do and how does it affect their behavior today?
Originally the Wire was bred in
England to hunt rodents, rabbits and fox. He did not run with the hounds but
would be tucked in the “Terrier Man’s” saddlebag on fox hunts.. When the fox
went to “earth”, the courageous little dog would be dropped to the ground to
follow the fox down the hole. His job was not to attack the fox, but to corner
him and bark until the huntsman came to dig the fox out. Always tenacious, he
was an excellent hunter. Today’s Wire still likes to dig and will do his best to
keep your yard free of mice, rabbits and more. However, he does best in a fenced
yard or on a lead as he is eager to run off to follow any adventure. Everything
interests him, from a leaf blowing in the wind to a child playing ball. .He
loves a good run but can adapt well to city life and long walks on a lead.
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3. What health issues do these dogs have?
Well-bred Wire Fox Terriers are
generally strong, healthy dogs. The Fox Terrier Club of the UK states, “As a
breed the Wire is a hardy dog that doesn’t suffer from many health problems and
any problems they do have tend to be as individuals and non-breed specific. The
breed’s hardy constitution and known longevity has never led to the need for
breed testing for clinical or hereditary defects. The breed is suitable for
hot, sunny climates but thrives in cool climates.” (http://www.thefoxterrierclub.co.uk/Wire%20Info.htm
) While most references list the Wire Fox Terrier life span as 12-14 years, it
is not unusual for them to live longer
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4. Are Wires good with children?
A Wire who has been raised and
socialized properly as a puppy
is generally
very good with well behaved children, although he may be too active for
some. While he probably wouldn't mean to hurt a child, he is a "bouncy"
dog and could accidentally scratch a toddler or small child. Wires love to
play and will retrieve a ball or toy that is thrown time and time again!.
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5. Terriers have a reputation for being stubborn. Are
Wires difficult to train?
Over all, Wires are happy little
dogs that just want to have fun and they are so cute and amusing that their
owners are often willing to overlook their naughty behavior. However, they
are also smart enough to know just what you will and will not allow. The key to
having a trainable Wire is to win each small battle when they are puppies. If
you are trying to hold them or do nails and they resist, do not give up. An
experienced breeder will have already started teaching the puppy that his human
is in charge before he goes to his new home. The mother dog also teaches the
puppy basic manners including bite inhibition, and to learn his place in the
litter and with older dogs. For this reason, puppies should stay with their
mother and littermates at least until they are seven weeks long. Many reputable
Wire breeders keep their puppies until they are 10 or 12 weeks old and at that
time, the pups are learning their place in the "human pack."
There are many successful Wires that compete in performance events like
obedience, agility and earth dog trials. They earn their Canine Good Citizen
certificates and do well as therapy dogs, due in part to their small size and
eagerness to meet new people.
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6. How does the Wire get along with other dogs, cats
and small pets?
Well, I wouldn't count on him getting
along with a guinea pig, ferret or rabbit! His hunting instinct would make short
work of them! I have Wires that can even catch a bird on the fly.
If a Wire is introduced to cats while still a small puppy, he has a fairly good
chance of getting along. We have one puppy that loves to play with her owner's
barn cats. We have another that tolerates cats but gets along mainly because the
cats stay out of his way. Wires have a strong chase instinct and love to chase
almost anything....cats included!
Wire Fox Terriers
don’t seem to know that they are small dogs. They will not back down from a
challenge from even a much larger dog. If they are not afraid to put their head
down a hole where a snapping, snarling fox is waiting, they will not be fazed by
another dog. In fact, they may even enjoy a little confrontation! Wires can and
do often live companionably with another dog but may not get along when there
are three. They almost always get along best with a dog of the opposite sex.
When in pairs, the female will usually be the one in charge. The experienced
owner of a Wire Fox Terrier knows that many times we need to turn away and let
the dogs work out their differences. In most cases, there's a lot of noise and
no damage
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7. Will an older puppy or adult dog be able to bond to
his new owner?
Absolutely. Whenever I place a
retired champion or a dog that has lived with me for a long time, it is very
difficult for me. The dogs, however, usually go trotting off with tails wagging
and make a quick adjustment. They are always are glad to see me when they come
to visit, but never look back when it's time for them to leave again.
This is due to their love of people and their happy, stable temperament.
These dogs make wonderful family dogs as they are usually house broken, have
lovely manners, travel well and are easy to groom. I think they also love being
the "only" dog and the focus of their new owners attention.
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8. Are Wires "hyper" or
aggressive?
While Wires are high-energy dogs, they are not "hyper." They do like
activity and can always find a way to amuse themselves. If you won't throw a
toy, a Wire will often toss it himself and then chase after it. He loves to run
and explore in his fenced yard but will be equally happy curled up on a chair
looking out the window. It is a rare Wire that doesn't like being held on a lap
and petted at the end of the day. If you will allow him in your bed, he will
snuggle under the covers and lie close to you at night. He is mischievous though
and will try to get by with whatever tricks he can. You really need to have a
good sense of humor to like living with a Wire.
It is always a surprise to me when
I hear of Wires being described as aggressive. Most are very affectionate and
eager to meet and play with almost anyone they meet. Wires who are properly
socialized and raised to know their place in relation to their human "pack" would
seldom be considered aggressive toward people. .Early training and a firm owner
go a long way toward avoiding problems.
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