Wire Fox Terrier

The Wire Fox Terrier has descended from the old English black and tan, rough-coated terrier from Durham and Wales. Although for many years the Wire and Smooth Fox Terriers were bred and shown together as one breed with two coat varieties, they were recognized as separate breeds in 1985.

The Wire Fox Terrier is first and foremost a hunting terrier and should be fit and fast.

Its head is long and wedge-shaped, with small dark eyes and V-shaped ears. The body is shorter than it is tall. Its tail is docked. The coat is double, with a soft undercoat and a hard, wiry, broken outer coat. The color should be predominantly white with patches of color. This coat does require dedicated grooming, including regular brushing, combing, and trimming. The undercoat does shed. Show dogs are hand-stripped, although most pets are groomed with clippers.

This is a very active breed that requires daily exercise. Walks are not enough; these dogs need to run, play, train, or hunt for small animals and insects in the bush. All exercise should be in a fenced-in yard because if a small animal is seen, the Wire Fox Terrier will be after it immediately. Training is very important, as Wire Fox Terriers are very bright. Training that is fun yet firm and structured can help keep the dog’s mind challenged, and the dog will then be less prone to getting into trouble. When well motivated, these dogs enjoy many canine sports.

Tintin’s dog Milou (Snowy) from Adventures of Tintin is a Wire Fox Terrier.

Snowy (Milou), an exceptionally white wire fox terrier, is Tintin’s four-legged companion who travels everywhere with him. The bond between the dog and Tintin is deeper than life, and they have saved each other from perilous situations many times. With a few exceptions, Snowy never speaks (although he is regularly seen thinking in human words), since he is “only a dog”. However, he always manages to communicate well with Tintin despite this. Snowy often adds to the story in many interesting ways. For instance, Snowy is the only character in Flight 714 to remember that he was abducted by aliens. Snowy has rescued Tintin (often by gnawing through restraints or seeking help), or gotten him out of a tight spot by biting or distracting a villain, many times throughout the series.

Wire Fox Terriers do best in a home where the owner understands the terrier mindset. An active owner can best keep this breed busy and out of trouble. Wire Fox Terriers do well with older children but may be too rowdy for very small kids. They should not be trusted with smaller pets. Health concerns include hip and knee problems, allergies, and Cushing’s disease.

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