Wire Fox Terrier puppies

About the Wire Fox Terrier

The Wire Fox Terrier was bred in Britain to run with foxhounds and bolt the fox from its earth, which is why they have a short back, a narrow front and enough leg to keep up with horses. The coat is dense and wiry, mostly white with black and tan markings, and it sits over a soft undercoat. The character is exactly what the work demanded: alert, bold, endlessly interested in movement, sociable with people, and quick to take offence at another dog.

This is an active terrier that wants long walks, ball games and a securely fenced garden, and they will forget every recall cue the moment something small moves. Pet coats can be clipped into a trim close to the show pattern, but hand stripping is what preserves the harsh texture, and either way regular brushing prevents matting. They dig and they bark. They rate well with children who are old enough to be sensible, with supervision. Stay light handed with that terrier stubbornness, because heavy handling only hardens it.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Wire Fox Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Primary lens luxation, in which the lens slips out of place and can cause glaucoma and uveitis, picked up by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, often found on a routine patella evaluation
• Legg Calve Perthes disease, a degeneration of the hip joint head in young dogs, distinguished from other causes of hind limb pain by x-ray
• Cardiac disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
• Dental disease, since tartar and gingivitis build up quickly in small breeds

Your Wire Fox Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Wire Fox Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 6.8 to 8.2 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 8.2 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Wire Fox Terrier

Previous: Whoodle · Next: Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Wire Fox Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/wire-fox-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: ATLAS IMPACT, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.