Fox Terrier

Although related, once crossed rather A freely and bearing a common name, Smooth and Wire-Haired Fox Terriers are from different strains and were developed during different periods of canine history. The American Fox Terrier Club quotes an authority who says the Wire was the old rough-coated black and tan working Terrier of Wales, Derbyshire and Durham and that the more important ancestors of the Smooth were the smooth-coated Black and Tan, Bull Terrier, Greyhound and Beagle.

The Wire-Haired variety is believed the older of the two, but the Smooth preceded the other in show competition by a decade or two. The varieties resemble each other in every respect except the coat. The Smooth's coat is flat, hard and dense, the Wire's longer but not too long, the wirier and harder the better. They are small dogs, 151/2 inches at the withers for the ideal full-sized male of today, which may account in part for the vast popularity the breed enjoys under modern living conditions.

You can read about "Irish Terrier" here

The name derives from the quarry they pursued. They were earth dogs, being employed to drive the fox from the holes into which the hounds had chased them, and were developed by huntsmen of foxhound packs. The Smooths were originally classified with the sporting dogs because of their nose, stamina and eyesight in hunting. There was considerable crossing of the varieties in the early days in order to bring out in the Wire the white color, the more cleanly. cut head and outline of the Smooth. The practice of crossing has almost disappeared.

The American Fox Terrier Club was founded in 1885 and adopted the 1876 English standard

with some variations in size and weight. 

Characteristic of Fox Terrier

One-man dog which makes an excellent watchdog; courageous and intelligent; not good with children or with other pets.

Color: White should predominate, brindle, red or liver markings are objectionable.

Height: Up to 15 1/2 in

Weight: 18 lb

Coat type: Smooth - smooth, flat and hard; needs daily brushing and very occasional trimming away of straggly hair, chalk white areas; Wirehair - hard and wiry; hand-stripping is necessary at quarterly intervals and for showing; watch the skin for eczema; brush carefully each day; chalk white areas.

Exercise: Needs a lot of controlled exercise and free running in an enclosed area. 

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