Fox Terrier (Wire)
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The Wire Fox Terrier is a breed of dog, one of many terrier breeds. It is an instantly recognizable fox terrier breed. Although it bears a resemblance to the Smooth Fox Terrier, they are believed to have been developed separately.
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[edit] Appearance
This is a sturdy, balanced dog weighing up to 21 pounds. Its rough, broken coat is distinctive. The coat colour is usually predominantly white; brindle or liver markings are a disqualification. It is not unusual for coats to be roan in colour however.
[edit] History
The Wire-Haired Fox Terrier was developed in England by fox hunting enthusiasts and is believed descended from a now-extinct rough-coated, black-and-tan working terrier of Wales, Derbyshire, and Durham.
Although it is said Queen Victoria owned one, the Wire-Haired Fox Terrier was not popular as a family pet until the 1930s, when The Thin Man series of feature films was created. Asta, the canine member of the Charles family, was a Wire-Haired Fox Terrier, and the popularity of the breed soared. Milou (Snowy) from The Adventures of Tintin comic strip is also a wire-haired Fox Terrier.
In the late 20th century, the popularity of the breed declined again, most likely due to changing living conditions in the Western world and the difficulty of keeping hunting terriers in cities due to their strong instincts. Among the less desirable traits of all fox terriers are their energy, digging, stalking and chasing of other animals, and yelping bark.
This notwithstanding, the Wire Fox Terrier has the distinction of having received more Best in Show titles at major conformation shows than any other breed.[citation needed] Wire-Haired Fox Terriers kept as pets show the loyalty, intelligence, and breeding befitting such a storied breed.
[edit] Famous Wire-haired Fox Terriers
- Asta, from The Thin Man
- Milou (Snowy), companion of Tintin
- Bunny, from Hudson Hawk
- Polly, a white rough terrier companion to Charles Darwin
- Willy, from Ask the Dust
- Mr.Smith, from "The Awful Truth"
- George, from "Bringing Up Baby"
- Skippy, from "Topper Takes A Trip"
[edit] See also
- Fox Terrier, for additional details on history, genetics, coat color, and so on.
