The Wire Fox Terrier originated in 19th century England as a breed developed for fox hunting. It was later exported to different parts of the world.
It was bred to better fulfill the task of hunting foxes and was later classified as two separate varieties. Initially, these two varieties were classified as the same breed. It wasn't until 1984 that they were distinguished and listed as two separate independent breeds.
The Wire Fox Terrier is highly intelligent and curious about new things, so they are willing to learn anything interesting and are easy to train. They are energetic, agile, loyal, mischievous, and have a high level of vigilance. They don't like being restrained and have a strong fighting spirit.
Apart from having dense and rough fur, the Wire Fox Terrier has few differences in other characteristics and appearance compared to the smooth-haired variety. Although the smooth-haired variety participated in dog shows 20 years earlier, the popularity of the Wire Fox Terrier surpassed that of the smooth-haired variety thereafter.
The Wire Fox Terrier originated in England and can be traced back to the 19th century. Its ancestors include the rough-haired black and white terrier and many other terrier bloodlines.
Initially, the Wire Fox Terrier was not as popular as the smooth-haired variety, but it later gained momentum and surpassed the smooth-haired breed in development, becoming beloved by people. It reached its peak in 1920.
This dog has served as a military dog and has had a glorious history. Wire Fox Terrier "Delamarche" fought alongside the British Guards during World War I and received a service medal.
In 1928, a Wire Fox Terrier named "Ejegroo" accompanied Admiral Byrd on an expedition to the Antarctic with full equipment.
In the 1870s, the Wire Fox Terrier participated in its first dog show.
Wire Fox Terriers are inherently intelligent and easy to train. They have a lively and cheerful temperament, abundant energy, strong alertness, and can become excellent family dogs if properly trained.
However, they don't like to be restrained or confined, preferring a free and casual lifestyle. They are also enthusiastic about fighting, so they are not suitable for elderly people or busy working professionals to raise.
1. Dog Infectious Diseases
Dogs are susceptible to infectious diseases, commonly including canine distemper and canine coronavirus. Typical clinical symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing, bloody stool, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, and cracked paws.
Usually, these types of infectious and fatal diseases occur during the weaning period or around 1 year old. Puppies are more prone to infection, with a low recovery rate and a high likelihood of leaving sequelae.
How to prevent:
When bringing a dog home, it is recommended that the owner choose a dog through regular channels, give the dog vaccines on time, and regularly disinfect the home. Do not take the dog out for a walk until it has completed vaccination. Avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and do not allow others to touch the dog's mouth and nose.
2. Canine Skin Diseases
Because dogs often go for walks outside, they may inadvertently contract various skin diseases. If a dog is infected with mites, bacteria, or fungi outside, there is a risk of long-term difficult-to-cure conditions, so owners must pay attention. Clinical manifestations of canine skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, erythema, itching, papules, ulcers, pus discharge, hair loss, and scabs.
How to prevent:
In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy, avoid dark and humid conditions, and regularly disinfect the dog's living environment. Perform internal and external parasite control, use dog-specific bathing liquid, regularly groom the dog's fur, and supplement with vitamins and fish oil.
3. Dog Parasites
Common parasites in dogs include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc., which can cause skin diseases and intestinal diseases in dogs. They may cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, affecting the quality of life and physical development. Generally, dogs with parasites are often thin, weak, and listless.
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How to prevent:
When feeding, owners should pay attention and try not to give dogs unsterilized raw meat or unknown meat sources. Internal parasite control should be conducted once every 3 months, and external parasite control should be conducted once every month. When going out, prevent dogs from eating or licking indiscriminately and going into the grass. After returning home, be sure to check carefully.
Nowadays, it is more popular to feed dogs with high-nutrition dog food. The feeding amount should not be too much each time, and the food should be easily digestible. It is best to feed them at fixed times and in fixed quantities, which helps the dogs develop good habits.
The Wire Fox Terrier is prone to eczema, so the owner needs to pay attention to keeping the dog's fur clean and hygienic. Brushing the fur daily and giving it a bath regularly is recommended. The fur on the ears, both inside and outside, as well as on the mouth, nose, and chin, can get quite dirty and need to be washed with detergent in order to keep them soft and shiny. If the owner can maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of these body parts, it can help reduce the probability of this disease occurring.
As a family dog, the owner must train it rigorously to suppress its hunting instincts.
1. Unable to bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, of course, it should not be done too frequently. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather in summer, you can bathe the dog one or two more times, while in winter, you can reduce it by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed five times. Otherwise, it may damage its fur and skin!
2. Regular grooming
Dogs shed their fur almost every day, especially during spring and autumn seasons when the seasonal shedding is more severe. To ensure good coat growth, regular grooming is important. Pet owners can use pet-specific combs to help the dog clean the natural shedding fur and prevent tangling. Grooming once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathing
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making the fur shiny, allowing the dog to sunbathe can also help with disinfection. While sunbathing, the owner can also let the dog exercise, which helps improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving them of nutrients. Therefore, deworming work is necessary. It is recommended to do both internal and external deworming at the same time. Deworming medicine can cause significant damage to the dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order for a dog to have a beautiful coat, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food that is suitable and abundant in nutrition to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, it is also beneficial to feed the dog with lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil in moderation.