Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison

Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed ComparisonWire Haired Fox Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but Irish Terrier is originated from Ireland. Wire Haired Fox Terrier may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than Irish Terrier. Both Wire Haired Fox Terrier and Irish Terrier are having almost same weight. Both Wire Haired Fox Terrier and Irish Terrier has almost same life span. Both Wire Haired Fox Terrier and Irish Terrier has same litter size. Both Wire Haired Fox Terrier and Irish Terrier requires Moderate maintenance.

History

wire haired fox terrier - historyThe Wire Haired Fox Terrier originates in England, and it is thought that the dog developed from the white English Terrier being crossed with the Bull Terrier and maybe even the Beagle.

The hunting crowd wanted a dog that was small enough to disappear down a hole to flush out a fox.

Even though the Wire Haired Fox Terrier used to be a pet of Queen Victoria as well as King Edward VII, it only became popular as a family pet in the 1930s.

irish terrier - historyThe Irish Terrier is a dog breed from Ireland and one of the many different terrier breeds there are.

Nobody is too sure of the Irish Terrier's history but it is one of the oldest terrier breeds. It appears as if the dog breed was developed from a wheat colored terrier and the extinct black and tan terrier.

It was always a common practice to crop the ears of terriers, but in 1889 the Irish Terrier Club required that the ears remain uncropped. The first Irish Terrier was shown in 1881, and the first Irish Terrier registered with the American Kennel Club was in 1885. The Irish Terrier Club of America was founded in 1896.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Terrier dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
Ireland
Height Male:
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
Height Female:
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
11 - 12 kg
24 - 27 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
11 - 12 kg
24 - 27 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
4 - 6
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Wire Fox Terrier
Irish Red Terrier
Colors Available:
White, tan and black
sandy, golden, Red, wheaten
Coat:
Medium length, wiry
Shortish, wiry, dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

wire haired fox terrier puppy - descriptionThe Wirehaired Fox Terrier is a medium-sized dog, standing at between 33 and 38cm in height and weighing between 6 and 9 kg.

The face is fairly long and he has semi-erect, semi-floppy ears and the high set tail is usually docked. The double coat is wiry, curly and coarse and is essentially white with tan or black markings. White is always the predominant color of the Wire Haired Fox Terrier.

Temperament:

This little dog is cheerful, cheeky, playful, feisty, lovable and full of the joys of life. He is also strong-willed and independent.

He makes a great playmate for kids and loves being in the company of his human family. He will get on well with other pets in the family too.

He is intelligent which means you can have him easily trained and socialized and the kids will love to teach him some tricks too. He is a high energy dog and will require a good dose of exercise.

He’ll become stressed and frustrated if he doesn't get the exercise he needs.

irish terrier puppy - descriptionThe Irish Terrier is a medium sized dog who stands between 45cm and 50cm and weighs in the region of 11 to 12kg. He has a short, dense, wiry double coat which is a red, golden, sandy, wheaten color.

The ears of the dog are semi-erect/semi-floppy and the tail is held high and curved.The chest is deep and muscular and the front and back legs are strong, long and muscular.

Temperament:

The Irish Terrier is a companion dog today, even though he was once a guard- and hunting dog. He is an amicable dog while also being alert and active. He is also independent and strong-willed so he will require training and socialization as then he becomes obedient and relaxed and much easier to live with.

They're social dogs too, loving all the members of their human family, getting on well with children in the home.

Characteristics

wire haired fox terrier dog - characteristicsOne thing is for sure – when you bring a Wire Haired Fox Terrier into your home, you’re going to have a dog with endless energy. It is why they make such good pets when you’ve got kids in the house.

They like to please their owners and they respond well to training and socialization. They’re also brave and protective, making good watchdogs.

They’re loving, loyal and companionable, and there are plenty of stories about the loyalty of these dogs. Anyone who has had one of them as a pet will tell you what splendid dogs they are.

irish terrier dog - characteristicsIrish Terriers are good with people and want to be an active member of their human families.

They are active dogs and will require ongoing mental and physical stimulation. This is a lively dog, but he still loves to spend quiet time indoors with his family.

They’re intelligent dogs with a strong sense of loyalty towards their owner, making excellent family pets.

Health Problems

wire haired fox terrier puppies - health problemsThese robust little dogs can succumb to any one of the many common dog illnesses there are -

Epilepsy:

The Wirehaired Foxy is a healthy dog, but it is thought that Epilepsy could be a problem with this breed. Your spunky dog may seem a little bit confused before he falls to the floor lying on his side and twitching like he’s having a bad dream.

This is brought on by uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the dog’s brain. The seizure can last for a minute or so but even so, whether it is a twitch or violent shuddering, it can leave you shocked and disturbed.

He can sometimes even urinate during the seizure. It is imperative to get your pet to the vet who will know precisely how it can be controlled.

Dental Problems:

Dental disease is also a common problem with dogs and unfortunately, your Wire Haired Fox Terrier also battles with this. The problem starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and then it can cause infection of the gums and roots of the teeth.

Left unattended to, your pet could lose his teeth, and it jeopardizes your pet’s health as well.

irish terrier puppies - health problemsThe Irish Terrier is a healthy dog breed and you won't find yourself running to the vet often with him, but still he can land up with one of the common dog problems.

It is always wise to be aware of hip dysplasia as this is a disease which can occur in all dog breeds and all dog ages. Also look out for eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts as these can lead to blindness in your pet.

There is a disease known as cystinuria which is quite a concern with Irish Terriers. It’s an inherited kidney disease where increased amounts of arginine, lysine, amino acids cystine and ornithine are excreted in the urine.

In well-functioning kidneys, blood is filtered so as to create urine. Cystine is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream but with dogs affected with cystinuria they cannot reabsorb cystine back in their bloodstream, causing an accumulation in the urine. Dogs with cystinuria suffer inflammation of the urinary tract and can also develop urinary blockage and kidney failure. Immediate veterinary intervention is required.

Caring The Pet

wire haired fox terrier dogs - caringGroom your pet. Brush twice weekly. Wire Haired Fox Terrier owners like to hand their pets in at professional groomers to have their hair cut short and made more manageable. The hair is kept quite long around the muzzle.

Check inside the ears that there are no signs of infection.

Trim the nails.

Exercise your pet every day.

Provide your pet with the best food there is. Always buy high quality food that can contribute to your pet’s health and which is suitable for his size, age and activity levels. The Wire Haired Fox Terrier is inclined to be a greedy dog and with a dog like this weight gain can slowly increase and can become a health problem.

Spay or Neuter. This is an excellent idea for your pet if you don’t want puppies. Not only that, spaying or neutering actually decreases the likelihood of your pet getting some types of cancer.

Provide your pet with his own dry, warm, quiet sleep area.

Grooming:

irish terrier dogs - caringThe coat of the Irish Terrier requires a brush twice a week to keep it bright. If you intend showing your dog, the coat will need to be stripped a couple of times a year to maintain the texture and color.

Other Irish Terrier owners take their dog to the groomers to have the coat clipped. The dog doesn't shed a lot and they are referred to as being somewhat hypoallergenic.

As with any other dog breed, other grooming needs with your Irish Terrier will include clipping the nails, checking his teeth for plaque build-up and checking inside the ears for infection.

If you're unsure how to perform these grooming procedures with your pet, simply ask your vet who will explain to you precisely how to ensure your dog remains in tip top condition.

Exercise:

He's a fairly active dog so you want to make sure that you are attending to his exercise needs. Take him for a walk every day, and if you've got a good sized garden, throw a ball for him. If you're a jogger you can count him in.

Diet:

What you feed your Irish Terrier will depend a lot on his age and his activity levels. Every dog is a unique individual and nothing is set in stone regarding their diets. Just like people though, feeding him a lot of junk food will contribute to illness and shorten his lifespan.

He needs quality food. If you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure to read up on how much to feed him. Try and mix in some cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat.

Learn to know what foods are toxic for him. Make sure he has a bowl of fresh, cool water constantly available to him.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  4. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  5. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  8. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Fox Terrier (Smooth) - Breed Comparison
  10. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  12. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Lakeland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Jagdterrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Indian Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Irish Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Japanese Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Brazilian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Old English Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Scoland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Skye Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Schnauzer vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Irish Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Irish Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Irish Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Irish Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Irish Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Irish Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Irish Terrier vs Fox Terrier (Smooth) - Breed Comparison
  34. Irish Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  35. Irish Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Irish Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Irish Terrier vs Indian Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Irish Terrier vs Irish Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Irish Terrier vs Brazilian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Irish Terrier vs Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Lakeland Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Jagdterrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Japanese Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Old English Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Scoland Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Skye Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Welsh Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds