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Before you buy, what you should know:Wire Fox Terriers are a very vocal breed. They do not bark just to bark, but they are very quick to bark at unknown noises. If they think they hear a noise in the middle of the night, they will certainly let you know! Not only do they bark, but they have a full range of other noises. You are likely to hear yawns, groans, moans, yelps, and growls. Over time, you will learn what each of these sounds mean. A problem many inexperienced owners have with their terriers is growling. Not only do terriers growl when they are upset, but they also can growl when they are happy. Growling is part of the way they talk to their owners. While it is true that a terrier will growl when you pick him up or disturb his rest, it is not necessarily true that he is being aggressive when he does it. He is simply voicing his opinion. The times you need to worry about a growl is when it is followed by a snarl or a bite. This means he is being serious. Many trainers who do not know terriers will insist on punishing the dog for every growl. If he is not growling out of aggression, the punishment is unfair and will cause him to fear you. Terriers are definitely unlike any other breed. Terriers were bred for one purpose; to be hunters. They were bred to have a body small enough to fit in a fox’s burrow, legs sturdy enough to dig into the earth, and a jaw strong enough to dispatch their prey. They are born killers. Terriers are not always selective as to what they consider prey. Small animals, birds, small dogs, cats can all fall victim to a terrier. No amount of training will ever make a terrier trustworthy around small animals. Because of the terrier’s feisty nature, they can be dog aggressive. They are best kept in opposite sex pairs or as an only child. Terriers must be well socialized at an early age in order to keep them from becoming dog aggressive. Terriers are athletes. They can run as fast as a speeding bullet and they can scale buildings in a single bound… well, not quite, but they are able to easily jump on top of counters and tables. You will learn soon enough to not leave food on the kitchen table. While training is an option, many terriers will follow their training while you are in the room, and then suddenly forget when you leave. It is always better to keep the temptation away.
Wires are probably the most jealous
breed. They can’t stand their owners being affectionate to any other
animal. It can be difficult incorporating a wire into a household with
other pets. It is very important to respect the social order that your dogs
establish. If you try to promote the underdog, it could start a serious
fight! Sometimes the wire’s jealousy isn’t contained to other dogs. Some
wires bond themselves so strongly to one individual they have trouble
excepting the other people in his person’s life.
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