Fox Terrier

Bright-eyed, quick-footed and almost impossible to bore. Meet the Smooth and Wire Fox Terrier—two close cousins with different coats and the same unmistakable terrier spark.

Two coats. One bold spirit.

Smooth

Sleek, athletic, direct.

A short dense coat shows off the breed’s clean outline. Grooming is simple; the personality is anything but low-energy.

Wire

Craggy, clever, charismatic.

A dense wiry coat and signature beard create the classic foxie expression. Traditional coat care is more involved.

EnergyHigh
MindFast & independent
BuildCompact & athletic
Best withActive homes

Foxie gallery

Living with one

Fox Terriers thrive on activity, training and novelty. Daily walks help, but sniffing games, trick training, puzzle toys and structured play matter too. Their working heritage can show up as a strong prey drive, so secure fencing and thoughtful management are important.

A bit of history

Developed in Britain for traditional fox hunts, Fox Terriers were built to be compact, brave and quick. They became established in the show world in the late nineteenth century; the American Kennel Club first recognized the Fox Terrier in 1885. Smooth and Wire were historically varieties of one breed before being recognized separately.

Educational breed overview. Individual dogs vary. Image licenses remain with their respective sources.