Plate 206 · British Isles
Wire Fox Terrier
刚毛猎狐㹴
“The terrier of Asta and Snowy.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- England
- Country of origin
- An English breed; the sources name no single place, so the marker is the United Kingdom's reference point.
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- From the 18th century
- Today
- Companion · Show dog
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
England
A wire-coated, mostly white fox terrier and one of the most successful show dogs of all time.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Bolting foxes for mounted hunts.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Thought to descend from a rough-coated black-and-tan working terrier of Wales, Derbyshire and Durham. Smooth and Wire were long treated as one breed. It became a popular pet in the 1930s thanks to Asta of 'The Thin Man' films; Tintin's Snowy is also a Wire.
04 · Today
Companion · Show dog
A companion and show dog.
Personality
- Alert
- Confident
- Gregarious
- Lively
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Boundless energy: long walks, ball games, a securely fenced area.
- Grooming
- Hand-stripping for show; clipping for pets.
- Training
- Smart, independent and easily bored: fun, varied sessions.
Living with one
- Size
- Small
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Rough, wiry coat, predominantly white
Field note
Wires have won more Westminster Best in Show titles than any other breed.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Terrier Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (as Fox Terrier (Wire), Group 3, standard 169), The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Terrier Group, recognized 1885.
It holds the Westminster record for a breed, with 15 Best in Show wins, the latest in 2019. AKC registrations: ranked 107 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Wire Fox Terrier — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/wire-fox-terrier/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Wire Fox Terrier — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_Fox_Terrier
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Believed descent from a rough-coated black-and-tan terrier, Asta and Snowy, popularity in the 1930s, Westminster record and Matford Vic.
- Fox Terrier (Wire) — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/FOX-TERRIER-WIRE-169.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Great Britain; Group 3, section "Large and medium sized Terriers"; accepted 1955.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: An English breed; the sources name no single place, so the marker is the United Kingdom's reference point.
