The Wire is thought to have come about from crosses of the Old English Terrier, smooth coated Black and Tan Terriers of England, Bull Terriers, Greyhounds and Beagles.
They were used by hunters with the foxhounds to locate foxes when they went to ground by barking and so pinpointing the position of the fox for the huntsman.
They can be traced back to the middle of the 19th century when both smooth and broken coated were from the same origins and classed as one breed. Later, devotees of both coats bred like to like and developed the Wire and Smooth Fox Terrier as we know it today.
The breed Standard for this dog was drawn up in 1876 by Officers of The Fox Terrier Club and there are few differences with today’s Standard. Now the weight for dogs is more clearly stated and docking, though customary, is optional.
Fore and hind legs move straight forward and parallel. Elbows move perpendicular to body, working free of sides. Stifles turning neither in nor out. Good drive coming from well flexing hindquarters.