The Wire Fox Terrier has a strong, athletic body and a short, wiry coat with a soft undercoat. Although he is very much the same as the Smooth Fox Terrier in behavior, the Wire Fox Terrier does show some interesting differences. Similar to the Smooth, he is feisty, lively, and very independent, but tends to be a slightly slower learner than the Smooth, perhaps because of his more distractible nature. He is intelligent, cheerful, and gets along well with children. He is a great ratter and makes a wonderful pet. He has a very high prey drive and is more dog-aggressive than the Smooth. This dog is perhaps the most combative terrier aside from the Bedlington. He is wary of strangers, makes a good watchdog, and tends to defend himself if provoked. He likes to bark and dig, sometimes incessantly and should not be left in the yard for a long period of time. Training should begin early and be consistent. Though he is an intelligent dog, some commands such as the down and come may be difficult to teach to this willful and stubborn breed.

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