MyDogBreeds
Wire Haired Fox Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but Australian Shepherd is originated from United States. Wire Haired Fox Terrier may grow 20 cm / 7 inches shorter than Australian Shepherd. Wire Haired Fox Terrier may weigh 23 kg / 50 pounds lesser than Australian Shepherd. Both Wire Haired Fox Terrier and Australian Shepherd has almost same life span. Wire Haired Fox Terrier may have less litter size than Australian Shepherd. Both Wire Haired Fox Terrier and Australian Shepherd requires Moderate maintenance.
The Wire Haired Fox Terrier originates in England, and it is thought that the dog developed from the white English Terrier being crossed with the Bull Terrier and maybe even the Beagle.
The hunting crowd wanted a dog that was small enough to disappear down a hole to flush out a fox.
Even though the Wire Haired Fox Terrier used to be a pet of Queen Victoria as well as King Edward VII, it only became popular as a family pet in the 1930s.
The Australian Shepherd, known fondly as ‘Aussies’, is actually an American breed, with the first official registry being in the 1950s. Basque Shepherds from Spain settled in Australia at the end of the 19th century, later moving to the United Stated with their dogs in tow. It is from these dogs that the breed originated. In the UK too, this breed of dog has many enthusiastic followers.
For many years, the Australian Shepherd has been recognized for their wonderful abilities as stock- or herding dogs, and today in Australia they continue to work as stock dogs and often take part in herding trials.
More recently, this working dog breed has been selectively bred to develop both Toy- and Miniature Aussies, and the American Stock Dog Registry actually recognizes 3 sizes today.The Australian Shepherd Club of America was also founded in 1957 to promote the breed.
The Wirehaired Fox Terrier is a medium-sized dog, standing at between 33 and 38cm in height and weighing between 6 and 9 kg.
The face is fairly long and he has semi-erect, semi-floppy ears and the high set tail is usually docked. The double coat is wiry, curly and coarse and is essentially white with tan or black markings. White is always the predominant color of the Wire Haired Fox Terrier.
This little dog is cheerful, cheeky, playful, feisty, lovable and full of the joys of life. He is also strong-willed and independent.
He makes a great playmate for kids and loves being in the company of his human family. He will get on well with other pets in the family too.
He is intelligent which means you can have him easily trained and socialized and the kids will love to teach him some tricks too. He is a high energy dog and will require a good dose of exercise.
Similar in appearance to the Border Collie, the Australian Shepherd is a medium sized dog and has a medium length coat which is straight to wavy with a weather resistant undercoat. The range of coat colours is amazing, and you’ll find blue, blue merle, black and red merle and all of these are with or without tan points. The Australian Shepherd is a drop-eared breed where prick ears are sometimes seen. Some Aussies are born with naturally bobbed tails while most have full, long tails.
There is variety in the eye colour too, and they are often heterochromatic, which means that they can have two different coloured eyes or the one eye can even be bi-coloured. Most times the eyes are brown, but they can be blue too.
One thing is for sure – when you bring a Wire Haired Fox Terrier into your home, you’re going to have a dog with endless energy. It is why they make such good pets when you’ve got kids in the house.
They like to please their owners and they respond well to training and socialization. They’re also brave and protective, making good watchdogs.
They’re loving, loyal and companionable, and there are plenty of stories about the loyalty of these dogs. Anyone who has had one of them as a pet will tell you what splendid dogs they are.
The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent dog, learning quickly. As a herding dog, he also has strong guarding instincts and will make a good watch dog. The dog has a balanced, even disposition, and even though he may show some reserve, he is certainly not a shy dog and isn’t aggressive.
Your Aussie is a kind, loving, and devoted pet. He loves his human family and wants to spend lots of time with them. Don’t leave him without human companionship as he craves it and forms strong bonds with his family. Provide him with good care and with lots of fun and games and you’ve got an exceptional friend for life.
These robust little dogs can succumb to any one of the many common dog illnesses there are -
The Wirehaired Foxy is a healthy dog, but it is thought that Epilepsy could be a problem with this breed. Your spunky dog may seem a little bit confused before he falls to the floor lying on his side and twitching like he’s having a bad dream.
This is brought on by uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the dog’s brain. The seizure can last for a minute or so but even so, whether it is a twitch or violent shuddering, it can leave you shocked and disturbed.
He can sometimes even urinate during the seizure. It is imperative to get your pet to the vet who will know precisely how it can be controlled.
Dental disease is also a common problem with dogs and unfortunately, your Wire Haired Fox Terrier also battles with this. The problem starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and then it can cause infection of the gums and roots of the teeth.
Left unattended to, your pet could lose his teeth, and it jeopardizes your pet’s health as well.
Aussies are a healthy breed and won’t cost you a fortune at the vet. However, like every other breed, they are also prone to certain health conditions such as cancer. When choosing a puppy, always look for a good, reputable breeder who can show you health clearances.
This is a dog ailment that can be inherited. It is where the femur doesn't fit properly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint. Also, as the dog ages, arthritis can develop.
Epilepsy an hereditary disorder where the seizures your dog gets can be treated and controlled.
Osteochondrosis Dissecans, commonly known as OCD is an orthopedic condition which comes about because of improper growth of cartilage in the joints. It can cause painful stiffening of the elbow joint for instance.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy or PRA is a degenerative eye disorder that can finally lead to blindness. Reputable Aussie dog breeders have their dogs' eyes certified regularly by a veterinary ophthalmologist.
Your newborn Australian Shepherd may well be strong and healthy, but he isn’t immune from life-threatening illnesses. Vaccinations are imperative for your Aussie puppy, with vets usually recommending that puppies be vaccinated for the first time from 6 to 8 weeks of age.
These vaccinations will include the 5-in-one and includes Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Parainfluenza. Later on the puppy will get his first rabies shot and he will also require booster vaccinations.
Groom your pet. Brush twice weekly. Wire Haired Fox Terrier owners like to hand their pets in at professional groomers to have their hair cut short and made more manageable. The hair is kept quite long around the muzzle.
Provide your pet with the best food there is. Always buy high quality food that can contribute to your pet’s health and which is suitable for his size, age and activity levels. The Wire Haired Fox Terrier is inclined to be a greedy dog and with a dog like this weight gain can slowly increase and can become a health problem.
Spay or Neuter. This is an excellent idea for your pet if you don’t want puppies. Not only that, spaying or neutering actually decreases the likelihood of your pet getting some types of cancer.
With his medium length coat, the Australian Shepherd sheds. In fact this particular breed sheds his hair the entire year round, but you’ll notice that with the arrival of Spring, he sheds more as this is when he is losing his Winter coat. You will most certainly need to brush his coat at least 2x a week to get rid of all those tufts of hair and to also prevent matting.
A puppy will need 4 bowls of vet-recommended food a day. How much your adult Australian Shepherd gets will depend on his age, size and activity levels.The quality of food you buy will make a difference as it will keep your Aussie in good shape. Remember to include raw or cooked meat into his diet once a week or so. For more on feeding your Aussie, speak to your vet. Always ensure a constant source of fresh, cool water.
The Australian Shepherd is a strong willed dog, used to playing the dominant role with the herding of livestock. He’ll need firm training and socialization if you want to make him an amicable family pet.
Like many herding dogs, Australian Shepherds are loyal to their family and don’t easily take to strangers. Aussies make awesome companions for families with kids who have been taught how to treat dogs and other pets with kindness and gentleness. Just like a dog needs socialization, a child needs to respect a sleeping, feeding dog and to leave him in peace.