Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Jug - Breed Comparison

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 Jug is a crossbreed – a mix of a pug and a Jack Russell Terrier and they were bred in England with the idea to keep the basic features of a pug but just with a longer nose.

Details on the origin of the dog are not altogether clear but the dog was developed so that it would reduce the breathing problems that pugs and other flat-faced breeds are known for.

This isn’t an old breed and development started around the 1960s. It is one of the most recent breeds to be registered by the American Canine Hybrid Club.

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.

Temperament:

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.

He’ll become stressed and frustrated if he doesn't get the exercise he needs.

The Jug will usually end up having a round head with the typical short muzzle of the Pug. He may be somewhat lighter in build than the Pug, taking more after the Jack Russell in this regard.

The way the dog turns out will depend on which dog the puppy takes after. He is a small breed dog standing at between 25 to 36cm at the withers and weighing 5 to 7kg.

When it comes to coat color you'll find they can vary between fawn, black, apricot and sometimes a blend of two colors. While pugs come with smoothish coats, the Jack Russell can either have a smooth or rough coat and your Jug could inherit either a smooth or rough coat.

He could inherit the Pug’s flat, somewhat wrinkled face while others may have a slightly longer muzzle. The eyes are large and the ears are floppy. The legs are short and the tail will no doubt be left long these days and be slightly curled.

Temperament:

The tenacious, fearless, intelligent nature of the Jack Russell Terrier mixed with the entertaining, amicable nature of the pug has brought out the Jug dog with a whole lot of excellent qualities of both dog breeds.

They are loving, loyal dogs and when they are trained and socialized they get on particularly well with both pets and children in the the home. He is intelligent and will be able to learn some simple commands such as sit, stay and lie down.

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.

Jugs are wonderful little dogs and they make a good choice for first time dog owners as they don’t come with any difficult characteristics.

They’re playful, intelligent, energetic and amicable and just love to please their human family. Because of his small size, he is also an adaptable dog, being able to settle down in the city or the country, as long as he is given enough mental- and physical exercise to prevent boredom and frustration.

Provide the right environment for your Jug and you’ve got an awesome canine friend for life.

These robust little dogs can succumb to any one of the many common dog illnesses there are -

Epilepsy:

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 Problems:

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.

Your jaunty little Jug can live anything from 12 to 20 years when looked after well.

Just like with any other dog however, he can become ill, and then you will need to get him to the vet as soon as possible. Allergies, breathing problems, bloat, primary lens luxation, skin disorders, deafness, cardiomyopathy and obesity are just some of the common dog diseases that your Jug might have to deal with.

Breathing Problems:

Because one of the dogs used in the development of the Jug is a Pug, as a brachycephalic breed, they could suffer with breathing problems. The Jug which inherits the shorter muzzles can suffer from a condition known as Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome.

Eye Problems:

Some Jugs can have the large, protruding or bulbous eyes of the Pug. With an eye problem known as Entropion, the lid of the eye can turn inward so that the eyelash pushes into the eyeball, causing lots of redness, discharge and irritation. This can lead to an infection in the eye. You may notice your Jug constantly pawing at his eye.

Obesity:

This can be a real problem for your Jug and the extra weight will put additional strain on the dog’s heart and other organs and also affect his overall health and wellbeing.

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.

Check inside the ears that there are no signs of infection.

Trim the nails.

Exercise your pet every day.

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.

Provide your pet with his own dry, warm, quiet sleep area.

Exercise:

Small he may be, but the Jug is an energetic little dog who will require exercising to keep him content. Toys to chew on are good and you can take him for walks too. Throw a ball for him or let him tug on a rope.

Diet:

To keep your little Jug healthy and happy, you want to be sure that his diet is made up of a balanced mix of vitamins and minerals. If you feed him a commercially manufactured food, make sure that its one of the best ones free of toxic colorants and preservatives.

Check on the packaging for portion sizes for your pet. Give him some home-made food too such as cooked chicken, rice, pasta and vegetables and try to also include some raw meat mixed into his kibble from time to time. Fresh, cool water should always be included day and night.

With healthy food, your Jug can make it to 17, 18, 19 or 20 years of age even. Remember that anytime you get a pet, you can check with your veterinarian for dietary recommendations.

Grooming:

The Jug can shed quite a bit, particularly if he inherited more of the Pug coat. Make sure you brush his coat at least twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Brushing also strengthens the bond between you and your pet.

General:

Recognize the signs of an ear problem. These can be redness or swelling, ear scratching, head shaking or ear discharge.

To keep his teeth and gums healthy you can provide him with safe, appropriate toys to chew on as well as dental chews recommended by your vet.

Check your dog’s eye health. Signs of an eye problem are eye discharge and redness. Take your pet to the vet as soon as possible and try and remove hair around the eye that could be causing irritation.