Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Miniature Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Miniature Australian Shepherd - Breed ComparisonMiniature Australian Shepherd is originated from United States but Wire Haired Fox Terrier is originated from United Kingdom. Miniature Australian Shepherd may grow 8 cm / 4 inches higher than Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Miniature Australian Shepherd may weigh 7 kg / 16 pounds more than Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Both Miniature Australian Shepherd and Wire Haired Fox Terrier has almost same life span. Miniature Australian Shepherd may have more litter size than Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Both Miniature Australian Shepherd and Wire Haired Fox Terrier requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Terrier dog
undefined
United States
United Kingdom
Height Male:
33 - 46 cm
12 - 19 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Height Female:
33 - 46 cm
12 - 19 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
6 - 16 kg
13 - 36 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 16 kg
13 - 36 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 13 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 9
4 - 6
Size:
Small
Medium
Other Names:
Miniature American Shepherd, Mini Aussie
Wire Fox Terrier
Colors Available:
red or black tri-color, Blue or red merle
White, tan and black
Coat:
Long and thick
Medium length, wiry
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

miniature australian shepherdUnlike some miniaturized pure dog breeds, the Miniature Australian Shepherd is a breed of its own. The American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club recognize that the miniature Australian Shepherd is the same as the miniature American Shepherd.

Certain breeding programs to develop the Miniature Australian Shepherd have been established and this dog is a small version of the Australian Shepherd. You can say that the Mini Australian Shepherd was developed in the 1960s and hails from the USA. American ranchers bred small Australian Shepherd dogs to create smaller replicas of the breed.

wire haired fox terrierThe 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.

Description

miniature australian shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Miniature Australian Shepherd’s coat is medium-length and is straight or wavy. It comes in a range of colors such as blue or red merle and red or black tricolor. There are white or tan markings as well. He is a small dog, standing at 33 - 46 cm in height and weighing 6 – 16kg.

They have blue or brown eyes but some will even have one eye blue and the other brown. The ears are semi erect, semi floppy and the tail, while essentially left long and feathery, is sometimes docked.

Temperament:

Miniature Australian Shepherds are easygoing dogs who love being with their human families. They get on well with children in the home and are always willing to jump right in for a game.

They’re lively and agile and if its not games they’re busy with, they want to be on a walk. They’re loving and loyal and also eager to please, sensing what their owner wants.

They’re intelligent dogs too and easy to train so it is sure to go well with training and socialization, which is important for any dog. This training and socialization can actually help with problems a dog has such as being very nervous or being too active indoors. They become obedient and manageable wherever they are.

He is also willing to get on with other pets in the house. Just like the larger dog, the mini Australian Shepherd loves to be active and at work.

wire haired fox terrier puppy - descriptionThe 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.

Characteristics

miniature australian shepherd dog - characteristicsThe wonderful friendly nature’s of these dogs make them excellent family pets, especially when they have been trained and socialized. They can live in the city or country but they will certainly require being exercised as they are an active breed, wanting to be busy with his human family.

You can’t describe these dogs as low maintenance as they have long, thick hair that sheds and which will also need to be brushed regularly.

If you’re able to provide a good home for this beautiful, lively dog, then he will make you a splendid pet.

wire haired fox terrier dog - characteristicsOne 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.

Health Problems

miniature australian shepherd puppies - health problemsYour Miniature Australian Shepherd can enjoy good health if you make sure he has a nutritious diet, he is well exercised and he is happy and content because of the attention you give him. He can easily reach 13 years of age.

Also, say what you like, human beings constantly tampering with animals to produce certain looks has its drawbacks and can create health problems in dogs.

As a pure breed however, these dogs will be more susceptible to some common canine health problems such as hypothyroidism, patellar luxation, obesity, hip dysplasia, vision problems and cancer.

wire haired fox terrier puppies - health problemsThese 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.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

miniature australian shepherd dogs - caringThe mini Australian Shepherd has a long coat with seasonal shedding. You will need to give the coat a good brush twice a week to keep it untangled and to remove loose hair.

Other grooming for your pet will be to check his eyes and ears for infection, check for unusual lumps when you brush him and check for fleas and ticks. Keep his nails trimmed and brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to avoid plaque build up.

If you’re wondering how to keep your dog well groomed for the enhancement of this health, people such as your vet or professional groomers will do these grooming tasks for you.

Diet:

Top quality commercially manufactured dog food packed with vitamins and minerals needs to be your choice if you're going to be using these dog foods. Avoid the cheaper brands that use lots of fillers, sugar, salt, colorants and preservatives.

Home-made food is a wonderful treat for a dog and delicious, nutritious and simple ingredients such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables chopped up into his dry kibble from time to time will do him wonders.

Sometimes it will also be good to add in a little bit of raw meat too. Make sure there is a bowl of fresh, cool water available to your pet constantly.

wire haired fox terrier dogs - caringGroom 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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison