The fox terrier is an energetic and watchful dog breed, always ready to pounce and give chase, owing to its hunting instinct. Weighing 15–19 pounds and standing 33–41 centimetres, it displays strength despite its small form and always wears keen expressions. It has a flat head that narrows with a slight stop. It sports a black nose and strong muzzles.
This dog breed has dark, round, intelligent eyes. It has small V-shaped ears that lie close to its cheeks. Boasting a perfect scissor bite, the fox terrier has upper teeth that slightly overlap the lower teeth. It has a proud neck that is muscular and quite long, supported by its wide, sloping shoulders.
When it comes to physical characteristics, the smooth and wire fox terriers are very similar except for their coats. The smooth fox terrier has a longer coat that is smooth and flat, but also hard and dense. Whereas, the wire fox terrier has what you call a broken appearance due to its dense and wiry coat. Coat colours are similar with a base coat of white, although they often have slight variations in markings such as black, tan, or a combination of these two colours.
Since both fox terrier breeds have different coat characteristics, it follows that they require different coat care. For the smooth fox terrier, occasional brushing with a firm bristle will suffice. However, the wire fox terrier will require hand stripping, where hairs are plucked out rather than cut with clippers. The latter breed is best to be taken to a professional groomer. Other grooming needs such as dental care, ear care, and nail trimming are similar.