Miniature Fox Terrier vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison

Hailing from Germany in the 20th century, the Deutsch Drahthaar, also known as the German wirehaired Pointer, has always been a hunting dog. He was developed to take part in hunting in field or water.

Breeders of this dog were successful in developing a skilled and versatile hunting dog that took its traits from the best coarse haired dogs.

It was in 1902 that the German breed club for the Deutsch-Drahthaar was founded.

Known as Mini Foxies or Toy Fox Terriers, these dogs hail from Australia, having been bred there since the 1800s already.

They are descendants of fox terrier types which were bred in England and then brought to Australia by early settlers.

It is believed the small Smooth Fox Terriers were crossed with Manchester Terriers and then the puppies further bred and crossed with other small breeds. The idea was to have a small, light, quick dog. The Miniature Fox Terrier is exactly like this, developed as a hunting dog.

The Deutsch-Drahthaar is a medium sized well muscled sporting dog standing at 61 to 68 cm and weighing 27-32kg.

He is very distinguishable with his wiry water-resistant coat which comes in different colors such as liver, grey or black patches with a speckled or ticked background.

He has strong, straight legs with rounded paws which are webbed for strong swimming abilities. He has dark eyes with floppy, high set ears and a long tail. Many people still want the dog to have that distinctive look and they opt to have the tail docked.

Temperament:

The Deutsch-Drahthaar is a fantastic hunting companion, loving nothing more than to be working at running across fields and plunging into water to retrieve prey.

Its the kind of dog that will fit well into family life but he will require exercise. Failing to give him exercise and attention will make him bored, frustrated and destructive.

He is a friendly, gentle dog yet he becomes protective when he feels his family is threatened. Training and socialization turn him into an excellent pet as he is a strong-willed dog that will take advantage of an owner who isn’t firm with him.

With longevity on his side, the Miniature Fox Terrier can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age or live to be even older - up to 18 years of age.

He stands at between 24 – 30cm and weighs anything between 3 and 6kg. His coat is short but he sheds quite a bit so regular brushing will become necessary.

The coat is smooth and is mostly white and tan or white and black but it can be tri-colored too – white, black and tan.

The ears are semi-erect, semi floppy and he has a bright, expectant look about him. The tail has always been traditionally docked, giving him a distinctive look, but now it tends to be undocked.

Temperament:

Your Miniature Fox Terrier is a bold little dog, and is protective and loyal towards his human family. He is lively and courageous and has lots of energy so he will be wanting lots of games indoors and out. He will love to go on a walk every day.

They make great family pets, getting on well with children and other pets in the home. They’re adaptable and can do well in the city or the countryside.

The German Wirehaired Pointer is an active, energetic dog who is happiest when performing a task or getting some exercise in. He is also a social dog, who loves spending time with his human family. It is important for him to get noticed by his human family, and he is a dog that gets on well with children in the home as well as pets.

Never just put your Pointer in the back yard and expect him to entertain himself. He wants to be included in all your activities, whether you’re walking, jogging or cycling.

A happy Deutsch Drahthaar will make sure that he gives you your full quota of love, loyalty, protection and companionship.

Miniature Fox Terriers aren’t going to disappoint you one bit in terms of making an excellent pet.They make great family pets. They are loyal companions and they also make great watchdogs, being able to adapt to life in the city as well as the countryside.

They can yap quite loudly so you need to be careful of this if you live in a small property in the city.

This is such a jaunty little dog, full of fun and high spirits. You won’t know a dull moment with such a friendly, entertaining little pet. In exchange for all he offers you in terms of friendship, he also wants your love and attention.

Provide him with good food, a good deal of exercise, a dry, warm place to sleep and your ongoing attention and he is going to shower you with his love and loyalty.

When you start doing research on these German wirehairs, you see that they are far more prone to hip- and elbow dysplasia than the short-haired breed.

Also, von Willebrand’s blood-clotting disease is something that you should know about. Your German wirehair is a healthy, robust dog and is highly unlikely to get sick, but you need to be aware of these common dog ailments so that you can help him and know what to watch for.

This Von Willebrand’s disease for instance is a blood disease brought about by a deficiency of von Willebrand Factor (vWF). A lack of this vWF impairs platelet stickiness and clumping and can lead to excessive bleeding after an injury.

You may notice bleeding from the gums, bruising of skin, prolonged bleeding after an injury as well as blood in the urine for instance. Get your pet to the vet who will perform a physical exam on your dog.

Your Miniature Fox Terrier can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age when looked after well, but there are one or two common dog illness that can plague any dog, and Paella Luxation is one.

Patella luxation is fairly common with small dogs, occuring when the dog’s kneecap becomes dislocated from its thigh bone.Your dog will skip and hop along. Treatment for patella luxation can range from non-invasive treatments such as massage to surgery.

Dental health is important too, and seriously bad breath can be indicative of dental decay. Dental plaque can cause bad breath and lead to other health problems that aren’t directly related to teeth. The heart and kidneys can be put at risk. There are dental products such as canine toothbrush and toothpaste which can be used to clean your dog’s teeth. Don’t ever use human toothpaste as this can be toxic for your pet.

Grooming:

Your Deutsch Drahthaar does shed, and because of his wiry coat, he won’t only require a brush twice a week, but also stripping by a professional doggy parlor.

There are several other grooming processes that are essential for your dog. The first is to check that his nails don’t get too long. This often happens when he spends all his time on soft grass. Running on a hard surface trims them down naturally.

Also, because he has floppy ears, they will need to be checked and cleaned regularly so he doesn’t get an ear infection. His teeth will also need to be brushed twice a week as tartar and plaque build-up can cause problems with the teeth but also with other areas of the body.

If in doubt about how to groom your pet the right way, speak to your vet or a dog expert.

Diet:

There is so much conflicting information on caring for dogs, even from so-called dog experts. While there are some excellent dog food manufacturers around, some experts will say that you should be feeding your dog based on what his digestive system was designed to eat and steer clear of these.

If you do feed your German wirehaired Pointer with manufactured dog food, make sure it is the very best one, because after all, nutrition plays a vital role in your pet’s health.

Try to include some cooked vegetables, brown rice and some chicken into his diet. These can be mixed into his kibble. It is expensive, but try to include some raw meat into your dog’s diet from time to time. Ensure a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

No more Puppies!

If your Deutsch Drahthaar isn’t going to be used for breeding, make sure that your have him or her neutered or spayed as this is advisable to promote good health. Not doing it can cause health issues later on.

Feed your terrier a quality commercially manufactured dog food twice a day. They are small dogs, but highly energetic so choose dog foods which are geared towards small, energetic dogs.

His age and his activity levels will also give you an idea as to what to feed him. Apart from dry kibble, give him simple, tasty, nutritious home-made food too.Every now and again, add in boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as potato, carrots and spinach. A little bit of raw meat occasionally can also do wonders.

Keep meals plain and simple like this to avoid stomach upsets.

Ensure your pet has constant access to fresh, cool water.

Brush him twice a week to keep the coat free of loose hair. Try and avoid bathing your pet as it causes dry skin and itchiness. Rather wipe him down with a rubber grooming mitt to keep him groomed.

Check his eyes and ears for infection. Check for fleas and ticks and any unusual lumps. Trim his nails too.

Take him to the vet when he appears to be ill and keep his vaccines up to date.