Wire Fo-Chon

5-10 lbs
7-10"
United States
Bichon Frise
Wire Fox Terrier
Wiry Fochon
The Wire Fo-Chon is a fuzzy little dog made from a combination of the Bichon Frise and the Wire Fox Terrier. Because they are both toy sized dogs, the Wire Fo-Chon will likely not get any bigger than 11 inches high and typically weighs less than 15 pounds. This breed is active, loyal, and sweet with a great personality for any family. They are gentle enough for both children and the elderly and can be trained quickly by anyone. However, they are easily spoiled and susceptible to small dog syndrome so you have to be firm and consistent with the rules.
purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
2000s
ancestry Ancestry
Bichon Frise and Wire Fox Terrier

Wire Fo-Chon Health

Average Size
Male Wire Fo-Chon size stats
Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 10-15 lbs
Female Wire Fo-Chon size stats
Height: 7-10 inches Weight: 5-10 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
  • Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA)
  • Urolithiasis
Minor Concerns
  • Allergies
  • Dental Disease
  • Skin Diseases and Disorders
  • Eye Conditions (Cataracts, Lens Luxation)
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Hemophilia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Occasional Tests
  • Skin Evaluation
  • Blood And Urine Analysis
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Dental and Oral Examinations
  • Eye and Ear Examination
  • DNA

Wire Fo-Chon Breed History

The Wire Fo-Chon gets her personality and characteristics from her parent breeds, the Wire Fox Terrier and Bichon Frise. Originating in France, the Bichon Frise was developed in the 1300s as a companion pet and became a favorite with royal families like King Henry III, who would carry his dogs in a basket he had hanging around his neck. Some believe that the Bichon Frise was around even during ancient times when French sailors brought them back from the Canary Islands while others insist that it was the Italians who discovered the breed. They were originally called Barbichon, which means curly coat in French and they eventually shortened the name to Bichon. There are four types of Bichons, which are the Bichon Tenerifes, Bichon Havanese, Bichon Bolognese, and Bichon Maltais. They are also thought to be related to the Coton de Tulear. Eventually, street performers discovered how talented the Bichon Frise was and started using them to perform on the street and then in the circus. Once they became common, they were not as popular with the royal families and almost became extinct until the French breeders decided to preserve them and started the attempts in 1933. It was only 39 years later that they were accepted by the American Kennel Club and they are the 45th most well-liked dog breed in the United States. An English breed, the Wire Fox Terrier is believed to have been developed from different types of Terriers for fox hunting and bolting. They were mixed with smaller Terriers to get a brave little dog that could chase prey from their dens. When they started out, the Wire and Smooth Fox Terriers were bred together to get a smoother and cleaner coat that had more white in it so they did not get mistaken for a fox during hunting. However, they have not done that in many years and they are two distinctly different breeds. The Wire Fox Terrier was officially acknowledged by the AKC in 1885 but is still not as popular here in the United States, only ranking 101 out of 190 breeds. 

Wire Fo-Chon Breed Appearance

The Wire Fo-Chon has a dense, medium to long, straight but wiry coat that is most often white, black, chocolate, tan, or a mix of these colors. They may also be sable or brindle colored. She usually has large, round coffee colored eyes with a sweet and curious expression. Your Wire Fo-Chon will also have a fuzzy and foxy looking muzzle with either a black or brown smooth nose. Their ears are droopy and furry, but may perk up when she is listening for something. Her head is round, the neck is long, and her build is athletic with solid legs and a short, curled tail.
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Wire Fo-Chon eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Wire Fo-Chon nose
Black
brown Wire Fo-Chon nose
Brown
Coat Color Possibilities
black Wire Fo-Chon coat
Black
brown Wire Fo-Chon coat
Brown
cream Wire Fo-Chon coat
Cream
fawn Wire Fo-Chon coat
Fawn
white Wire Fo-Chon coat
White
sable Wire Fo-Chon coat
Sable
brindle Wire Fo-Chon coat
Brindle
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Wire Fo-Chon wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Wire Fo-Chon Breed Maintenance

Your Wire Fo-Chon needs daily brushing to keep their fur from getting tangled or matted. They also need their coat stripped every six to eight weeks, which you can do by hand or with a stripping blade. You may also choose to have your dog professionally groomed and stripped but you will still need to brush her daily to keep her coat free of tangles. Brushing her teeth every week is important to prevent gingivitis and keep her breath fresh. In addition, you can bathe her and wash her ears once or twice a month (as needed) with mild dog shampoo.
Brushes for Wire Fo-Chon
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Dematter
Dematter
Comb
Comb
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Wire Fo-Chon requires daily brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Wire Fo-Chon Temperament

Any kind of inconsistency with the rules can give the Wire Fo-Chon the idea that they are able to do whatever they want. This is called Small Dog Syndrome and can be a problem if you are too lenient with your little pup. They may also have issues with housebreaking if you do not stand your ground so make sure your dog knows where she is supposed to go when she needs to “go.” They can have problems with separation anxiety and do best in homes with families who have a lot of time to spend with them. However, they are usually okay if you give them enough mental and physical stimulation every day.

Wire Fo-Chon Activity Requirements

The Wire Fo-Chon needs plenty of exercise to prevent boredom and anxiety. Dogs that do not get enough exercise can also become overweight and have behavior problems. This little dog is great at learning tricks and also enjoys obedience and agility courses. To keep her well-socialized, frequent trips to the local dog park are an excellent idea. Make sure that you keep her leashed when you go for walks and when she is not in a fenced area because she has a high prey drive and may run off to chase a rabbit, squirrel, cat, or another dog when she is outside.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
10 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes
activity minutes

Wire Fo-Chon Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$0.80 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$20.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Wire Fo-Chon Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Wire Fo-Chon size stats at six months
Height: 8.5 inches Weight: 6.0 lbs
Female Wire Fo-Chon size stats at six months
Height: 7.5 inches Weight: 3.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Wire Fo-Chon size stats at 12 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 10.0 lbs
Female Wire Fo-Chon size stats at 12 months
Height: 8.5 inches Weight: 6.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Wire Fo-Chon size stats at 18 months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 12.5 lbs
Female Wire Fo-Chon size stats at 18 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 7.5 lbs

Wire Fo-Chon Owner Experiences

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