Wire Fo-Tzu

The Wire Fo-Tzu is a mix of the Shih Tzu and Wire Fox Terrier so it is important to look at their backgrounds to determine the complex personality of your new dog. The Shih Tzu has been a Chinese companion to royal families since the seventh century. They are thought to be bred from Lhasa Apsos, Tibetan Mountain Dogs, and Pekingese for the sole purpose of being a lap dog for royalty. Eventually, they became popular with the public and were almost made extinct during the Chinese Revolution. There were 14 Shih Tzus saved during that time and it is believed that all modern Shih Tzus are descendants of those 14 dogs. During the early 20th century, the Shih Tzu started being found in other areas such as the United States, England, and Norway although they were often confused with Lhasa Apsos. In fact, it was not until 1938 that there were distinct standards to separate the two breeds. Surprisingly, it took another 31 years for the Shih Tzu to be recognized by the American Kennel Club but now they are the 20th most common breed in America. The Wire Fox Terrier’s history began in the 19th century in England when fox hunters decided to try and develop a small but courageous breed to chase their prey from foxholes. To keep their dogs from being mistaken for a fox, the breeders mixed the Smooth and Wire Fox Terrier to get a cleaner and whiter coated dog but this was stopped many years ago to keep the bloodline pure. The Wire Fox Terrier is a very intelligent and lively dog that does well in the ring at Westminster Dog Shows, winning the top prize 13 times already. However, they are still only the 101st most well-liked breed in America where it has been acknowledged by the American Kennel Club since 1885.