Wire Fox Beagle

15-25 lbs
13-15"
England
Wire Fox Terrier
Beagle
The Wire Fox Beagle may be a relatively new designer breed but its history stems from two highly-refined small English hunters: the Wire Fox Terrier and the Beagle. Generally maxing out around 15 inches, what Wire Fox Beagles lack in height they make up for in energy, as they are exceptionally playful, interactive and lively, making great pets for active owners. Due to their size, they are well-suited for most living arrangements including apartments but because of their activity levels and drive to hunt, need a good amount of attention and exercise to keep them from becoming loud, restless or frustrated. Their intelligence and loyalty makes them easy to train and they are generally well-known for being good family dogs even with children, which also helps to fulfill their desire for the pack-like environment common to their Beagle lineage. Although both parent breeds have also become more often known as companion animals as of late, the Wire Fox Beagle is also still a highly-effective service dog used for a wide variety of activities including therapy and game hunting thanks to its easy temperament and excellent nose.
purpose Purpose
Game Hunting, Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Wire Fox Terrier and Beagle

Wire Fox Beagle Health

Average Size
Male Wire Fox Beagle size stats
Height: 13-16 inches Weight: 17-30 lbs
Female Wire Fox Beagle size stats
Height: 13-15 inches Weight: 15-25 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease
  • Canine Hip Dysplasia
  • Congenital Heart Defect
Minor Concerns
  • Distichiasis
  • Cataracts
  • Glaucoma
  • Epilepsy
  • Lens Luxation
  • Shoulder Dislocation
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Deafness
Occasional Tests
  • Hip
  • Hearing
  • Skeletal
  • X-Rays
  • MRI
  • Eye Examination
  • Heart Testing

Wire Fox Beagle Breed History

The Wire Fox Beagle is a somewhat new hybrid breed, but both the Beagle and Wire Fox Terrier have rich English heritage. While the Beagle's history can be linked as far back as the Romans, the current version we now know is largely tied to English royalty of the 1800s who bred the North Country Beagle with Southern and Talbot Hounds. Over time, the Beagle's distinct features were born, creating a well-tempered dog with excellent hunting skills and a deep houndish yelp that could be heard from a great distance. Although the Beagle's purpose was more tailored to hunting in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it has become a well-known companion due to its happy disposition and ease of training. The Wire Fox Terrier was similarly regarded by English royalty in its earlier years and is believed to have descended from black-and-tan Terriers, a rough-haired breed that has since gone extinct. Wire Fox Terriers gained popularity in the early-to-mid 20th century, when a few became main characters in television, movies and even comic strips like Snowy from The Adventures of Tintin. As the need and desire for hunting dogs decreased with time, the breed lost quite a bit of steam, hit a lull and eventually became a bit more rare but is still held in high esteem in the upper echelon of the dog show circuit, currently holding the most Best in Show titles of any dog breed.

Wire Fox Beagle Breed Appearance

The Wire Fox Beagle is a smaller breed, usually standing around 14 inches tall and just over 20 pounds with evenly distributed length and muscle in its chest and limbs. Given the coloring of the parent breeds, Wire Fox Beagles are most often a combination of white, red, brown and black with a medium-length wiry coat, short distinct facial fluff on an elongated snout, smaller folded ears, a powerful stance, and a study tail that is more often upright than hanging. Their eyes can be brown or amber and always display an air of eagerness and charm.
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Wire Fox Beagle eyes
Brown
amber Wire Fox Beagle eyes
Amber
Nose Color Possibilities
black Wire Fox Beagle nose
Black
brown Wire Fox Beagle nose
Brown
Coat Color Possibilities
black Wire Fox Beagle coat
Black
brown Wire Fox Beagle coat
Brown
red Wire Fox Beagle coat
Red
white Wire Fox Beagle coat
White
pied Wire Fox Beagle coat
Pied
silver Wire Fox Beagle coat
Silver
brindle Wire Fox Beagle coat
Brindle
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Wire Fox Beagle wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Wire Fox Beagle Breed Maintenance

Wire Fox Beagles are generally easy to maintain as their Beagle and Wire Fox Terrier ancestry means they fall somewhere in between light to mild shedding and often need little more than a weekly brushing to keep their coats healthy. Should they end up with a coat more akin to the Wire Fox Terrier (longer, more wiry), they should have their coats stripped a few times a year for both health and comfort. Baths are only necessary on occasion as this breed maintains a low smell level and generally keeps itself quite clean. Like many other hunting breeds, frequent nail trimmings are necessary to prevent cracks or breaks, especially since they are high energy dogs that need a good amount of playtime and exercise to keep them happy and healthy.
Brushes for Wire Fox Beagle
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Clipper
Clipper
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Wire Fox Beagle requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Wire Fox Beagle Temperament

When they get enough attention and exercise, Wire Fox Beagles are exceptionally well-mannered dogs that are perfectly suited to family life and a high level of socialization. They are generally easy going and obedient but because of their curiosity and hunting instincts, are prone to both wandering off when following their noses and mischievous behavior, so thorough training is still highly encouraged. Because of their energy level and intelligence, Wire Fox Beagles should receive regular exercise and playtime that engages them mentally, which will also help prevent any potentially problematic behavior. All in all, they make exceptional companions that are affectionate, smart and even comical, even if they do have the propensity to be a bit noisy.

Wire Fox Beagle Activity Requirements

The Wire Fox Beagle is a mid-to-high energy breed that usually requires around 60 minutes of exercise daily, which, due to their smaller size, is relatively easy to maintain even in tighter living spaces. While its hunting instincts are often hard to break, they can easily be played to with games of fetch, hide and seek and treasure hunt, all of which are great for stimulating both mind and body. Training and regular exercise are important, as this breed's combination of intelligence, energy, and curiosity can be a recipe for bad behavior if left undirected.
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
60 minutes
activity minutes

Wire Fox Beagle Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1.5 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.00 - $1.50
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$25.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Wire Fox Beagle Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Wire Fox Beagle size stats at six months
Height: 10.0 inches Weight: 17.0 lbs
Female Wire Fox Beagle size stats at six months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 14.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Wire Fox Beagle size stats at 12 months
Height: 12.0 inches Weight: 20.5 lbs
Female Wire Fox Beagle size stats at 12 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 17.5 lbs
18 Months
Male Wire Fox Beagle size stats at 18 months
Height: 14.5 inches Weight: 23.5 lbs
Female Wire Fox Beagle size stats at 18 months
Height: 14.0 inches Weight: 20.0 lbs

Wire Fox Beagle Owner Experiences

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