The Wirelsh Terrier is an ideal combination of both of his parent breeds. He exhibits both of their qualities to create a unique cross. The Welsh Terrier was bred in Wales to fearlessly hunt badgers, fox, and other rodents. Research indicates that the Welsh Terrier is one of the oldest breeds to be created in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, today in the UK the breed is in serious danger of dying out. There are currently only 300 dogs registered in the country each year. The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888 and entered into the Terrier Group. The Wire Fox Terrier and the Smooth Fox Terrier were originally considered one breed, however, in the 1800s the dogs became two distinct breeds. The breed was originally developed to hunt fox. The dogs would chase the foxes out of their dens. The hunters would use the dog’s short docked tail as a handle to grab and pull it from the fox den. Queen Victoria and her son King Edward VII both owned the breed. In the 1930s, the canine breed rose in popularity but in recent years it has suffered a severe decline. It is believed that the breed is not very popular because it is difficult to keep a Terrier with a strong prey drive in an urban household setting. The striking Wire Fox Terrier has received more Best of Show wins at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show than any other breed in history. The breed was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and entered into the Terrier Group.