Famous Fox Terriers

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Fox Terrier refers mainly to two types of canines known as Smooth Fox Terriers and Wire Fox Terriers. They are similar in shape, body and temperament but differ in their coats and also in their head shapes. The Smooth Fox Terriers measure 14-15.5 inches or 36-39 cm and weigh between 15-19 pounds or 6.8 to 8.6 kgs. They have a long, wedge-shaped head, dark eyes and V-shaped ears. The Wires have a rougher coat. Both are very agile, lightweight dogs. Smooth Fox Terriers came to be known about 20 years earlier than the Wires. The wires descended from rough-coated, tan and black Terriers. Foxys, as the Fox Terriers are commonly known, were developed basically from Wales, Derbyshire and Durham. With the popularity of fox hunting, the hunters required a breed of dog which could get the foxes out of their hidings.

1. Caesar

Caesar
Caesar

Caesar of Notts, better known as Caesar, was a famous Wire Fox Terrier born in the kennels of Kathleen, Duchess of Newcastle. Lord Dudley presented the dog to King Edward VII in 1902, following the death of his dog, Jack. Caesar became a long-term companion of the king. The dog wore a collar bearing the inscription ‘I am Caesar. I belong to the King.’ After the death of the King Edward VII in 1910, the grieving Caesar walked in the procession, ahead of nine kings and other heads of states. Caesar was allowed a footman, to keep him clean and tidy, and he was allowed to sleep in an easy chair alongside the bed of the King. He greeted the king always very excitedly and the king used to remark, ‘Do you like your old master, then?”

2. Nipper

Nipper
Nipper

Generally believed to be a Fox Terrier, Nipper is sometimes considered to be a mixed breed of Jack Russell Terrier Type. The dog is an advertising icon of the music industry. Nipper was born in 1884 in Bristol, England and died in September 1895. Nipper lived with his owner Mark Henry Barracuda in the Prince’s theater and after his death was taken care of by his brothers. Nipper was buried in Kingston on Thames, the site now occupied by Lloyds TSB. A brass plaque has been fixed at the entrance of the bank in remembrance of Nipper. On maturity, he was portrayed as the Dog looking and listening to a phonograph. The portrait was renamed as His Master’s Voice, and as such is known the world over. The painting was initially used by The Gramophone Company and EMI, but is currently used as the logo of HMV in UK and Europe. In addition to The Gramophone Company, the image of Nipper has been used by many other audio companies, including; JVC, RCA, Victor, Deutsche Gramophon and Victor Talking Machine Company.

3. Titina

Titina
Titina

Titina was a black and white Fox Terrier found in a street of Rome and owned by Umberto Nobile. He carried her with him during the arctic exploration in the airship Norge in 1926. The airship was designed and piloted by Nobile, while the Norwegian adventurer Amunsen was the commander of the ship and was not very happy with the presence of Titina ,on account of the already crowded position of ship, which was carrying 16 men on board. The Italian journalist Antonio Quattrini, who was on board, wrote Titina’s official biography for the New York Times. He reported that Titina wore a red jersey over the Pole and that Titina was ‘a dog marked by destiny, a dog of greatest character.’

4. Polly

Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin, one of the all-time most influential scientists, was a keen fox hunter. The Darwins owned many dogs, including the Terriers Nina, Spark, Pincher, Sheila and Polly, which was owned by Charles Darwin. In his 1882 monograph, The Origin of Species, Darwin used the example of greyhounds in the context of the adaptation and selection model, as the greyhound is perfectly adapted to chase the hare. Darwin had taken Polly from his daughter, after she moved to her husband’s place after marriage. Polly lived with Darwin in his home at Down and he used to train the dog to catch biscuits off her nose and to bark at the ‘naughty people.’

5. Wessex

Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy

Wessex was the famous and mischievous Fox Terrier owned by Thomas Hardy. The Terrier was bought by Hardy’s second wife and initially Hardy did not like him. However, later on he changed his mind and at his death wrote two poems, Dead Wessex, the Dog of the Household and A Popular Personage at Home. Many biographers of Hardy have spoken of the ill temper and bad table manners of Wessex. Hardy’s wife Florence wrote to a friend, Rebecca Owen, that ‘Wessie sends his love. He is really a good dog ‘ but all of his kind are fighters ‘ more or less. My husband actually kisses him every night before he is carried off to bed … But he hates smooth-haired fox terriers because one attacked him once ‘ one with a black face. And he hates black faces.”

6. Skippy

Skippy
Skippy

Skippy was a Wire Fox Terrier born in 1931 and retired in 1939. Skippy is best known for the performance as Asta in The Thin Man. He performed in many other movies in 1930s. Following his appearance in The Thin Man, he was renamed as Asta. Gertrude Orr profiled Skippy in his book Dog Stars of Hollywood. He also appeared in the hit movie of 1937, The Awful Truth as Mr. Smith and in the 1939 film Bringing Up Baby, as George. In the 1938 film, Topper Takes a Trip, he played Mr. Atlas. Skippy was owned by Mrs. Gale Henry East, and whereas other dogs at Hollywood earned $3.50 a day, Skippy earned more than $30 a day.

7. Matford Vic

Matford Vic
Matford Vic

Zoologically classified as Canis lupus familiaris, Matford Vic belonged to the Wire Fox Terrier breed. She was born in 1912 and is best known for winning the Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show. She was owned by George W. Quintard and was one of the only five dogs who won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on more than one occasion. Quintard had bought the dog from a barmaid for £2 but immediately after winning the show, was offered $500, which was denied. However, the dog changed hands when an offer of $1,000 was made. She was entered in the 1915 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and was judged as the best Fox Terrier.

8. Warren Remedy

Warren Remedy
Warren Remedy

Warren Remedy, owned by Winthrop Rutherford, was a Soft Fox Terrier. She was best known for being the only dog to have won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in three consecutive years: 1907, 1908 and 1909.Remedy was sired by Sabine Resist and other dogs from her offspring include Warren Deputy, Warren Drastic, Warren Rescue and Warren Vogue. Her death on December 17, 1912 was reported by The New York Times. Her bronze statues, crafted by Ric Chashoudian, were later on given by the Westminster Kennel Club, to the winning dog owners, and the crystal replicas were awarded to the winning dog trainers.

9. Sabine Rarebit

Sabine Rarebit
Sabine Rarebit

Sabine Rarebit was a Soft Fox Terrier and is best known for winning the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1910. The judges remarked that Sabine Rarebit was ‘not only the best fox terrier out but the best ever bred.’ He was born to the sire, Sabione Ruler and Dam, Sabing Haab. The black and white Sabine Rarebit had very attractive markings, body shape and an excellent temperament. The dog was owned by the Sabine Kennels of Orange, Texas. The dog also won a special prize as the best soft coated Terrier in Canada and America.

10. Snowy

The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin

Snowy is a famous, fictional white Wire Fox Terrier from The Adventures of Tintin, a comic series by the Belgian cartoonist, Herge. Snowy is the companion of the protagonist, Tintin. Herge was inspired by a Fox Terrier owned by a café keeper, which he used to visit regularly. Terriers were favourite pets in 1920s and 1930s. Pure white Wire Fox Terriers are rare, because mostly they bear black markings. Snowy’s name was reflective of his color. Like other Wire Fox Terriers, Snowy too was an intelligent dog of character. Computer generation of Snowy’s image was very difficult, on account of the presence of fur and being pure white.

Conclusion

Fox Terriers are very good companions of kids, but they do not hesitate to fight with other canines, even if they are bigger. On account of their being very energetic, they need at least 30 to 45 minutes of vigorous exercise daily. The famous painter Vincent Van Gogh remarked, ‘If you don’t have a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.’

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