Wire Haired Dog Breeds – Vital Facts and Traits

Dog coats are some of the most varying parts of the dog breeds, from being long coated to literally hairless or short coated. A dog will have a shaggy or a fluffy coat depending on their genetics and how they are taken care of in terms of grooming.

Dog owners tend to find longer coats to be rather hard to maintain as the coats often need frequent grooming and cleaning to keep them clean from dirt. However, wiry coats can be different, in fact, a lucrative choice for many dog owners for their low-shedding attributes.

Wire-haired dog breeds are certainly considered to be some of the fluffiest dog breeds out there, with many of the said dog breeds being small and cute along with being extremely loyal. This article will be dealing with the top 15 wire-haired dog breeds that are just too adorable along with being slightly intimidating at times.

Top 15 Wire Haired Dog Breeds

Wire haired dog breeds can be easier to maintain due to their wiry coat being less prone to shedding and overall the rough look making them look smart:

1. German Wirehaired Pointer

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 22-26 inches
• Weight: 50-70 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry double coat that is medium-sized. Colors are Liver and Liver & White
• Life Span: 14-16 years
• Origin: Germany

With their weatherproof coat allowing them to run and do tasks in the middle of a harsh climate, the German wirehaired pointer can be the perfect gundog for certain works that may just be too hard for a human to do. These dogs however will need constant exercise and activities to maintain their obedient and calm nature.

2. Airedale Terrier

Breed Overview:

• Group: Terrier
• Height: 23 inches
• Weight: 50-70 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry short-medium length coat. Colors are mainly Black & Tan or Grizzle & Tan
• Life Span: 11-14 years
• Origin: United Kingdom, England

Capable of being used for hunting, sports, and any other sort of activity, the Airedale terrier is an all-purpose dog breed that can be a great choice for many dog owners. This dog breed is also said to be the largest of all terrier types and the leanest so far.

These dogs can also be alert when needed and can certainly act as a guard dogs at times, however training them will be needed to make them sociable.

Read more: Bully dog breeds

3. Affenpinscher

Breed Overview:

• Group: Toy
• Height: 9-12 inches
• Weight: 7-10 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short-medium-sized wiry coat. Colors include Beige, Black, Black & Silver, Black & Tan or Red
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Germany, France

Small and cuddly, the Affenpinscher is the perfect dog for some good ol’ playing and companionship. These dogs are great comedians and highly intelligent which can make them a great choice to have around, especially those who are often in a depressive mood.

4. Scottish Terrier

Breed Overview:

• Group: Terrier
• Height: 10 inches
• Weight: 18-22 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry double coat that is medium sized. Colors are Black, Silver Brindle, Wheaten, etc.
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Scotland

Small as compared to other terrier-type breeds, The Scottish terrier is a great companion dog and the calmest dog breed so far. These dogs however can have a strong hunting instinct and may just come back at times if you leave them alone with something that might not be desirable for you.

These dogs are also known to be rather ill-tempered around other dog breeds, however, this personality makes these dogs great at being watchdogs.

5. Border Terrier

Breed Overview:

• Group: Terrier
• Height: 12-15 inches
• Weight: 12-16 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry short-length coat. Colors are Wheaten, Grizzle & Tan, etc.
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Anglo-Scottish Border

Despite their adorable looks, these dogs are serious hard workers and won’t tolerate being left idling for too long. Agile and stern, these dogs can adjust perfectly to a family, they however will need the training to curb their hunting instincts around other animals.

6. Irish Wolfhound

Breed Overview:

• Group: Hound
• Height: 30-32 inches at the minimum
• Weight: 105-120 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-sized wiry coat. Colors are Silver, Blue, Black, etc.
• Life Span: 6-8 years
• Origin: Ireland

Considered to be some of the tallest dog breeds, the Irish Wolfhound is a sighthound that has impressive chasing capabilities and is highly agile. These dogs however are of calm disposition and have likely fewer chances to be a guard dog than a terrier dog type.

As they are also intelligent, one can train them easily to make sure that they learn obedience commands quickly and learn to be more sociable to other animals and alike.

7. Jack Russell Terrier

Breed Overview:

• Group: Terrier
• Height: 10-12 inches
• Weight: 9-15 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry and smooth short-length coat. The color is White mainly.
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: England

Originally bred to hunt foxes down, these dogs are great at running and are mostly lively and only looking for excitement to keep them engaged and happy. When at work, these dogs despite their small sizes will be able to do tasks efficiently and without much trouble.

These dogs should be trained using positive reinforcement rather than harsh training methods as such will have negative consequences on their overall mental health.

8. Standard Dachshund

Breed Overview:

• Group: Hound
• Height: 8-9 inches
• Weight: 16-32 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short-medium length smooth, wirehaired or long coat depending on the type of Dachshund. Colors are mainly Chocolate & Cream, Black & Tan, Chocolate & Tan, etc.
• Life Span: 12-16 years
• Origin: Germany

Dachshunds can come in two varieties; miniature and standard having three coat types that may either be smooth, long coated, or wirehaired. Therefore, a dachshund may certainly be a troublesome dog breed to get if you are looking for a wirehaired variant as one may have to talk with a capable breeder to get such a dog.

The Dachshund otherwise is a great dog who is perfect at work and makes great watchdogs due to its nature as a hunting dog breed.

9. Standard Schnauzer

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 17.5-19.5 inches
• Weight: 35-50 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry medium-length double coat. Colors are Black or Pepper & Salt
• Life Span: 13-16 years
• Origin: Germany

These dogs normally come in three types; standard, miniature, and giants. Standard Schnauzers are normally great at being companion dogs and are often alert, especially around strangers as they tend to be wary of them.

The standard variant is a great listener and will train according to how the owner trains them rather than being stubborn. These dogs however should be provided activities to keep them engaged in, whether it is playing or working to keep them happy and energetic.

10. Wirehaired Vizsla

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21.5-25 inches
• Weight: 45-65 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry short-sized coat. Colors may normally be Golden Rust
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: Hungary

These dogs, despite their names, are different from a normal Vizsla due to their wiry coat which can be easier to maintain for a dog owner. Otherwise, these dogs are normally great hunters and are quick to form bonds with those they come to love, whether it is the owner or their family members.

Training these dogs can be slightly difficult at times, therefore patience will be needed while training them as harsh punishments will make these dogs afraid of the owner even due to their sensitive nature.

11. Wire fox Terrier

Breed Overview:

• Group: Terrier
• Height: 15 and a half inches.
• Weight: 15-18 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry medium-length double coat. Colors include White, White & Black, White & Tan, etc.
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: England

Bred to being involved in foxhunts, these dogs are nowadays mainly used for being companion dogs, for dog sports, and for other activities that are not hunting. Great athletes and highly intelligent, these dogs can be receptive to family members and are great at listening to commands along with being trained.

These dogs however will need the training to control their hunting instincts as they often go on a wild goose chase just to capture the potential prey animal they have smelled out.

12. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 20-24 inches
• Weight: 35-70 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry medium-sized double coat. Colors include: Brown & Gray or Chestnut & Gray
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Germany, France, Netherlands

Bred to be able to hunt in all types of terrains, these dogs are often considered to be the best-wirehaired gundogs suited for working or hunting throughout harsh climates and other harsh conditions. These dogs surprisingly however can be great family pet dogs when given the chance as they love family bonding.

These dogs, thanks to being bred by Eduard Korthals to be perfect gundogs, are effective at training and will work according to how you instruct them to rather than them going off on their own.

13. Brussels Griffon

Breed Overview:

• Group: Toy
• Height: 7-10
• Weight: 8-10 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry smooth double coat that is short or medium in size. Colors are Black, Black & Tan, Beige or Red
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Brussels, Belgium

Slightly chubby and cute looking, the Brussels griffon is an all-in-one package dog that can entertain an owner with its hilarious antics and stunts. Originally bred for hunting down vermin and pests such as rats, these dogs can be an effective house cleaner when they are working effectively to get rid of your house of rats or any other unhealthy animal that might be living inside your household.

These dogs are easy to carry because they are small and often desire love. Do note that leaving these dogs alone for long periods may result in them feeling down in the dumps and even result in destructive behavior.

14. West Highland White Terrier

Breed Overview:

• Group: Terrier
• Height: 10-11
• Weight: 15-20 pounds
• Coat and Color: Thick wiry topcoat with an undercoat that is medium in size. Color is only White
• Life Span: 13-15 years
• Origin: Scotland

Also known as a “Westie”, fluffy and playful, these dogs generally are great family dogs and can play well with children. These dogs are of an affable nature and will likely be friendly to most people, even strangers. While this may certainly be a plus point for many dog owners as other dogs tend to get violent with strangers, this can be a slightly low one for those who are looking for a guard or watchdog.

On the other hand, these dogs do possess a prey drive and will often prefer to chase around rodents or other animals that are small whenever they get the chance.

15. Istrian Coarse-Haired Hound

Breed Overview:

• Group: Hound
• Height: 17-23
• Weight: 25-40 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium to slightly long wiry coat that is thick. Colors may normally include Brown or Pied.
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Croatia

A scent hound bred to mainly hunt down foxes or small-time game such as rabbits, these dogs may seem intimidating by appearance. But when they are not working, they may prefer doing activities that may keep them engaged. Since these are hunting dogs by nature, training them to be companion dogs might be a rather difficult task.

In general, if the owner turns out to be weak or is unable to handle the Istrian, then the dog itself will take the steering will and dominate them into fulfilling their needs. Therefore, these dogs are generally not recommended for those who are looking to get companion dogs.

Conclusion

Wirehaired dog breeds are often sought after because they contain a coat that makes the dog look rough yet smart along with being easy to maintain. As wiry hair is short at most times and will generally need just brushing up and a slight dusting if needed to get off dust and other germs off the coat.

Wire-haired coating can also provide protection to a dog in harsh conditions such as when they are going around in cold terrains or working up in the summers. Therefore, wire haired dog breeds certainly can be more self-dependent and easier to handle.