Wire Fox Terrier
The Wire Fox Terrier has a hard, crinkly coat. It is meant to be hand stripped. Very few salons still offer that, and WOOOF is one of them. This page explains what it means for your dog. Most Wire Fox Terriers come in every ten weeks.
- Coat type
- Wire
- Groom every
- 10 weeks
- Brushing at home
- Line brush twice a week
- Shedding
- Little on the floor. Dead hair holds in the coat.
- Watch for
- Beard, front legs and belly
- Time in the salon
- About 85 minutes for a Full Groom
What the coat is like
A wire coat has two parts. Hard, crinkly hair on top and a softer layer beneath it. Dogs NSW says the Wire's coat needs stripping out. Hand stripping means taking the dead top hair out by hand, a few at a time. The new hair that grows in is hard and holds its colour. The same coat taken off any other way grows back soft and pale.
Why ten weeks
Hand stripping is slow work, so we book the time for it. The coat comes out in stages, section by section, following the way it grows. Ten weeks keeps a rolling coat, where some hair is always ready to come out. Leave it much longer and the whole coat goes at once. The beard and the legs are left long and combed instead.
Hand stripping only works while the coat is still hard. If yours has gone soft, we will talk you through the options.
Home care between grooms
- Line brush twice a week. Hold the coat up with one hand and brush a thin line at a time, down at the skin. Then comb the beard and the legs.
- The beard, the front legs and the belly knot first. Food and mud stick there, so comb them through before a knot sets.
- Wipe the beard after meals. Comb the legs through after a wet walk. Check the ears each week.
Line brushing, shown by iGroomHub, our partner. This is how our groomers brush, and it is the way to do it at home.
What you need at home
- Steel comb
Run it down to the skin. If it stops, you have found a knot.
- Slicker brush
This is the brush you line brush with. Follow it with the comb.
- Shampoo and conditioner
Use a plain shampoo and go easy on conditioner, which softens a wiry coat. Our range is made with chemists: 100% natural, vegan and palm oil free.
What we do for Wire Fox Terriers at WOOOF
Most Wire Fox Terriers book a Full Groom. That is a bath, a full dry, ears, nails and the coat work. It takes about 85 minutes. Ask for Hand stripping when you book so we set the time aside. If the coat has gone soft, or your dog is older, we tidy instead and tell you why.
What a Wire Fox Terrier groom costs
Set to a small dog with a wire coat. That is where most Wire Fox Terriers sit. Hand stripping takes longer, so tell us at booking.
Showing the lowest prices, for a small dog with a wire coat. Pick your dog’s weight and coat to see their price.
Add to any service
- Teeth Brush$30
- Nail Trim$25
- Nail filing$15
- DemattingFrom $34quoted on arrival
- DesheddingFrom $34quoted on arrival
Specialist grooming and programmes
Grooming that is priced after a conversation, a consultation, a coat assessment or a programme rather than a standard slot.
Happy Puppy Club
Short, positive sessions that teach a puppy the salon is a good place, so their whole grooming life is easier. Start any time from their first vaccinations.
See how the club works →
Spa treatments
Hydrospa and therapeutic treatments for coat, skin and muscular health, for itchy skin, dull coats, and older dogs who feel their walks the next day.
Browse treatments →
Hand stripping
Terriers and Spaniels whose coats are better hand stripped, or stripped and clipped. Duration and price depend on the coat.
Talk to our team →
Asian freestyle groom
Soft, sculpted, toy-like styling by an award-winning stylist: rounded faces, fuller legs, even braids. For smaller dense or curly coats groomed every 4 weeks.
Talk to our team →Cancellations and late arrivals
Please give us 24 hours if plans change. Arriving more than 15 minutes late may mean we cannot finish the groom booked.
Safe handling fee
A $30 safe handling fee applies where a dog needs two groomers or extra time to stay safe and comfortable. We always call you first.
Ready when you are
You’re 2 minutes away from happiness. Our booking portal helps you select the right services for your dog and shows you live calendar availability.
Book nowService prices are a starting point. The exact price is confirmed at drop-off, based on grooming time, coat condition, size and any extra handling. Add-on prices are exact.
Common questions
How often does a Wire Fox Terrier need grooming?
Every ten weeks. That keeps a rolling coat, where some hair is always ready to be stripped out.
Do Wire Fox Terriers shed?
Very little lands on the floor. The dead hair stays in the coat until it is stripped or brushed out.
Where this comes from
Dogs NSW, Fox Terrier (Wire). "Both Wire and Smooth Fox Terriers enjoy regular brushing and a bath when required, however the Wire's coat needs 'stripping out'."
RSPCA South Australia, The complete guide to grooming your dog. Poodles, poodle crosses and wiry haired terriers need regular combing. Trapped hair can cause ear and eye infections.
RSPCA Australia, Why and how should I groom my dog? Brush knots out before they turn into mats.
PetSure, Pet Health Monitor 2026. Ear infections in adult dogs cost $473 on average to treat.
WOOOF groomers are not vets. We tell you what we see on the table and send you to your vet. Nothing here is vet advice.