Fox Terriers are two different breeds of the
terrier dog type: the
Smooth Fox Terrier and the
Wire Fox Terrier. Both of these breeds originated in the 19th century from a handful of dogs who are descended from earlier varieties of
British terriers, and are related to other modern white terrier breeds. In addition, a number of breeds have diverged from these two main types of fox terrier and have been recognised separately, including the
Jack Russell Terrier,
Miniature Fox Terrier and
Rat Terrier. The Wire and Smooth Fox Terriers share similar characteristics, the main differences being in the coat and markings. They have been successful in
conformation shows, more prominently in America than their homeland.