Wire Fox Terrier vs Miniature Schnauzer

A Fox Terrier (Wire)
Photo: State Farm
A Miniature Schnauzer
Photo: Zorik07

Side by side

Wire Fox Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Adult weight
Males 7.7–8.6 kg (17–19 lb); females 6.8–7.7 kg (15–17 lb)1
4–8 kg (8.8–18 lb)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 30–35 cm; females 30–35 cm2
Lifespan
Median 13.5 years3
Median 13.3 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Terrier (AKC)
Pinschers & molossoids2
Coat
No sourced figure
Wire or harsh coat2
Shedding
No sourced figure
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
No sourced figure
A brush once a week
Exercise
No sourced figure
A modest amount
Health
No sourced figure
Adrenal gland tumour (much more likely); Dry eye (much more likely)5,6
Class
Companion
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Wire Fox Terrier is a little larger on average: about 7.7 kg (17 lb) as an adult, against 6 kg (13 lb) for the Miniature Schnauzer.
Temperament
They differ most on activity (Wire Fox Terrier: needs lots of exercise; Miniature Schnauzer: a good daily walk and play) and on affection (Wire Fox Terrier: likes its own space; Miniature Schnauzer: affectionate on its own terms).
Alike
Both are rated the same on voice: very vocal.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Wire Fox Terrier
Terrier · Small

In temperament the breed is bold, lively and quick to react, with a strong urge to dig and to chase.

Miniature Schnauzer
Pinschers & molossoids · Small

The Miniature Schnauzer is alert, lively and quick to learn, and closely attached to its household. It tends to bark at strangers and unfamiliar sounds, which suits its old role as a watchdog.

The Wire Fox Terrier page →The Miniature Schnauzer page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Wire Fox Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Activity
Differs
Needs lots of exercise
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Wire Fox Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Affection
Differs
Likes its own space
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Decides for itself
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Wire Fox Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Very vocal
Very vocal
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Wire Fox Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 7.7 kg against the Miniature Schnauzer's 6 kg.
Wire Fox Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
02.557.5102m4m6m9m12m18m
02.557.5102m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Wire Fox Terrier with
Miniature Schnauzer vs Standard SchnauzerWire Fox Terrier vs Welsh TerrierMiniature Schnauzer vs West Highland White TerrierBorder Terrier vs Miniature SchnauzerMiniature Schnauzer vs Yorkshire TerrierWire Fox Terrier vs Jack Russell TerrierAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·