Wire Fox Terrier Quotes

As they entered, a wire-haired fox terrier of irreproachable breeding, rose from the hearth-rug and came to meet them with leisurely dignity. Marcus effected an introduction hastily. ‘Foon,’ he said. ‘Written “Featherstonehaugh”.’ Somewhat to his host’s embarrassment Mr Campion shook hands with the dog, who seemed to appreciate the courtesy, for he followed them back to the hearth-rug, waiting for them to be seated before he took up his position on the rug again, where he sat during the rest of the proceedings with the same air of conscious breeding which characterized his master.

As ubiquitous in Biarritz as he was everywhere else was the wire-haired fox terrier Caesar. Bred by the Duchess of Newcastle and presented to the King in 1903, he was adored by his master. Noisy and ill-disciplined, he ruthlessly exploited Edward’s affection, safe in the knowledge he would never be punished for his many misdemeanours. At most, the King would ineffectually shake his stick and admonish him with the words, ‘You naughty dog, you naughty, naughty dog.’24 Dismissed by Lady Fingall as a ‘horrid little snob’,25 he was one of the most pampered animals in Europe. In 1907, Fritz Ponsonby had had to dissuade Edward from rushing a vet from London to Marienbad at the cost of £200 a day to attend to Caesar, who had been taken ill there. Restored to health, he was modelled by Fabergé in white chalcedony with cabochon rubies for eyes and a gold collar embossed, as in life, with the legend ‘I Belong to the King’. On their picnic excursions, Caesar liked to settle himself in Violet Keppel’s lap; for her, a dubious honour, as she claimed he smelt. His attentions were more warmly received by Sonia. The terrier had, she remembered, ‘a fine disregard for the villa’s curtains and chair-legs, but a close personal regard for me’.