The Toy Fox Terrier
is a fun-loving dog with endless amounts of energy. They love to
investigate the great outdoors and are rated as one of the most
affectionate and playful members of the Toy Group. These dogs enjoy
life most when playing with members of the family or other pets in
the house. Great around kids, as well as the one-person household,
Toy Fox Terriers make an outstanding house pet for anyone, at any
age.
A Brief History Of
The Toy Fox Terrier
Although the breed
enjoys a high popularity rating among households in the United
States, their origin only dates back to the beginning of the 1900s.
Farmers had always fancied the Smooth Fox Terrier dogs in the U.S.
They were useful not only as companions but for also chasing small
rodents away. And for entertainment, there was nothing funnier than
watching these scrappy little terriers go at it over fun and games.
Eventually these
little dogs were crossed with various toy breeds. Included was the
Chihuahua, Toy Manchester Terrier, and the Italian Greyhound. The
resulting dog was a smaller-sized version of the Smooth Fox Terrier
with a few physical differences than its larger version. The feisty
temperament subsided a bit through breeding.
Although these dogs
were registered with the AKC as “Smooth Fox Terriers”, the name
was officially changed to the Toy Fox Terrier in 1936 when the
organization granted them their own breed status. In 2003 the dog
made its first entrance into the show ring.
Upkeep Requirements
For The Toy Fox Terrier
Owning and keeping
a Toy Fox Terrier happy takes a combination of attention, love,
exercise, and plenty of playtime. These dogs are like a bundle of
firecrackers going off all of the time so daily activity is a must.
They should have mental stimulation as well as physical play. This
makes them easy to train for obedience or simple dog training
routines.
Toy Fox Terriers
love to dig and bark, so having access to a safe, fenced-in backyard
is ideal. Living outside is not recommended. They must sleep indoors
at night. They also do not tolerate cold weather well and may need
extra warm bedding during the winter months. Grooming requirements
call for a quick brushing about once every week or two, nothing major
as their coat is short and the breed does not shed often.
Health Concerns
The average
lifespan of the Toy Fox Terrier is between thirteen and fourteen
years. A truly healthy breed, there are no major health concerns to
worry about. Minor health problems include demodicosis, congenital
hypothyroidism with goiter, patellar luxation, and
Legg-Calve-Perthes. Rarely seen is vWD. Veterinarians suggest that
Toy Fox Terriers get tested for DNA for congenital hypothyroidism,
vWD, knee, and thyroid problems.
History
The Toy Fox Terrier
is an American breed that was bred from the Smooth Fox Terrier,
Chihuahua, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, and Italian
Greyhound. During the 1930′s, American farmers
developed it for killing vermin.
Some people think
that only the Smooth Fox Terrier was used to develop this breed using
selective breeding of the runts. The United Kennel Club gave this
breed recognition in 1936 and the AKC did so in 2000.
General Looks
The Toy Fox Terrier
is a small, muscular, and graceful dog. The erect ears are v-shaped
and the eyes are big and colored brown. His tail is short, straight,
and held upwards.
Is This Your Breed?
This breed isn’t
for small kids because it is a toy breed. But older kids will like
his playful nature. The Toy Fox Terrier is a good apartment dog
because of his diminutive size. He needs brushing each week to
prevent shedding, which is easy because of his short fur. Otherwise,
keep the claws trimmed and give his a bath on occasion. He is a light
shedder. He needs a sweater when outside during cold weather.
Coat
The coat is
satin-like, shiny, smooth, and fine textured. The ruff is a bit
longer.
Color
The main color is
white. The markings are black and tan. Some dogs have both black and
tan markings.
Locomotion
The movement is
typified by sufficient reach and good drive, plus it flows and is
smooth.
Personality
The Toy Fox Terrier
is very intelligent and easy to train. He likes pleasing his owner.
He is friendly, faithful, playful, energetic, spirited, and funny. He
likes playing fetch and being a lap dog. He will continue to be
playful as long as he lives.
