Toy Fox Terrier: temperament, size, care and health

About the Toy Fox Terrier

The Toy Fox Terrier is a small, athletic dog with a refined wedge-shaped head, erect ears, a muscular neck and a lean, balanced body. The coat is short, satiny and close to the skin, and it is usually tricolor with a white body and black and tan markings, or black and tan, or chocolate and tan. The tail is often docked where docking is allowed, and the movement is light and free.

It is a toy-sized terrier, bred as a companion, and people keep it for its energy, its sense of humor and its ease of care.

Temperament and family life

A Toy Fox Terrier is bright, alert and playful, with a clownish streak that often shows in its habit of performing for attention. It bonds closely with its family and craves interaction. It tends to be wary of strangers and is a good alarm dog, quick to announce anyone approaching.

It is tiny and delicate, so it is better with adults or considerate older children. The breed is feisty and has a terrier's chase instinct, so small pets like hamsters are unsafe, and it may challenge much larger dogs without realizing the risk. Boredom or isolation can lead to barking, digging and chewing.

Exercise and training

The Toy Fox Terrier is energetic and enjoys a walk or two every day, plus vigorous play indoors. It likes to chase balls, race around the yard and explore, and a secure fence is important because it can squeeze through small gaps. It does not tolerate cold well and benefits from a sweater and a warm bed in winter.

The breed is intelligent and food-motivated, which makes training enjoyable, and it has a long record as a trick and performance dog. Rewards, short lessons and a bright tone work best. House training can be slow and may need a consistent schedule. Socialization to people, sounds and other dogs helps to limit nervous barking and over-guarding.

Grooming and shedding

Grooming is minimal. A weekly rub with a soft brush or mitt removes dead hair, and the breed sheds a moderate amount of fine short hairs. Bathing is only needed occasionally.

Trim the nails, check the ears and brush the teeth regularly, because small dogs develop dental disease early. The thin coat gives little insulation, so cold-weather protection is more important than coat care.

Health

The Toy Fox Terrier is generally healthy and long-lived. Patellar luxation and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease of the hip are the main orthopedic concerns. Dental disease is very common, and skin allergies, thyroid problems and some eye conditions are reported. As with other very small dogs, fractures can occur from falls and low blood sugar can affect very young puppies.

Responsible breeders examine knees and hips, and check eyes. This is general information about the Toy Fox Terrier, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

The Toy Fox Terrier developed in the United States in the early twentieth century. It descends from the Smooth Fox Terrier, which was crossed with small breeds such as the Chihuahua, the Italian Greyhound and the Manchester Terrier to reduce its size while keeping the terrier outlook. The dogs were popular on American farms for controlling rats and in circus shows for their tricks. The United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1936, and the American Kennel Club followed in 2003.

Is the Toy Fox Terrier right for you?

A Toy Fox Terrier suits an active adult or family with older children, in a house or apartment, who wants a clever, small, easy-to-groom dog and who will provide company, play and warm clothing in cold weather.

It is a poor match for houses with young children, for people who want a quiet or placid dog or for owners who are away all day. The Chihuahua is smaller and more clingy, the Miniature Pinscher is bolder and the Rat Terrier is a larger American terrier with similar roots. The Smooth Fox Terrier is its full-size ancestor.