Toy Fox Terrier

Toy Fox Terrier is playful, silly, and fearless, but he also has a terrier temperament, which is not always easy to live with.

Daily Care

Grooming Tips

All it takes to groom a Toy Fox Terrier is a lick and a promise. Give his short coat a quick brushing once a week and you’re done. Baths are needed only rarely, maybe after he’s rolled in something stinky. He sheds a little, but he’s so small that the amount of hair floating around is manageable.
The rest is basic care. Trim the nails as needed, usually every week or two. Small breeds are prone to periodontal disease, so brush the teeth frequently with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath.

Exercise Tips

Play is important; a daily walk is, as well, and they love a good yard. Just make sure the yard or area is fenced in, as these little dogs can escape through cracks and holes fairly easily. As they are small dogs, remember that their small strides can mean extra work to keep up with you.
Kids especially are charmed by the unending energy and zeal for play throughout this dog’s life, but as with all toy breeds, they are not recommended for small children. Their small size makes them ideal for an apartment, although they love to explore the outdoors.

Feeding Tips

A tiny dog with a tiny weight, you’ll want to take special care not to overfeed this breed. Keep in mind that a normal dog diet should be reduced to suit the caloric needs of this toy breed. The usual foods, however, including eggs, meat, and whole vegetables, should be included.
They should do well on high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to gettingoverweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level.
Treatscan be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about whichhuman foodsare safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Health Tips

The average life span of the Toy Fox Terrier is 12 to 14 years. Breed health concerns may includeLegg-Calve-Perthes disease, patellar luxation andVon Willebrand disease.

Trainability

Although the dog is physically small, you’ll be surprised at just how much of the Fox Terrier personality it has retained, making it obedient and willing to work. They can be a bit stubborn in the face of improper training, but through discipline and patience they can easily be taught a number of things, especially their boundaries around the home.
Earlysocializationand puppytraining classesare recommended for all dogs and help to ensure that the Toy Fox Terrier grows into a well-adjusted, well-mannered companion.
Housebreaking can involve just training the puppy to go outside, or it can include training him the use of a potty pad indoors, which can be very helpful for travel or during inclement weather conditions.
Toy Fox Terriers are content and capable of any range of activities from hunting, to obedience, to just lounging around in the sun (or on the sofa). They are naturally extroverted and highly intelligent, which makes training, including housetraining, a breeze.

History

The Toy Fox Terrier is an American breed descending from the first registeredSmooth Fox Terrier, named ‘Foiler’. Fox Terriers were bred for fox bolting (chasing foxes out into the open where they could be attacked by larger dogs); white was preferred to distinguish the dogs from foxes at night.
The Fox Terrier was one of the earliest show dogs, recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 (the Smooth Fox Terrier andWire Fox Terrierwere recognized as distinct breeds a century later). Toy Fox Terriers were bred from their larger cousins by American farmers who favored the shorter variety for chasing rodents.
Toy Fox Terriers were crossed with other breeds such as theChihuahuaandManchester Terrierfor a smaller size and slightly calmer temperament. The Toy Fox Terrier was recognized as a distinct breed by the American Kennel Club in 2003.