AKC Dog Breeds: Toy Fox Terrier

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Toy Group
Height: 8-12 inches   Weight: 3-7 pounds  Color: tricolor, white/black, white/tan/ chocolate/white

The Toy Fox Terrier is truly a toy and a terrier and both have influenced his personality and character. As a terrier, the Toy Fox Terrier possesses keen intelligence, courage, and animation. As a toy his is diminutive, and devoted with an endless abiding love for his master. The Toy Fox Terrier is a well-balanced Toy dog of athletic appearance displaying grace and agility in equal measure with strength and stamina. The Toy Fox Terrier was originally bred and developed in the United States in the early 1900's. The major bloodlines used to start the breed were from the Smooth Fox Terrier crossed with several other toy breeds and small types of dogs. Selection of the smallest of the Smooth Fox Terriers for early breeding meant that only a small amount of cross breeding was required to develop the Toy Fox Terrier breed. The breed was registered with the AKC in 2001.

General Appearance

The Toy Fox Terrier is also known as the American Toy Terrier or Amertoy. The tail is docked short and carried high. The eyes are dark and round. The ears are v-shaped and erect. A definite stop separates the domed skull from the small narrow muzzle. The hair is short and thick. The coat is uniformly short, sleek and soft to the touch. The area around the neck, known as the ruff, may be slightly longer and heavier than the rest of the coat. The coat is white with black and tan or tan markings. Other colors do occur.

Temperament

The Toy Fox Terrier is a comical, entertaining, and playful little dog, even when he grows up. Spirited, determined, and with bags of courage, these dogs make great companions and family pets, suited to both experienced and inexperienced dog owners. The Toy Fox Terrier has a protective streak when it comes to his loved ones, knows no fear, and will bark to raise the alarm, all of which makes him an effective watchdog. He does have a fair amount of energy and likes to play, but he is adept at entertaining himself indoors and is not demanding in terms of activity. These dogs are agile and quick on their feet, with an inquisitive nature. This means that you need to ensure that any play area provided for him is safe and secure to prevent escape. He has a keen sense of smell and sight, and is intelligent and responsive. The Toy Fox Terrier is ideal for those that like to cuddle their pets, as he loves being handled. However, he does not appreciate being roughly handled, and this means that he is best around older, gentle children. His eagerness to please coupled with his intelligence makes training less of a challenge, but beware - housebreaking could be quite a different matter. The Toy Fox Terrier gets along fine with other pets in most cases, but he will not be bossed around by them - the Toy Fox Terrier is not at all afraid to stand up to another animal. These dogs are adaptable in terms of their living environment, as they will amuse and entertain themselves. However, they do thrive on the interaction and affections of their owners.

Grooming

The short, sleek and thick hair of the Toy Fox Terrier is very easy to groom and maintain. Once or twice a week grooming with a medium to stiff bristle brush or a slicker brush is all that is required. A grooming comb or grooming glove is also an option for this breed and will help in removing any dead hair, debris or areas of tangles. The Toy Fox Terrier is a light shedder year round.

Health Problems and Life Expectancy
Unlike many of the toy breeds, the Toy Fox Terrier is very healthy and will generally live to be between 12 and 15 years of age. The most commonly noted health problems in Toy Fox Terriers are skin allergies and allergies to certain food additives such as beet pulp, corn and wheat. Other conditions occasionally seen in the Toy Fox Terrier include Legg-Perthe's disease, sometimes known as Legg-Calves-Perthe's, which results in deterioration of the hip joint over time. Much like hip dysplasia, this condition is hereditary but can be managed with cortisone.

Activity Level

The Toy Fox Terrier requires regular exercise but they do well with self-exercising in a home or in a small secure yard. Since they are terriers and do chase, they need to be exercised either on a lead or in a fenced yard. As with any type of dog regular walks, ideally two or three times a day, will help keep these small, active dogs in top condition. Since they are active and a relatively high energy breed it is important to provide structured exercise times during the day. Without proper exercise they can become destructive resorting to chewing, digging and excessive barking.





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Toy Fox Terrier profile on dog encyclopedia
Toy Fox Terrier dog featured in dog encyclopedia