Fox Terrier

a cute and adorable fox terrier puppy

Breed: Fox Terrier
Description: The Fox Terrier is one of the pluckiest and most impulsive of all the Terriers. They’re small in size, weighing only 15-19 pounds and very athletic and solid in built. There are two varieties of Fox Terriers- one with smooth hair and one that is wire haired. Until recently, the two were classified as one breed, even though they have a different heritage. They are now seen as two separate breeds. They do however have much the same temperament, other than some feel the smooth variety can be more boisterous and belligerent, and their physical appearance other than their coats is almost identical. The Foxy is predominantly white with tan or black markings.
Characteristics: This very robust dog was made to go to ground and evict foxes from their dens, as such was developed with a great stamina, a very fiery temperament and a short enough stature to fit into the fox holes.

The Fox Terrier can be excitable and very noisy and at times requires great patience and a good sense of humour to live with. Definitely best suited for someone with experience, they’re high spirited and at times mischievous, and can be quite the handful. Training should start early and be consistent and fair. The most important thing  to learn is to come when called and to stay on command, due to their tendency to run off.

The Fox Terrier is a very loyal and courageous dog, making them a good home protector and a reliable friend who loves to play and snuggle. They do well in a city environment as long as they’re given adequate exercise, but is better suited to living in a house with a fenced yard than in an apartment.

The Fox Terrier is best with children who are at least 7 or 8 years old, though can be quite good with younger children if raised with. The Foxy can play far too rough and can be very dominant  to be considered 100% safe around  very young children. Unfortunately they’re not always well suited for homes with other pets, Fox Terriers are hunters and will see small animals as prey and tend to be scrappy with other dogs, especially females with other females.
Origins: The Fox Terrier was developed in England in possibly as early as the 1500s, but really made their  mark in the 1800s when fox hunting became popular across England. The Smooth variety is thought to be older than the wire haired.
Special needs: The Fox Terrier needs lots of exercise to keep them happy and a fenced yard is highly recommended as there is the tendency to run off. The Foxy loves to play and loves to chase balls, which is an excellent way to help them vent some of his extra energy. The wire haired variety needs to have their coat professionally shaped every few months.
Highlights :

- An adaptable and adventurous dog and assuming barking is under control, makes an excellent traveling companion.

-  Can be very possessive of food and toys – it is important to establish  leadership over.

- The Fox Terrier is prone to kidney stones, glaucoma, diabetes, skin conditions, heart disease and deafness, When buying a puppy, hearing should be checked.

- Despite their small size, adorable looks and affectionate nature, the Foxy is not a lap dog and will not enjoyed the role of pampered baby. They should be treated like the intelligent hardy dog they are.