History
The immediate ancestor of
the Toy Fox Terrier is the larger Smooth Fox Terrier. The original Fox Terrier
breed standard was written in England in 1876. The size of the breed at that
time was 18 to 20 pounds. Owners of these brave little dogs found that the
smallest, which they called "runts", were the scrappiest of the
bunch. These little dogs were prized for their temperament. Smaller dogs were
developed and eventually were found in the seven-pound range.
The United Kennel Club
began registering the Smooth Fox Terrier in 1912. Between then and the
mid-1920's, the Toy Fox Terrier was developed, being a miniature of the
previous breed, however they were still registered under the name of Fox
Terrier (Smooth). Those dogs appear almost identical to the dogs of today. It
was not until February 24, 1936, that U.K.C. began registering the Toy Fox
Terrier under its current name.
The Toy
Fox Terrier is a very active and lively dog known for its hardiness. Although
the Toy Fox Terrier is a small dog - 3 1/2 to 7 lb. , they remain true
Terriers. Their instincts for hunting can be confirmed by almost every owner
of the breed.
The
breed is easily recognized with its distinctive head, with upright ears, set
high on the head. The most often seen color is white/black/tan. The head is
predominately black with tan trim. The body is mostly white with or without
black spots. Other colors are white/black and white/tan. The coat is short and
glossy and the body appears to be square with a gay tail that is docked and
set high.
The Toy
Fox Terrier is quite intelligent, alert, loyal and fearless. Many have been
trained in Obedience, or as hearing dogs, circus dogs, and service dogs.
Others are regular visitors to nursing homes, bringing joy to each and
everyone they visit. They may come is a small package, but they are active all
their lives. After having one, you will want another.
Caring for TFTs
Selecting a Breeder (Be
sure to visit our TFT Breeder page here)
When choosing a Toy Fox
Terrier, it is important to consider the dependability of the breeder and the
ancestry of the dogs offered for sale. It is to your advantage to visit the
breeder so that you may examine dogs for sale as well as his breeding stock. If
you cannot visit the breeder, questions should be asked concerning ancestors,
colors, probable weight at maturity, and qualities of the sire and dam. Also be
sure the dog is registered with the United Kennel Club so that you may transfer
the dog's ownership into your name and U.K.C. records. You may note a 'PR'
(Purple Ribbon-Bred) before your dog's name on his papers. This designation is a
guarantee of reported pure breeding that at least all of the dogs of the
last six generations (126 dogs), are on file with U.K.C. All Toy Fox Terrier
pups eligible today for U.K.C. registration are PR' bred.
Reliable breeders will
not misrepresent their stock and thus jeopardize their reputations. The
assurance that a puppy will mature as a show specimen or mature at an exact size
cannot be made by a breeder. A purchaser should not expect this type of
assurance. Any problems that arise with a new puppy or dog should be reported to
the breeder immediately.
These tiny terriers are
intelligent and love to be with the family, remaining playful all of their lives
They enjoy company and trips in the car. They are excellent watchdogs and never
relax from overseeing their homes.
A word of caution:
be careful of Toy Fox Terriers for sale in pet shops. These dogs are often not
bred to the standard and may mature too large or too small and extremely
off-type.
