Fox terrier

Fox terrier: BREED BOX
Country:	Great Britain
Size:	16-18lb(7-8kg),15in(39cm)
Temperament:	Active, alert, feisty
Grooming:	Little
Recognition:	FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC

History - The two types of Fox Terrier, Smooth and Wire, look quite similar but actually have quite different origins. The Terrier is an ancient breed, and was described by the Romans as a fox hunting dog. The black and tan terrier known then developed into the Wire Fox Terrier, while the Smooth Fox Terrier is a hybrid of several breeds, among them the Greyhound, Beagle and Bull Terrier. Records exist of the Smooth Fox Terrier in its present form from the middle of the 19th century, and the Wire Fox Terrier was then crossed with the Smooth in order to arrive at a lighter coat color. These dogs were traditionally trained to go down foxholes to catch foxes which had been run to cover, and for this reason they are small, fierce dogs which enjoy burrowing and are very energetic.

Appearance - Both types are the same height, about 15" at the shoulder blade. This is a compact, powerful little dog, with a long, fairly thin muzzle and deep set, small, bright dark colored eyes. The ears are cocked forwards and the tail, which is naturally quite long, is usually docked in show dogs. Both types have similar coat color, white with patches of brown or black, but the Smooth Fox Terrier has a much thinner, shorter coat than the Wire, which has a double layered, curly, dense coat which makes it seem heavier and wider than the Smooth.

Description - The Fox Terrier can make a good pet, although it is generally difficult to train to obedience. It tends to be a noisy dog, barking easily, and may be very excitable. If kept outside it can escape under fences, and usually enjoys exploring. These dogs do not shed hair, but to keep them looking their best the Wire Fox Terrier particularly needs specialised care, and should be 'plucked' about twice a year.

Ideal Owners: The fox terrier is a bundle of energy. Though not the easiest of dogs to obedience train, they are great family dogs. They are excellent with children and are good watch dogs.

Coat Color: White, White/Tan, Black/Tan

Lift Expectancy: 13-14 years

Fox Terrier Pictures

Above: 2 lovely pictures of the Wire Hair Fox Terrier

"Fox Terrier Pictures": More >>

Fox terrier Reviews

Grooming (73%)

Exercise (80%)

Feeding (73%)

Temperament (67%)

Watchdog (80%)

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Number of reviews: 3

Lucy

sense of humor

6/22/2006

Rating: TBA (11vote/s)

Don't ever forget how funny these dogs are. Fox Terriers have a great sense of humor. And they "talk," in a yawny way. If they find out you think something is funny, they will do it again and again.

They really love attention, but are not generally rude about it, they just love to perform. Even though they don't train well in the obedience sense, they do "civilize" pretty quickly. The Fox Terrier loves to be part of a busy family, but also make great one-person companions and great comforters in sad times.

Fox Terriers have really strong prey drives, which makes them unsuitable with cats and other small pets. If you had the cat(s) first, there is a chance you can make it work out, just be watchful for when the "get it" spring gets sprung. On the other hand, they will get rid of any vermin you have -- rats, cockroaches, slow squirrels, snakes, etc. Especially if you cheer them on.

One caution is for allergies. The hard coat on wire coated Fox Terrier breeds predisposes them to all kind of allergies (food, grass, pollen, etc etc) that is expressed as itchy skin. They definitely require some attention to good food and health care to minimise these problems. Regular grooming (stripping) helps, too. Do not overvaccinate them either, as this irritates the immune system.

Generally, I would never have another kind of dog. They are so funny and fun-loving, busy without being hyper, affectionate without being clingy, and just the right size to pick up out of whatever trouble they get into. Also, they are pretty tough, taking life's bumps and bruises in stride. They would be great to go RVing or hiking with. But keep "em on a leash, "coz they will chase anything that runs.

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Rita

Foxy Soxy

6/27/2004

Rating: TBA (6vote/s)

From my experience in having a pet like Soxy (Fox Terrier) as a pup, they are very active, loving, intelligent and very good to train. They do become very attached to a person as I know soxy does. She knows the sound of my car when i"m coming home and goes into hysterics and definately knows how to grab my attention! As they get older they tend to slow down and prefer to relax. As Soxy is now about 13yrs old, she likes to eat and relax. The more they relax the more they tend to eat a lot. So make sure you feed them a balanced diet. But overall, the fox terriers are wonderful dogs.

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