| Training | |
| Sensitivity to strangers | |
| Affection for family | |
| Suitable for first-time owners | |
| Ease of grooming | |
| Energy level |
Contents
In the past, the Fox Terrier was used to hunt foxes, but nowadays it is one of the most treasured companion dogs in the World.
As one can assume, the name of the Fox Terrier comes from its amazing ability to hunt foxes. This dog breed has been historically used in hunting to drive away foxes from their hiding places.
With its little long face and small body structure, the Fox Terrier could perfectly enter inside the holes dug by foxes, in order to scare them and make them come outside. At that moment, “hunting” was the responsibility of the hunter who was armed with a rifle and should not miss his prey.
The word “Fox” obviously refers to the foxes this dog used to hunt; and the word “Terrier” could be a reference to the ability of the dog to stay close to the ground and dig holes like a dog-mole. Throughout history this English dog was used to hunt less “noble” prey, such as rats, among other things, and it adapted perfectly to this new prey.
But the Fox Terrier is so much more than a hunting dog; let’s analyze its origins, physical characteristics and temperament, before we can understand how it spread around the world and learn where to buy puppies from certified breeders.
Fox Terrier: Origins
First of all, we will talk about the general aspects of this dog breed. According to the FCI (International Canine Federation) the Fox Terrier belongs to the third dog breed group, a macro-category which gathers all the Terrier Dogs.
There is a main peculiarity that differentiates the Fox Terriers we know nowadays, that is based on their coats.
In Fact, There are Two Types of Fox Terriers:
- Smooth Fox Terrier: it has short soft hair,
- Wire Fox Terrier: it has a rough wavy coat.
These two types of Fox Terrier have the same size and temperament, the only difference between them is directly linked to the texture of their coats. The type with rough hair was born first; there are testimonies from Ancient Rome about this dog breed, some people say that it comes from the era of Pliny the Elder! However, the soft-haired type was developed quite recently as a result of the crossing with the Beagle.
At the end of the 19th century, the standard of this dog breed was established; this was around the time the Fox Terrier started to gain popularity thanks to its “appearances” on the artistic world, especially in its homeland. In England, the Fox Terrier was the character in a novel that later became a bestseller: “Three men in a boat” by Jerome Klapka Jerome, a famous English writer (the Fox Terrier’s name of the book was Montmorency).
Another Fox Terrier that has become quite famous on the land of Albion was “Beauty”, a rescue dog used during the Second World War to find people under the rubble (showing once again it has a great ability to dig and find).
Nowadays, the Fox Terrier is one of the most famous dog breeds of the planet. So, let’s try to understand how it accomplished its popularity.
Fox Terrier: Physical Characteristics
The Fox Terrier is a small-sized dog, it is considered as mesocephalic (which means that it is well-proportioned and has a well-balanced body structure) and a dolichocephalic (which means that it has a long muzzle). As we mentioned before, it can have two types of coat, rough or soft.
However, we still have not talked about its hair colors: which ones are the most common? In general, white is the coat’s main color, but it can be combined: white with tan spots, white with black and tan, or white and black.
How much can a Fox Terrier weigh? This dog breed can weigh around 20 lb. (9 kg.), but the minimum weight is 15 lb. (7kg.).
There is not a big difference between males and females, although female Fox Terriers can be slightly smaller and compact. The height can be around 10-15 inches.
The tail is high on its back and in the past puppies had their tails docked. The ears are small, straight and placed high on its head, sometimes they can bend forward and form a V-shape. The eyes are small with a bright and clever look. Even though it is not a big dog, its jaws are surprisingly powerful and its teeth are huge in comparison to other dogs with the same size!
In general, the Fox Terrier is an agile, well-muscled and vigorous dog. Besides, it is a dog that is always ready for action and spreading happiness all around.
Fox Terrier: Temperament
How does this joyful dog behave? Let’s say that our four-legged friend is active, spirited, very alert and vigilant. Needless to say that this is a very brave dog and it is always ready to give 100% of its attention to its owner.
This last characteristic is very important; the Fox Terrier is friendly and sociable, but also it can be a little stubborn and tenacious, this does not mean that it will bother other people or animals. In this sense, we must be careful during its training and have the proper attitude: being coherent and “softly strict” in order to be a good teacher to your Fox Terrier puppy.
With proper training your Fox Terrier would not be an undisciplined vandal, on the contrary it will turn into a loyal friend that knows its place.
Fox Terrier: Health
The Fox Terrier is also an ideal family dog and does not have any issues with children in the house. So we can say it is an excellent companion dog, even though this dog breed was used for hunting in the past.
Because of its small size it can live in an apartment, however it is essential that it makes regular exercise to discharge its energy, remember that it has a “volcanic” temperament. Therefore, although it can be peacefully inside the house, it needs to run and unwind outdoors.
And let’s not forget its sentinel abilities, it is always watching out for everything around; the Fox Terrier is without any doubts an excellent guardian dog!
There are some particular aspects you have to pay attention to keep your dog healthy, for instance this dog breed has a tendency to gain weight so it needs an “athletic” diet in order to enjoy its favorite sport: running. Learn more about feeding, in our article: Feeding your dog.
As for its coat, the short-haired type does not require any particular care, but the rough-haired type needs a cosmetic treatment known as “stripping” every three months.
Fox terrier: Price and Puppies
How much can this furry friend cost? Obviously, it depends on different aspects, such as pedigree or its hair-length; however we can estimate that its price can be around 700-1100 dollars, 600-900 English pounds.
Generally, this dog breed has good health and it is long-lived, its lifespan can be around 15 years of age.
Fox Terrier: Breeders, and Puppies for Sale
Nowadays, it is a very popular dog breed in the US, the UK and Canada, where you can find the best registered breeders; but also you can find your new puppy in countries such as: Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, India and South Africa; where you can find all the information you need. So it would not be very hard to find a Fox Terrier puppy wherever you are. It is very important to purchase from a reliable breeder, to insure that your puppy has been:
- Raised to have good character and good health;
- Carefully selected (its parents were chosen without any genetic diseases);
- Properly socialized, so that it is not too aggressive or fearful;
- Vaccinated and well-cared for.
When you adopt a puppy, a reliable breeder provides you with an official veterinarian certificate, in which it is formally stipulated that the animal is in perfect health and dewormed.
You can ask for a pedigree certificate, which allows you to check your dog breed´s purity. An animal with pedigree has certain characteristics that distinguish it among the others.
Now that we have mentioned the most important aspects, you can go to your new four-legged friend, who is certainly waiting for you.
You may be interested in reading another article related to other dog breeds such as:
- Chinese Crested Dog
- Schipperke
- Maltese
- Volpino Italiano
- Fox Terrier
- Pomeranian Dog
- Dachshund
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Pug
