Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
Toy Fox Terriers are small and popular dogs who have an athletic and overall muscular appearance.
They have a short glossy and mostly white coat, which only adds to their toy-dog appearance. This breed started as barnyard ratters, only to become a full-time companion today.
It’s not common to see a toy dog with a lapdog personality, and the Toy Fox Terrier is just that. This little but sturdy little dog is intelligent, active, easy to train.
They prefer spending time outdoors instead of indoors. Yet, they won’t mind enjoying high-quality indoor games as long as they get to spend time with their humans.
Toy Fox Terriers are loyal and affectionate toward their humans.
If you get this breed, be ready to enjoy some serious humor. As a terrier breed, they are very active, but they are still a suitable choice for older owners.
Since they are highly trainable, the Toy Fox Terriers are suitable for people with disabilities.
If trained right, they may not bark at all or minimum. Otherwise, expect a bark here and then.
They are easy to groom since they just need a soft combing and brushing. They do shed frequently, so having the right grooming tools on hand is a must.
Quick Facts
Real name: Toy Fox Terrier
Other names: American Toy Terrier, Amertoy
Origin: America
Breed type: Companion Dogs
Weight: 3 to 7 pounds
Height: 8 to 11 inches at the shoulder
Lifespan: 13 to 14 years
Litter Size: 2 – 6 puppies
Color: Tri-colored, xhocolate, white and tan
Coat: Short, fine, and glossy i
Toy Fox Terrier History
The Toy Fox Terrier is a real American gem.
These energetic dogs were first developed in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
To create this breed, breeders mixed Smooth Fox Terriers with toy breeds, such as Miniature Pinschers, Italian Greyhound, and Manchester Terriers.
Their roots can be traced back to a SMooth ox Terrier known as ‘Foiler.’
The United Kennel Club (UKC) recognized the Toy Fox Terriers in 1936 under the Terrier Group. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the breed in 2003, under the Toy Group.
Toy Fox Terrier Physical Appearance
Toy Fox Terriers are small size dogs of white bodies and black markings on their head.
Their coat is short and glossy and mostly white. The tail is always set high, while the ears are V-shaped and the eyes are large.
It’s common for this breed to have a short tail that breeders clip a few days after the dog is born.
As for the size, it’s common for this breed to have between 8 to 11 inches and to weigh between 3 to 7 pounds.
Toy Fox Terriers are muscular and energetic dogs of elegant appearance. Overall, the Toy Fox Terrier has that terrier attitude that can only be defined as energetic and sturdy.
Toy Fox Terrier Personality
Toy Fox Terriers are loyal and smart dogs who want to be part of every family adventure.
This small size dog is a great watchdog who isn’t afraid to alert you whenever a stranger approaches your doorstep.
Like with any other breed, their personalities may vary from dog to dog. That being said, some may be all day active dogs while others will enjoy acting like couch potatoes.
Leaving this dog alone for long hours will lead to destructive behavior and even anxiety.
It’s not uncommon for these dogs to develop separation anxiety when left alone for too long and too often.
As with every dog, proper training and early socialization are what will make this dog a well-behaved canine citizen.
Toy Fox Terrier Training
Training is what makes a difference between a dog and a well-behaved dog.
For a dog to be a great canine citizen he needs to go through proper training and early socialization.
As loyal dogs and massive people-pleasers, they are will be easy to train. At least, that is the case if you have enough experience as a dog owner.
Fox Terriers are intelligent dogs and they will enjoy performing different tasks and tricks.
Did you know that dogs are capable of mastering basic commands as of eight weeks of age?
By the time the socialization window ends, your Fox Terrier should know:
- Command ‘no’
- Command ‘come’
- Command ‘sit’
- Housedog rules
- How to behave around the house
- How to behave around people
- Where to sit, eat, and sleep
Terries are known for being a bit stubborn.
This is why arming yourself with extra patience and delicious treats should make training easier.
Due to their strong-willed minds, potty training may be challenging. Make sure that you do proper research on hot-to-potty train your puppy.
Does your company offer pawternity leave? If so, use it and use it wisely because you will need extra time to train your pup in the best way possible.
If you feel like training your Fox Terrier is too much work, think about puppy classes, or hiring a professional dog trainer.
This way you will speed up the training process, and even get professional train inputs.
Toy Fox Terrier Exercise
Exercise is what keeps your Toy Fox Terrier healthy.
Providing great nutrition and regular exercise will keep your dog fit, strong, and healthy.
Regular exercise is also a great way to support the overall dog’s health and his joints. It’s common for dogs to develop joint-related issues in their senior years.
To delay that or avoid it completely, especially if you have a large size dog such as German Shepherd, you should provide regular exercise.
What does regular exercise means when you have a Toy Fox Terrier?
It means that next to regular daily walks intense walks, light jogs, and brisk hikes are great ways to keep him fit.
Are you a regular jogger? If so and you are thinking about running with your Toy Fox Terrier, you should rethink that decision. This breed is a dog for short-run or jog, next to you.
Forcing them to run long distances or over rough terrain may lead to paws and joint issues. Last, but not least don’t force your Fox Terrier to be active on hot summer days.
Dogs are prone to heatstroke and on summer days they should be allowed to spend time under the shade, next to a water bowl.
Toy Fox Terrier Grooming
How difficult can it be to groom a small size dog?
It turns out that grooming Toy Fox Terrier will require a fair amount of time. Luckily, their coat is short and silky, which means that weekly brushing should be enough to keep his coat neat and clean.
Use brushing time to bond further with your Fido. Dogs love brushing. For them, it’s an obvious sign that you love them and care for them.
Make sure that you have the right grooming tools on hand.
If grooming your Fox Terrier feels like too much work, think about hiring a professional dog groomer. This may be pricey but it will be worth your time, energy, and money.
The rest is basic care:
- Trim or grind nails monthly
- Bathe only when needed
- Clean ears when needed
- Brush teeth if recommended
- Check gums weekly
- Check eyes weekly
Always make grooming a positive experience. Reward dog with treats and rewards, after every veterinarian exam or grooming practice.
Toy Fox Terrier Health
Toy Fox Terriers are generally healthy dogs.
If you’re buying a puppy, you should deal only with responsible dog breeders. This way you will know the exact health condition of your pup, and you will get medical documentation showing that your puppy is healthy. Responsible dog breeders will always screen puppies for the most common health conditions.
Plus, they will let you meet the bitch, show you the facilities, give you tips on overall care-nutrition-health, and even educate you on possible health complications that may appear later on.
You can also expect them to ask you a lot of questions. No reputable dog breeder will give you a dog unless they are sure that you are the best owner for their puppy.
If you are adopting, you will also know the exact health condition of your future puppy.
No matter if you are buying or adopting, you should take your Fox Terrier to your veterinarian as soon as you bring him home.
What you can expect to see in this breed? No matter how well care you might provide some dogs may still get sick.
This doesn’t mean that your Fox Terrier might experience any of the following conditions. No, it only means that you should know what to expect and that regular veterinary check-ups are the biggest factors when it comes to having a healthy and fit dog.
That being said, here are some of the most common health issues that may appear in Fox Terrier:
- Demodectic Mange
- Patellar Luxation
- Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
- Von Willebrand’s Disease (VWD)
- Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter (CHG)
Is Toy Fox Terrier For You?
Before you decide to get the Toy Fox Terrier just because of his size, think twice.
A small size dog doesn’t mean less work or duties. Being a responsible dog owner means a lot of work, planning, d financial investing.
Make sure that you can afford to get a dog. If you want a small size dog who is also easy to carry, easy to maintain and has a terrier attitude, this breed may be for you.
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