History and Origin of the Toy Fox Terrier
(With thanks
to Owen Johnston of Terratoys
for the information provided on this page.)
The Toy Fox Terrier is descended from the Smooth Fox
Terrier. Through careful breeding in the U.S.A., the Toy Fox Terrier was
miniaturized from the Smooth Fox Terrier in the early 1900s. They are sometimes
called the Amertoy (American Toy Fox Terrier). They are Not recognized
by either the A.K.C. (American Kennel Club) or the C.K.C. (Canadian Kennel
Club), but were officially recognized in the U.S.A. in 1936 by the United
Kennel Club (U.K.C.) and in Canada in 1992 by Agriculture Canada (Canadian
Livestock, Records Corporation) and can be registered through their General
Stud & Herd book.
Contents
Description
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Height for both males and females - There are no height requirements in the breed standard.
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Weight 3.5 - 7 lbs (1.5 - 3 kg)
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Foxlike head, predominantly black (sometimes tan) with tan on sides of the muzzle and tan dots over the eyes, a blaze is permitted, erect ears, round dark eyes, black nose and a scissor bite.
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Body colour should be predominately white (more than 50%) - occasional black markings are acceptable
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Tail docked, although sometimes a natural bobtail occurs
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Coat is short and satiny with a slightly longer ruff.
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The preferred Toy Fox Terrier is white and black with tan trim, however they are sometimes white and black or white and tan. Both are equally acceptable.
Personality
Fun, friendly, feisty and fearless sum them up! Toy Fox Terriers
are alert, bold and brave for their size, comical, courageous, curious,
energetic, intelligent, loyal, playful, sensitive, spirited, stubborn,
and love to please. They train as easily for obedience as for tricks (they
have been used as circus dogs) or the show ring and remain playful all
their lives. They can be friendly, wary, reserved or even timid with strangers
so Must be socialized very young. They can be scrappy with other animals
so should be introduced to other household pets (cats included!) at an
early age, preferably on neutral territory. Unless trained, they may bark,
dig, or chew destructively if left alone too long or too often.
Roles and Uses
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Good companion dogs for older children, adults, the elderly
and the handicapped - indeed they have been used in the hearing ear program
for the deaf.
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So tiny, they can be carried in one arm or tucked inside
the owners shirt or sweater or even carried in a purse!
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Great apartment dogs as they can be paper trained.
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They still possess all their instincts so are still capable
of killing mice and other small creatures.
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They also make good watchdogs and are very protective of
their owner.
Care and Health
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Very sensitive to the cold so most T.F.T dogs should wear a sweater in the cold weather, be well wrapped up in freezing weather and should NOT be taken out at all in very cold weather.
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Ears are extremely susceptible to frostbite and could lose them if extreme care is not taken.
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