Toy Fox Terrier
With surprising strength and the stamina to frolic, the Toy Fox Terrier enjoys spending time snuggled on the laps of their people and demands a good deal of activity and play from their owners. Known as “truly a toy and a terrier”, they have big eyes and ears, sleek, muscular frame, comical natures and endless energy, which make them popular as companion dogs and even circus entertainers.
| Other Names | American Toy Terrier, AmerToy, Toy Fox Terrier |
| Color | White & Black, White & Tan, White Black & Tan, White, Chocolate & Tan |
| Height | Males: 8-12 inches. Females: 8-12 inches. |
| Weight | Males: 4-8 pounds. Females: 4-8 pounds. |
| Life Span | 13-15 years |
| Personality | Friendly, Alert, Intelligent |
| Exercise | Needs Lots of Activities |
| Origin |
| Popularity | #107 |
| Groom Needs | Weekly Brushing |
| Kids Friendly | No |
| Dog Friendly | Yes with supervision |
| Watch Dog | |
| Family Dog | |
| Litter Size | 2-6 puppies |
Toy Fox Terrier Video
Introduction
What you get in the Toy Fox Terrier is a bold and spunky friend, intensely impulsive and focused. Bring out a ball and he will be delighted and end up getting in plenty of exercises playing with you and the ball. Apart from that, he is highly entertaining, bright-eyed, and comical no end, remaining like that throughout his entire life. He needs a garden that is well fenced because he loves exploring, and that means on the other side of the fence too. He will dig, climb, and try to get through to the other side! As a watchdog, he has a sharp and suspicious bark, so you will always know when there are strangers around – he is tough and will not become easily intimated. His coat is sleek and satiny, easy to take care of. It comes in different colors such as tricolor, white and tan, white and black, white, tan, and chocolate. He is not really recommended for young children as all their quick movements and loud noises they make don’t appeal to him – he might bite back in defense. He stands around 11 inches at the shoulders and weighs around 7 pounds.
Living with Toy Fox Terrier
With short coat, Toy Fox Terriers require minimal grooming. Shedding is helped along by using a small shedding comb or a gentle hound glove. The owner should start grinding or trimming the pup’s toenails at a young age if possible, so that he will be accustomed to the procedure.
Weekly brushing and a wash every month or so can help stay the coat silky and pleasant smelling.
His ears should be checked weekly for redness or a bad odor, which can indicate an infection, and wipe them out with a cotton ball dampened with gentle, pH-balanced ear cleaner to help prevent infections. Just clean the outer ear, instead of insert something into the ear canal.
Trim his nails once or twice a month if your dog doesn’t wear them down naturally to prevent painful tears and other problems. Dog toenails have blood vessels in them, and if you cut too far you can cause bleeding—and your dog may not cooperate the next time he sees the nail clippers come out. So, ask a vet or groomer for pointers if you’re not experienced trimming dog nails.
Brush your TFT’s teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath.
A healthy Toy Fox Terrier requires about an hour of daily physical activity to remain fit and calm. This breed is a wizard at most dog sports, and agility courses.
Quick, alert, and athletic, Toy Fox Terriers like running and romping. They enjoy walking, running, and hiking outdoors when they have the chance. On “days off,” they are happy to run laps in the living room!
Their small size makes them ideal for an apartment, Toy Fox Terriers deserve the comforts of home, as much as any two-legged member of the family. But as with all toy breeds, they are not recommended for small children.
TTFTs enjoy outdoor adventures, but they don’t require yard space. If you do have a back yard, be sure it is fully enclosed or your Toy Fox Terrier will find a way to escape.
Toy Fox Terriers can learn to swim and some enjoy going in the water. If your Toy Fox Terrier enjoys swimming, keep their time in the water short because their small, lean bodies lose heat fast. However, don’t push the issue if your TFT resists swimming.
The Toy Fox Terrier needs high-quality dog food to satisfy its nutrition needs and maintain active. Recommended daily amount is about 1/4 to 1/2 cup a day, divided into two meals. But you’ll need to feed your dog according to his size, age, activity level and metabolism, split between two meals.
The quality of dog food you buy also makes a difference — the better the dog food, the further it will go toward nourishing your dog and the less of it you’ll need to shake into your dog’s bowl.
TFT does not tend to guard their food, but children should never be allowed to touch or remove food while any dog is eating.
Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Keep your TFT in good shape by measuring his food and feeding him twice a day rather than leaving food out all the time.
Clean, fresh water should always be available.
Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet or the dog’s breeder if you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.
The Toy Fox Terriers’ main health conditions include patellar luxation, chypothyroidism with goiter, legg-calve-perthes disease, demodectic mange and von Willenbrand’s disease, etc. While not all dogs will suffer from these diseases, it’s important to learn about them if you’re considering this breed.
Obesity is a serious issue for Toy Fox Terriers. So healthy diet and exercise are a must. The dog’s anal glands must be checked often, and the teeth need to be cared for regularly.
A Toy Fox Terrier’s ears should be checked regularly for signs of infection, and the teeth should be brushed often with a toothpaste designed for dogs. Regular visits to the vet for checkups and parasite control help to ensure the dog’s long, healthy life.
There are several health tests considerations specific to the breed, such as PLL DNA Test, patella evaluation and thyroid evaluation.
Responsible TFT breeders will test their stock for conditions or communicate with other dedicated breeders regularly, working together for breed health and preservation of the breed’s unique qualities.
Total Annual Cost: $2889
Cost is estimated for the first year and may vary depending on many factors, such as dog food, health care, leash, collar, licensing, possible fencing, crates, training and obedience classes, dog-walking, grooming, treats, toys, flea, tick, and heart-worm meds, microchips, etc.
Smart enough, TFTs is quick to learn the basic commands, but they may not be interested in paying attention with the nature of stubbornness.
With their combination of intelligence, energy, and athleticism, Toy Fox Terriers are excellent candidates for advanced obedience, dog sports, and agility training.
Early socialization and puppy training classes are recommended for all dogs and help to ensure that the Toy Fox Terrier grows into a well-adjusted, well-mannered companion.
Housebreaking can involve just training the puppy to go outside, or it can include training him the use of a potty pad indoors, which can be very helpful for travel or during inclement weather conditions.
Toy Fox Terriers are good candidates for Earthdog trials, a sport in which they test their skills finding rodents that have been placed in burrows. (The rats are placed within cages so they are not physically hurt.)
You’ll get the best results if you keep training sessions entertaining and offer an abundance of positive reinforcement and praise.
Toy Fox Terriers are content and capable of any range of activities from hunting, to obedience, to just lounging around in the sun (or on the sofa).
History
The Toy Fox Terrier was developed in the USA – this is a breed that is truly “All American”. While bred in America, his ancestral roots can be traced to England’s smooth fox terrier who was bred to help the farmers catch rodents – and that’s the job the Toy Fox Terrier was also created for – to exterminate farm rats and other vermin.
The Toy Fox Terrier was crossed with the Smooth Fox Terrier and a couple of other toy breeds such as the Manchester Terrier and Chihuahua, to arrive at this teeny little cutie pie, The Toy Fox Terrier.
As time moved on, these little dogs proved to be highly intelligent and trainable and they attracted the attention of many a traveling circus, where they would perform tricks with clowns and sometimes even walk on tightropes and ride on horses. As these types of shows fell out of favor, the Toy Fox Terrier continued to grow in popularity. People loved them and took them into their homes to become beloved family pets.
The United Kennel Club crowned the Toy Fox Terrier as a proud member in 1936. But it took a very long time still before the American Kennel Club recognized the breed. It was only in 2003 that the Toy Fox Terriers became officially registered into the club.
Helpful Information
Breed Club: AMERICAN TOY FOX TERRIER CLUB
Breed Club Link: https://www.atftc.com/index.html
Breed Club Rescue: Toy Fox Terrier Rescue
Breed Club Rescue Link: https://www.atftc.com/rescue/rescue.htm