One breed is divided into three varieties: smooth-haired, wire-haired (considered close relatives) and toy fox terrier.
These dogs are hardy, physically developed and friendly. With good care they live over 15 years.
Description of the Fox Terrier breed
Popularity 80th place among 263 dog breeds
Lifespan:
13 -15 years old
Breed group:
Hunting
Height:
35-40 cm
Country of origin:
Great Britain
Average price:
20-25 thousand rubles
Weight:
6-8 kg
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Key facts
Fox Terriers are small, strongly built dogs that excel in hunting. Description of the Fox Terrier breed distinguishes two types: smooth-haired and long-haired.
Representatives of the breed have strong character traits, but at the same time they love to play pranks. Therefore, the dog is not suitable for introverted people. But hunters and followers of an active lifestyle will find in her an excellent companion.
The characteristics of the Fox Terrier breed also explain the origin of the name. Skillful detectives of burrowing animals, dogs always justify him. From English, its first part, “fox,” is translated as fox, which is considered a favorite object of persecution. Fox is also the shortened name for this dog breed. This is how it is most often called in England, its country of origin.
These cute dogs live a long time. The average lifespan of a Fox Terrier is 13-15 years. The height at the withers in males and females reaches 35-40 cm. The weight of the fox terrier reaches 6-8 kg in individuals of both sexes.
Application
Initially, Wire Fox Terriers were used to exterminate rodents and small fur-bearing animals. But persistence and fearlessness made the dogs hunters of foxes and badgers.
The Wirehaired Fox is an excellent burrowing dog. He will not back down even in the most difficult situations. Hunters noted that pets can fight for hours in obviously losing situations and emerge victorious. Moreover, during the fight, the animals do not pay attention to the wounds - excitement makes the dogs turn a blind eye to the pain.
The Wire Fox Terrier dog breed is good for gun hunting and roundups. Pets search for and raise feathered game, follow the bloody trail, find and bring prey.
Today the situation has changed. Only a few Wire Fox Terriers are bred for baiting wild animals. More often they are taken as family pets. Without hunting, dogs turn into watchmen and security guards. Pets are also excellent athletes: they easily conquer agility, freestyle, frisbee, and canicross.
History of the origin of the Fox Terrier
Dogs of this breed appeared in Great Britain and at first specialized in catching small burrowing animals and rodents. The first mention of the ancestors of the Foxes was found in records from 55 BC. In them, the ancient Roman conquerors noted the excellent working qualities of the animal.
In the 14th century, burrow hunting became popular among noble nobles in Foggy Albion. The British nobility hunted with the smooth fox terrier, which was the result of crossing the Old English black and tan terrier with the beagle, greyhound and bull terrier. Around the second half of the 19th century, their wire-haired counterpart appeared, the result of crossing the breed with the Welsh Terrier.
The breed became completely independent by the end of the 18th century, when its hunting qualities were highly appreciated. Then Foxes began to be presented at exhibitions and shows, but the recognition they deserved did not come to them immediately.
Pets arrived in Tsarist Russia only in the middle of the 19th century. Then it became popular among French, Italian and Dutch dog breeders. In 1875, the final breed standard was approved. This year began the worldwide recognition of the breed in various cynological associations.
Walk
It is advisable to walk the terrier on a leash and using a harness , because he is partial to chasing everything that moves. When keeping it in the yard, it is important to take care of a fence that the terrier cannot jump over.
If you let him go for a free walk, he can get carried away and easily get lost.
Fox Terriers are predisposed to training and are capable of performing a wide variety of commands and tricks; they love agility .
Smooth Foxes are easy to train
Fox Terrier Appearance
General impression
When selecting the breed, breeders adhered to the principle of moderation in the appearance of the fox terrier. Moderately bony and stocky, these animals have become examples of stately and elegant hunting specimens. Despite their small size, they do not seem like a decorative, tame breed. The look in their intelligent eyes indicates the Fox's high intelligence and strong personality.
Head
The dog's head and muzzle are almost the same length, and the upper part of the skull is flat. There is a slight and smoothed stop. The pet's jaws are unusually strong, with a scissor bite: the upper incisors meet the lower teeth. Nose without obvious transition with a small black nose.
The pet's eyes do not look bulging. They are small in size and have a round shape. The dog's eyes are always dark in color. Small, triangle-shaped, with tips down, ears directed towards the cheekbones.
Neck
The Fox's neck thickens closer to the body. It has powerful muscles and is also very mobile, which helps the hunter when baiting a wild animal.
Torso
The body is almost square in shape and has strong bones. The back and lumbar areas of the Fox Terrier are short, smooth with pronounced muscles. The false ribs are clearly visible against the background of the rather deep chest.
Forelegs
The front legs are straight with long shoulders and elastic pads. Elbows point back. Long shoulder blades are inclined.
Hind limbs
Powerful hind legs are represented by elongated hips and steep metatarsals. The hocks are set low and the knees should not be turned to the side. The paws end in metacarpus with elastic, rounded pads.
Tail
According to standards, a dog's tail should be docked by a third. The short ponytail should be kept upright and not curled.
Movement
Fox terriers move in a straight line. The paws are placed parallel to each other. Massive hind legs allow for powerful pushing. This cannot be seen in the photo of the fox terrier, so for reference you can use a video from the Internet.
Wool
The coat is quite hard to the touch, reminiscent of wire. The Fox's undercoat is short and softer than fur. On the jaw, sides, front and hind legs, spine and at the withers, the hair is slightly longer.
Color
The most common color of the Fox Terrier is white with markings throughout the body of black, saddleback or reddish-brown.
Size
There are no precisely defined differences between female and male individuals. According to breeders, females are slightly lower and lighter than males. The height of male fox terriers is no higher than 39 cm, and their body weight should reach no more than 8.5 kg. The size of female fox terriers is not much more modest.
Fox Terrier Character
Fox Terriers have character traits typical of hunting animals: energy, independence with a certain amount of self-confidence, and playfulness. The makings of a leader, combined with a lively temperament, force the pet to become the first everywhere, overwhelming with its authority. Even with the owner, he tries to be a leader, so the early socialization and education of Foxes cannot be neglected.
Children are perceived by animals as members of the pack. Because of this, they will gladly take part in their games and pranks if it benefits them. In other cases, fox terriers will not want to tolerate small owners and may show some aggression.
The curiosity inherent in the Fox Terrier's character often makes the owner worry. The pet does not miss anything interesting; it can get carried away and start running after the object of desire or crawl into some crevice.
Relationships with other animals living in the same house with him can develop in different ways: from complete rejection to true friendship. This will depend on the dog’s upbringing and training. Most often, Foxes simply tolerate the presence of cats next to them, but they rarely get along with other dogs or small rodents. The hunter's instinct does not allow them to pass by a hamster or a decorative rat: for pets they are prey. They sense a rival in other dogs, so frequent fights are inevitable.
A big problem, especially when living in private houses, according to reviews from owners, is the passion for digging holes. This causes great inconvenience due to the pet’s constant desire to dig up the beds or dig up the flowerbed. In the apartment, the fox, due to the lack of land, will begin to pick up the parquet or linoleum. Only the owner’s persistence and patience will help solve the digging problem over time.
If the dog is not used as a hunter, it easily becomes an excellent watchdog. The pet's security qualities are excellent, and its jealous attitude towards its property, together with its lack of natural fear and clear voice, make it indispensable for keeping in country houses.
From one extreme to another: Fox's explosive temperament
The Wire Fox Terrier contains incompatible traits. He can bask on his owner's lap, the next second viciously chase the cat, the next minute fooling around with the children, and a quarter of an hour later start a battle to the death with the neighbor's dog. And all these contradictions coexist organically in Fox.
The Wirehaired Terrier is an extraordinary personality. He is a passionate hunter, a loyal friend, a fearless protector and an affectionate mischief-maker.
Pranks in wire-haired foxes are over the top. They will get on the owner's nerves during puppyhood and adulthood. Every five minutes the pets come up with a new pastime: before you have time to stop them from gnawing on books, they are already digging up flowers.
Speaking of digging. You will have to protect flower beds and lawns from the excavator paws of the Wire Fox Terrier. In a private house, the dog is given an area where he can dig ditches, and during walks he is taken away from residential buildings - local grandmothers will clearly not like uprooted geraniums and lilacs.
Wirehaired Foxes are demanding. They believe that for a person in the world there is nothing more important than such wonderful pets as them. They cannot stand loneliness, need constant attention, and if they are unhappy, they express complaints with a loud, abrupt bark.
The character of Wire Fox Terriers is complex, but charismatic. They are active, do not let you get bored for a minute and entertain their owner every day with their antics.
Education and training
Representatives of this breed are not very eager to learn, but they can still be turned into well-mannered and well-trained animals. Here it is important to interest the pet and get involved in the process yourself. Only in this case, the fidget will try its best to please the owner. He will consider training an exciting game that will not get boring for him, but will teach him the necessary skills and abilities.
Raising and training a fox terrier should begin from the moment the puppy appears in the house. Before starting the main exercises, the baby should:
- follow hygiene and toilet rules;
- respond to your nickname;
- be able to walk on a leash;
- respond to the owner's voice the first time.
Before training, dog trainers advise giving the fox terrier a good walk, changing types of exercises more often, introducing elements of surprise, and combining individual training with group classes.
The Fox must be able to control his hunter's instincts while outdoors. A trained pet must follow commands the first time, and also have a normal attitude towards walking on a leash. The strap disciplines the dog, makes it easier to train and protects it from pranks. Often the pet itself carries the leash in its teeth, helping the owner.
In general, representatives of this breed have a natural craving for carrying various objects in their teeth. The owner should use rubber or wooden toys for games and learning, but plastic ones that are empty inside can harm him when chewed.
At home, dogs need to be taught correct behavioral norms and a certain amount of restraint. You cannot treat a four-legged animal with food from the owner’s table. We should not forget about the increased jumping ability of the individual, so from childhood we must stop their attempts to get to the table in search of a tasty morsel.
You cannot use objects located nearby as toys, otherwise the Fox will see your things and pieces of furniture as just another form of entertainment.
Puppy training should be done with their purpose in mind. Thus, show animals immediately develop a calm attitude towards human touch. Puppies are often stroked on the back and head, taught to pull the tail, in order to later move on to the formation of the necessary stance. It is advisable not only the owner to do this, because during exhibitions and shows in the ring the pet will be touched by strangers, whom he should treat calmly.
The training of a hunting dog begins at the age of three months. For the first training, a training hole is used, which is a shallow, straight tunnel made with a shovel in the ground and covered with wooden boards on top. Such structures can be found in hunting clubs.
Foxes are set on the beast at the age of 8-12 months. The wild animal should not be large in size and not exceed the dimensions of the future hunter. Under no circumstances should you set him against cats, otherwise there will be problems with walking in the future.
Nutrition
Veterinarians recommend feeding the Fox Terrier commercial food. Its main advantage is that such diets contain a balanced amount of all the necessary substances and nutrients for the animal. Achieving this balance with natural food is very difficult. In addition, the food saves time, it does not need to be prepared, it is always at hand. Commercial diets are healthy for dogs and convenient for their owners.
If your pet is completely healthy, then you can feed him one of the everyday foods that can be found in a pet store or purchased online. The Fox Terrier will benefit from food for small or medium breeds with small granules. Otherwise, the dog may choke. This is especially true for those animals that swallow food quickly, practically without chewing.
If your Fox is prone to certain diseases or suffers from allergies, then buy holistic medicinal food for him. Before choosing one brand or another, be sure to consult your veterinarian.
Consider your pet's age. Veterinarians do not advise, for example, giving a small puppy food for adults or for “old people”. They have completely different nutritional needs. Pay attention to your dog's activity as well. Since fox terriers are one of the most energetic dogs, their nutrition should be enhanced. Especially if the animals participate in competitions, train a lot, regularly go hunting, or simply spend a lot of time outdoors. For them, manufacturers offer food marked “Active” or “Energy”. Such nutrition will also be useful for emaciated dogs after illness or injury.
If you notice that your pet has begun to gain weight, then change the food to Normal or Standard. Do not overfeed your dog; excess weight is very harmful to health. Do not leave the food bowl in the public domain. Remove it as soon as the dog leaves, even if he has not finished the portion.
Fox Terrier Health and Diseases
Fox Terriers can be considered healthy individuals. They rarely get sick, so they often visit the veterinary clinic only for hygiene procedures and routine vaccinations.
However, these dogs are prone to genetic diseases that are long and painful.
Diseases to which Foxes are susceptible:
- diabetes mellitus due to poor nutrition and poor heredity;
- Perthes disease, which is characterized by poor blood flow to the femoral joint, subsequently leading to the death of its head;
- distichiasis - inflammation of the eyes due to improper growth of eyelashes and the resulting inflammation;
- deafness progressing with age;
- epilepsy, which causes convulsions and seizures due to impaired brain function;
- Myasthenia gravis is a congenital weakness of individual muscles associated with improper functioning of nerve endings.
Food allergies and infections are also included in the list of fox terrier diseases, so it is necessary to monitor your pet’s diet.
Routine vaccination will protect your four-legged friend from distemper, coronavirus, rabies, hepatitis, parainfluenza, viral enteritis, leptospirosis and trichophytosis. The first complex vaccination should be carried out at the age of 2 months. After this, a quarantine is established for a period of 2 weeks.
During this time, the baby does not need to be walked or allowed to come into contact with other animals. If the pet develops a high temperature, vomiting and diarrhea, then you should immediately contact a veterinarian.
You should regularly be given medications for intestinal parasites and treated for fleas and ticks.
Reproductive health
Fox terriers become sexually mature enough by two years of age. At this time, you can carry out the first mating of dogs. Earlier mating leads to the birth of weakened offspring. The dogs are brought together on the 10-15th day of the bitch's heat in the male's territory.
Sterilization can be carried out after the second heat, which occurs when the female is one year old.
Features of feeding and diet
Fox Terriers tend to overeat, as a result of which they quickly gain weight. Due to the tendency to obesity, they try not to overfeed pets, especially with tasty morsels from the owner’s table. You should not increase your dog's food intake with supplements.
It is important to compare the feeding rate for Foxes with the serving size and its calorie content. It is easier to do this when using dry food - always premium and higher. Feeding natural food forces you to strictly monitor what goes on your pet’s menu.
Four-legged friends need low-fat meat products: chicken, rabbit, beef, lamb, various offal, low-bone sea fish. These products should be given boiled. Bones, especially tubular ones, should not be given so that the animal does not damage the jaw. But in puppyhood, you can offer him cartilage and bones to form the correct bite.
Vegetables and fruits should be included in the diet in chopped raw or boiled form. Among the wide variety of cereals, preference should be given to buckwheat, rice, and oatmeal. Dog handlers do not recommend pearl barley, as it clogs the intestines and is difficult to digest. To enrich the porridge with vitamins, add fresh herbs.
After a month, puppies start complementary feeding with cottage cheese and low-fat fermented milk products. A chicken egg is gradually added to the menu, starting with a boiled yolk. From 5 weeks, babies are treated to raw, grated vegetables. From the age of three months they begin to be pampered with brain bones and cartilage.
Puppies 2-4 months old are fed 5 times. From 4-6 months, reduce to 4 servings per day, after six months they feed 3 times, from a year on, twice feeding is sufficient.
The Fox Terrier should not consume:
- chocolate and sweets;
- flour;
- pickled and salted;
- fried foods;
- smoked meats
It would not be a bad idea to arrange fasting days every two weeks, during which the diet should be limited to crackers made from rye bread, raw carrots and fresh water. Clean water should be available to your pet at all times.
Mating
The Wirehaired Terrier is an easy dog to breed. Pets usually mate on their own; hand mating is rarely done. The only obstacle is the possible aggressiveness of the bitches. If she does not allow the male dog to approach her, the owner fixes the pet.
Females from 18 months and males from 2 years are allowed to breed. Reproductive age lasts up to 8-10 years. Wire Fox Terriers are fertile, producing 4-5 puppies on average. But in litters there are from one to eight kittens.
It is forbidden to breed smooth-haired and wire-haired fox terriers.
Care and maintenance
Well-bred and early socialized pets can be kept in a country house or in a city apartment without any problems. But dogs living in high-rise buildings need longer and more active walks. They must use up their irrepressible energy while walking so that they do not have the strength to play pranks in the apartment.
If the dog lives in a house where there is an opportunity to run around the garden, then it will be happy. However, we must not forget about the Fox’s increased jumping ability and his love of digging, so it is necessary to create conditions under which he cannot do this. Fences enclosing the site must be high, and digging holes can only be prevented by the persistence and patience of the owner.
The care and maintenance of a fox terrier depends on what type it belongs to. For example, smooth fox terriers are not as interesting in appearance as wire-haired ones, but they require less grooming. They need brushing no more than once a week: you can use a brush with natural bristles. Don't overdo it with washing either, because their fur has a coating that repels dirt. In case of local contamination, simply wipe the area with a damp towel and then wipe dry.
Wire-haired foxes will have to be looked after more thoroughly. The pet's fur is trimmed 3-4 times a year to remove lost hairs. They are designed in such a way that when they fall out, they cling to the others and do not fall down. If you do not have regular grooming, your dog may damage its skin while trying to remove or chew its hair. The four-legged dog must be accustomed to this unpleasant procedure from the age of two months. While playing, just pinch the baby.
From birth it is necessary to monitor the condition of the fox terrier's eyes and ears. Once a week, wipe them using special products: chilled boiled water or lotion to prevent inflammation, boric alcohol or drops that dissolve dirt.
The paws of a hunting breed require special regular care. After each walk, wipe the dog's front and rear legs with a damp cloth and wash with warm water. To keep the skin on the paw pads elastic, it is recommended to lubricate it with a moisturizer.
Your pet's claws should be worn down while walking on hard surfaces. However, if this is not enough, then you need to use a nail clipper and a nail file to polish the irregularities.
Who are these dogs suitable for?
Fox Terriers are very friendly and cheerful dogs. They get along well with children, love to play and actively spend time with them. Therefore, Foxes are suitable for large families.
Provided that you spend enough time walking with the animal, this breed can be kept even in a small apartment. Although this dog will not refuse a house with a spacious territory either.
The Fox Terrier is also suitable for those people who are fond of hunting. If you buy a puppy from working parents, then with age he will become an excellent partner and assistant in this matter.
If you want to train your dog and teach it tricks, then the Fox will be a great solution. He learns quickly, grasping everything literally on the fly. His indefatigable energy allows him to train for hours without feeling tired.
If you prefer a more relaxed lifestyle, then this breed is not for you. Such a dog will definitely not lie on the sofa for hours. He needs to be outside for a long time, running, jumping and exercising. For the same reason, this breed should not be chosen by elderly people. It will be difficult for them to actively spend time with the dog.
Fox Terriers are suitable for those owners who are willing to devote time to their training and education. If you let your dog's life take its course, yours will turn into absolute hell. Untrained foxes can cause bedlam in the house, chewing furniture and shoes. Chase cats and dogs on the street, as well as bark at passers-by for no reason. This dog needs a “leader” with a strong character who will not allow him to become a leader.
It would not be the best option to adopt a fox terrier if you already have pets. Even a well-mannered dog will periodically bully and provoke them.
Tips for choosing a puppy
When thinking about buying a fox terrier, decide whether you need a show or a hunting specimen. There are separate nurseries for breeding each of the two lines of this breed. Already there they monitor the exhibition or hunting qualities of fox terrier puppies.
Ask the breeder to show the pedigree of the parents and baby. Look at their appearance, working qualities, and compliance with breed standards.
The best age to choose a puppy is 1.5-2 months. It is not worth buying a younger specimen. The price may be lower, but it will not be possible to detect birth defects.
A docked tail in the first days of a quadruped’s life is an important part of the breed standard. There is no point in buying a Fox with a whole tail. When baiting an animal, this part of the body can be damaged. For exhibition representatives, such a violation makes it impossible for the animal to participate in shows in the ring.
