Fox Terrier Dog Breed Information

General Information:

Height: 14-15.5 inches
Weight: 15-19 lbs.
Life Span: 15 years
Coloring: White with Colored Markings of tan and black
Area of Origin: Britain
Similar Breeds: Jack Russell, Toy Fox Terrier, Miniature Fox Terrier, Brazilian Terrier, Chilean Rat Terrier and Manchester Terrier

History and Origin:

There are various types of fox terriers. There is the smooth and the wire haired fox terrier, the toy fox terrier and the miniature fox terrier. Our general information and most of this article pertain to the standard size smooth and wire haired fox terriers.

There are actually two different breeds of fox terriers – the Wire Haired Fox Terrier and the Smooth Fox Terrier. Both breeds have their origin in the 19^th century and descend from varieties of British terriers. Both breeds of fox terriers are related to every modern breed of white terriers. They are also the ancestors of many modern terrier breeds including the Rat Terrier, the Jack Russell Terrier, The Toy Fox Terrier and the Miniature Fox Terrier.

The main difference between the two fox terriers is their markings, the shape of their heads and the texture of their coats. The two breeds share many of the same behaviors, temperament and characteristics. For a long time the two types of fox terriers were considered varieties of the same breed, but it is more likely that their ancestry is different.

The early wire haired fox terriers descended through a line of black and tan, rough coated terriers that resided in Derbyshire, Wales and Durham. These newly minted Wire Haired Fox Terriers were cross bred with Smooth Fox Terriers so that the color of the Wires would be whiter and their head cleaner-cut. There is no longer any inbreeding between the two types of Fox Terriers.

Terriers have been around for a long time. Small terrier like dogs lived in England in 54 BC and were observed there by Romans. They worked with hunters to chase the quarry when it went to ground – meaning into underground dens and burrows. In the 18^th century literature recorded all terriers in England to be black and tan with a rough coat.

It was not until1790 that any white terrier was documented in Europe. A white terrier named Pitch and owned by Colonel Thomas Thornton was recorded at that time. Most of the white terriers in the United Kingdom were descendants of Pitch. It was believed by many that Pitch was a cross between the British terriers and the greyhound. It is also believed that the current Fox Terrier is the result of cross breeding between many dogs including the Pointer, the English Toy Terrier, Beagle, Dalmatian, and the Old English Bulldog.

Fox Terriers have lived with Kings and Queens, entertained us in movies and shows and they have won more Westminster Kennel Club of New York City Best in Show than any other breed. It is believed that only three dogs are the ancestors of the modern white terrier. Old Jock was the offspring of a tan and black terrier; Trap can from Reverend John Russell’s strain of terriers and Tartar who is also thought to come from the black and terrier lines.

The terriers in the 17^th and 18^th century were short and chunky and the head was broad at the top. These terriers joined the English Foxhounds on the hunt and were bred specifically for their skill at driving the fox out of the den. As the fox hunts became faster the terriers were bred to have longer legs, however this negated their ability to go to ground and force the fox from his hole.

The White Smooth Fox Terriers were less likely than the rough coated because the hunters would not take it for the fox during the hunt. The rough coated terriers were the choice of hunters in rough country where their coats would protect them better than the smooth coated one.

In 1876 the British formed the Fox Terrier Club of England and the Americans filed suit in 1885. The Fox Terrier was the first breed specialty club to gain membership to the American Kennel Club. At the turn of the 20^th century King Edward VII had a Wire Fox Terrier named Caesar of Notts, and this made the dog very popular with the masses as well. The King’s dog is related to the Best Champion at Crufts in 1911.

Since then the Smooth Fox Terrier has not won at Crufts while the Wire Haired Fox Terrier has won 3 times. However by the 21^st century the number of fox terriers in the United Kingdom had fallen off so dramatically that the breed was listed as a Vulnerable Native Breed. In 2010 there were only 155 Smooth Fox Terriers in the UK with 693 Wire Haired Fox Terriers. The Smooth Fox Terrier won the first four Westminster Kennel Club, New York Best in Show but has not won another since.

Outside of the show ring or hunting circles, the Smooth Fox Terrier numbers have declined greatly as he is not as popular as a house pet at the Wire Haired Fox Terrier. It is still important that the Smooth Fox Terrier not die off as they are both historically and genetically important having been the first fox terrier breed recognized by the Kennel Club of England and it is the ancestor of many current terrier breeds.

Personality and Temperament:

Both types of fox terriers are carefree dogs living entirely in the moment. They are incredibly self-confident and highly intelligent. For these reasons you will find that they love to explore and they are smart enough to escape under or over many fences. Make sure they cannot get out before you let them loose in the yard and make sure they are always leashed in any unsecure place.

They are also impulsively scrappy with other dogs. They will pick fights with any size dog big or small and they must be socialized at a young age to safely and happily interact with other dogs or any other family pet. If they are not socialized, never leave them unsupervised with other animals.

Since they are terriers their independence comes with the stubborn willfulness of the breeds. They will need a firm and consistent trainer and pack leader. They have to know it is you who are in charge, not them. Once they know you are in charge they will follow your lead. They are great watchdogs and will alarm at anything that does not belong in her territory. She will stand guard over her home and her family.

They can be very sneaky and do things like jump up and raid the kitchen table, jump into the pool or tub as they love water and destroy every toy you give them unless it is a ball. They need lots of time and companionship and hate to be alone. Finally while they love their people, they tend to play too rough for little children.

Exercise & Training:

Both breeds of fox terrier are high energy, high intelligence and high self-confidence. This combination results in a great dog to have for fun and activities but perhaps not such a great dog to have with a family of young children or other pets such as cats or rodents.

Therefore it is important that the fox terrier be socialized and trained at a very early age. As previously mentioned it is important to establish your leadership as early as possible. These are stubborn, self-assured dogs. They need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. For the fox terrier training and exercise go hand in hand as one will not be effective without the other.

They need about 30-45 minutes of exercise daily and it should be intense as they need to burn off all that excess energy in order to be receptive to training. It is easy for the fox terrier to become a major problem if they are not exercised and trained. They need a consistent leader who is firm but gentle and respectful in the training and exercise. As the saying goes “a tired dog is a good dog”…well it is even truer that “a tired fox terrier is a good fox terrier”.

Like other terriers they can be difficult to house train and they bark a lot. It is important to crate train in respect to house training and that you get them enough stimulation so they will not bark. They are great at agility, earth trials and/or agility. They learn quickly and love to learn. This type of activity will keep their barking under control. It will also help with their tendency to chase everything in sight.

Finally the fox terrier loves to eat and will quickly become overweight if you do not control what they eat and get them enough exercise. Stay in touch with your veterinarian to make sure his weight is within bounds.

Grooming:

The grooming needs of the two types of fox terrier are distinctly different.

Smooth Fox Terrier

The Smooth Fox Terrier has a short coat that takes much less time, resources and effort to groom than does the Wire Haired Fox Terrier. With the Smooth Fox Terrier you will need a firm, bristle brush and perhaps dry bath soap. The Smooth Fox Terrier will blow its coat two times per year.

Wire Haired Rough Fox Terrier

The Wire Haired Fox Terrier or the Rough Coated Fox Terrier takes a lot more grooming and a lot more time than the Smooth Fox Terrier. If you are just keeping your Wire Haired Fox Terrier as a pet you may not need all this. However if you plan to show your Wire Haired Fox Terrier you will need to consider professional grooming.

A Wire Haired Fox Terrier preparing for the show ring must have its coat hand stripped at least twice a year; it could be up to four times a year. If you are showing the dog then there is a specific grooming routine to be followed. The Wire Haired Fox Terrier sheds very little and therefore is a good pet for those who are allergic to most dogs.

This is true because the Wire Haired Fox Terrier’s coat is what is known in the dog world as a double coat. A double coat is coarse under the hard, wiry top coat. The double coat is waterproof and keeps the cold away from the skin of the dog.

Health and Wellness:

Both the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Haired Fox Terrier have genetic or inherited diseases or potential diseases. Both types of fox terriers have a predisposition to allergies and cancer. Most fox terriers die of old age with cancer being the number two cause. Most terriers live to be at least 13 years old with many living to be 15.

The Smooth Fox Terrier has a tendency to Myasthenia gravis inherited in an autosomal recessive gene. They also have a possibility of inheriting cataracts which is a stronger prevalence than in other breeds.

The Wire Haired Fox Terrier is more susceptible to mega esophagus. This is a condition where the esophageal muscles stop working and food and water cannot reach the stomach through the esophagus. Ingested food is stuck in the esophagus and can result in aspiration of the food and of the digestive fluid. If this is serious enough it can result in Aspiration Pneumonia and death.

Interesting Facts about the Fox Terrier:

American Fox Terriers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the country. In the Midwest the American Fox Terrier is the most popular and familiar house dog of the area.
In general Fox Terriers are fairly rare. Be sure to find a good breeder if you want a puppy and realize you might have to wait several months for or even a year for a pup.