Toy Fox Terrier: Dog Breed Characteristics & Care

The toy fox terrier is a small dog breed native to North America, known for their athletic body, predominantly white glossy coat, and large, erect, V-shaped ears. This tiny and playful package comes with a huge personality. The breed was developed when breeders crossed small smooth fox terriers with various toy dogs.

Learn more about the toy fox terrier’s history, personality, and care needs. 

Characteristics of the Toy Fox Terrier

Toy fox terriers tend to form very strong bonds with their families. They are fun-loving and often make eager and playful companions for respectful, but often older, children. This breed has the typical high prey drive of the terriers. You will have to be careful about handling introductions with any cats living in the home, and they may not be best suited to living alongside small furries.

Toy fox terriers are intelligent and energetic. They are very affectionate, like to cuddle, and are known for being lapdogs. They can also be fiercely loyal and make excellent watchdogs. Watch for uncontrolled alert barking or you could have some frustrated neighbors.

Even celebrities love the toy fox terrier. For example, Ashley Greene’s dog is named Marlo and Kristi Yamaguchi named hers Piston.

History of the Toy Fox Terrier

The toy fox terrier is a true American. The breed was first developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when breeders of smooth fox terriers in the United States crossed them with toy breeds that included the Chihuahua, miniature pinscher, Manchester terrier, and Italian greyhound.

The original fox terriers were introduced in England to force foxes out of their dens to allow the hunt to start their chase. They were known for being brave, determined, and athletic. Breeders of the toy fox terrier wanted a smaller dog with similar characteristics. These little dogs would still be ferocious ratters around farms and homesteads but would have a gentler disposition than their bigger relatives.

Their size, smarts, and agility meant they also became popular additions in traveling circuses, and could often be found on the arm of a clown, performing tricks for a captivated audience. This also helped endear them to a wider audience.

The United Kennel Club recognized toy fox terriers in 1936, but the American Kennel Club didn't give them official full breed status until 2003.

Toy Fox Terrier Care

Toy fox terriers are super smart, confident, affectionate, and lively. Although they are small, they will always let you know when they're in the room, and that energy can sometimes make them a bit of a challenge.

They are playful, wily, and full of beans, so making sure they have a good selection of enrichment activities and interactive toys will be essential. These dogs will likely find their own, much less appropriate, ways of keeping themselves entertained otherwise.

Because of their small size and low exercise needs, toy fox terriers are a good choice for pet parents living in apartments.

Exercise

You will need to make sure that your toy fox terrier gets plenty of exercise. A quick walk around the block isn't enough for these spritely and adaptable characters. Instead, a vigorous 30-minute walk every day will burn off excess energy.

This dog will also enjoy accompanying you on hikes and can make a great agility competitor. There are a number of champion toy fox terriers in various dog sports.

Grooming

The toy fox terrier has a low-maintenance and basic grooming regime. The dog's smooth, short coat only sheds moderately and will need weekly brushing to remove dead hairs and keep it looking shiny and healthy.

As with all dogs, it's important to brush your terrier's teeth to prevent dental disease. Also, check and clean their ears often, making sure they aren’t showing signs of an infection that would require a vet’s attention.

Training

Toy fox terriers don't have as much of a stubborn and willful streak as some of their terrier relatives. These intelligent little creatures are eager to please, which means they respond well to training using reward-based methods. They also love to learn fun tricks, which will keep them happily occupied.

You will have to work hard on achieving a rock-solid recall around distractions, and they may even need to stay on the leash in certain environments where there's too much temptation to chase small animals like squirrels or rabbits.

It will be best to give your terrier early, appropriate, and ongoing socialization. If you don't, the dog will become too protective and will become more of a guard dog than a chipper playmate.

Common Health Problems

Toy fox terriers are generally considered to be robust little dogs who can live a long and healthy life. As with any breed, however, they can be prone to certain inheritable conditions.

By finding a reputable breeder that performs the recommended health checks on prospective parents, you can reduce the risk of some of these conditions developing.

Some of the health problems they can be prone to include:

• Primary lens luxation: This condition causes the lens of the eye to detach and move around. It can cause pain and even lead to blindness. Treatment will vary depending on how severe the case is. Removal of the eye is sometimes required.
• Skin problems: Conditions like mast cell tumors can develop on toy fox terriers. Also watch for signs of demodectic mange. Demodex mites are present on all dogs in small numbers. In some young dogs or adults with a compromised immune system, the number of mites will proliferate excessively, and this can lead to hair loss, skin irritation, itching, and even infection. Puppies can grow out of it, but establishing any underlying condition will also be required along with treatment of the mange itself.
• Joint problems: Toy fox terriers can suffer from joint problems, including patellar luxation, which causes a slipped knee and results in symptoms that include limping and holding the leg bent at an angle.
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease: This is a degenerative hip condition that causes pain and difficulty moving. Symptoms include lameness, restlessness, and stiffness.
• Von Willebrand disease: Dogs with this condition will have a problem with blood clotting effectively. Often, owners will not be aware their dog has this until they have an injury or surgery and they bleed excessively. Transfusions may be required to replace the blood lost.
• Hypothyroidism: Dogs with an underactive thyroid have a decreased metabolic rate. This can result in weight gain, hair loss, skin problems, and lethargy. Once diagnosed, it can usually be successfully treated with a lifetime medication.

Diet and Nutrition

Toy fox terriers are small dogs, so they typically only need up to 1/2 cup of food daily, split into at least two meals.

As with any dog, you should feed your toy fox terrier high-quality food and a properly portion-controlled diet. It can be tempting to spoil your dog with tasty treats and table scraps, but obesity is a major problem for dogs, and it can lead to a host of more serious health problems, such as diabetes.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Toy Fox Terrier

The importance of finding a good breeder when you are searching for a puppy can't be overstated. It means you will have a much better chance of having a healthy and well-socialized pup that has had the best start in life. Depending on the breeder, expect to pay between $600 to $1,200 for a toy fox terrier puppy.

Have you considered adopting a toy fox terrier or similar breed? Offering a forever home to a dog in need can be a hugely rewarding experience. There are lots of deserving terriers in shelters across the country, or you could reach out to breed-specific rescues.

Here are a few good places to start your research:

• American Toy Fox Terrier Club
• Toy Fox Terrier Rescue
• AKC Marketplace

Toy Fox Terrier Overview

The toy fox terrier is an adorable, lovable, and amusing little dog that will always keep you smiling and laughing. They are energetic and need daily exercise, and they’re affectionate so they need a lot of attention from their human family. Also, because they’re smart, they can be fun to train to do tricks.

Pros of Toy Fox Terriers

• Fun-loving and playful
• Incredibly loyal and affectionate
• Smart and easy to train
  

Cons of Toy Fox Terriers

• Can have a high prey drive
• Can be vocal
  
• Needs lots of exercise and enrichment

10 Popular Dog Breeds From the United States

More Dog Breeds and Further Research

If you are interested in dogs similar to the toy fox terrier you could also consider the following breeds:

• Fox terrier
• Rat terrier
• Chihuahua

There are lots of wonderful dog breeds out there. By doing your research, you will find one that will be best suited to having a forever home with you.