Smooth Fox Terrier - breed description

Smooth-haired Fox Terrier - the ideal dog for people with an active lifestyle. As a family member, you will find them loyal, affectionate, and attractive, over time they become very attached to their master. Active and inquisitive, she will gladly share with you your walks, travels and active games.

Breed history

Smooth-haired Fox Terrier - a breed of hunting dogs; the first breed in the family of terriers, which received official recognition of The Kennel Club (approximately 1875).

The first data on the ancestors of the Fox Terrier date from the I st. BC in the information of the Roman conquerors, who arrived on the British Isles. The development of the smooth-haired terrier as a breed has not been officially documented, but the dog has been known as a special breed in England since the 18th century, as evidenced by the illustrations in ancient hunting books. The first documentary evidence of the Fox Terrier appeared in 1790, when Colonel Thornton painted a portrait of his dog "Pitch."

The historical profession of the smooth-haired fox terrier is fox hunting. The breed is highly readable in hunting circles, because Fox Terriers had a lesser inclination to err in the near hunt, easily pushing foxes out of their lair into open terrain. Their small size allowed them to penetrate the foxhole, and powerful legs helped to pursue prey.

Appearance

Smooth-haired Fox Terrier - a courageous, active dog, clearly focused on any task that he is given. Excellent vision and keen sense of smell, size and endurance made him an excellent hunter and protector, as well as a great partner for active games.

1. Smooth Fox Terrier is a medium-sized, lively, agile and active dog.
2. Breed classification: Smooth Fox Terrier is a member of the Terrier Group.
3. Size: males no larger than 39 cm at the withers, females in the range of 33-36 cm at the withers.
4. Weight: Males weigh from 7.3 to 8.2 kg, the ideal weight for female dogs is from 6.8 to 7.7 kg.
5. Age perspective: the life of a smooth fox terrier is from 12 to 15 years.
6. Body type: Skull is flat, moderately tapering to the eyes.
7. The forehead is small.
8. The muzzle gradually tapers to a black nose.
9. The eyes are small, the color of the eyes is dark.
10. Fold V-shaped ears are located above the level of the skull and are adjacent to the temples.
11. The neck is elastic and muscular.
12. The chest is medium in size, not wide, with moderately curved ribs.
13. The back is short.
14. The forelegs are straight, straight with an inconspicuous transition to the metacarpus. The hind limbs are smooth and powerful. The fore and hind limbs of the Fox Terrier, when walking, move parallel to each other. Elbows move perpendicular to their body. Paws are round, with hard pads.
15. Color: Smooth fox terrier can be solid white, white with brown, there are dogs of black color, with black and brown spots. White color is dominant.
16. Wool. Flat, smooth coat, thick and abundant coating. The coat is predominantly white with black or brown markings.
17. Bite: scissor, where the upper teeth gently overlap the lower.

Character

Fox Terriers are sloppy, fearless, loyal dogs that love to walk outdoors.Being created for hunting, Fox Terriers still like to run and dig, and they are happy to do it with children of all ages.

Smooth Fox Terrier is a smart dog, but it can be a little stubborn, like most terriers. Learning is relatively easy, but owners must be consistent and solid. Fox terriers are prone to excessive barking. This trait is classic for terriers and can be difficult to train in a dog. This makes Fox Terriers excellent watchdogs, but bad neighbors.

Training sessions should begin early and be done with a firm but gentle hand. Praise is a good motivator, but food works best. As soon as Fox Terrier learns that there is something in training that benefits him (a treat), he will quickly begin to execute commands. Dogs should be focused on exploring new activities that may prevent the Fox Terrier from mischief in the house, especially when it is left alone. They are agile dogs that need a family with an active lifestyle, but for discreet owners, these terriers are an excellent family pet.

Fox Terriers are children at heart and love to play with children, but they are too active for children under 6 or 7 years old. They play rough, and the sonorous voices of children and their tendency to be sharply active can make them look like prey. That is, inciting the fox terrier to bite in the excited state. Fox terriers can also protect their food and toys, which can cause problems. As with all dogs, it is necessary to teach children to properly communicate with the Fox Terrier, as well as to control any interactions between the dog and young children in order to prevent bites. Do not leave the fox terrier and small children alone.

Fact! If the Fox Terriers feel that their family members are in danger or threatened, they will prove to be excellent defenders.

Fox terriers are very aggressive towards other dogs, such a dog often provokes animals and participates in dog fights. Fox terriers tend to chase rabbits, birds, cats and a variety of small animals. Extremely freedom-loving, they will in every way try to escape from the fenced territory, making a tunnel, or to break off the leash.Therefore, to tame a dog to walk on a leash should be from an early age, so that for him it does not look like punishment. No matter how much you trust your fox terrier, you must constantly keep it close.

Dogs are distinguished by a jealous character, prone to dominance, therefore, if other animals live in the house, the Fox Terrier should be socialized from an early age.

Fox terriers form a strong bond with their families and love to spend time with their owners. They become unhappy when they are alone for long periods of time, so they are best suited for people who work at home. If you leave the dog unattended, it can lead to the fact that they destroy everything around the house or in the house, which is a way for the dog to get rid of the stress they experience, to entertain themselves. When planning long trips, care should be taken to place the dog in a shelter or kennel. In general, the Fox Terrier is a friendly, loyal and affectionate dog.

Health

Fox Terriers are a hardy breed in general,without serious health problems, but some diseases of these dogs tend to be both individual and non-specific. The hardy constitution of the breed and the known longevity never led to the necessity of testing the breed for clinical or hereditary pathologies.

Tip! When choosing a Fox Terrier puppy, be sure to check out its pedigree and vaccination schedule.

The most common ailments are deafness and various visual impairments, such as lens dislocation, distichiasis and cataract, glaucoma. The breed is prone to diseases of the musculoskeletal system, including Legg-Perthes disease, mianestia and patellar dislocation. There are cases of diagnosing idiopathic epilepsy, goiter, diabetes, Wolman's disease and cancer in this breed of dogs.

Maintenance and care

This breed feels great in a hot, sunny climate, and in temperate cool. Despite the fact that the fox terrier is small, life in an apartment does not quite fit him. A dog of this breed will certainly need a safe fenced yard or long active walks in the fresh air, where he can actively spend time.Smooth-haired Fox Terrier needs about 30-45 minutes of vigorous exercise per day, as well as many games on a leash in the yard to save him from a bad mood. They love toys and balls, as well as outdoor games in the water.

It is difficult to resist fox terrier puppies, but keep in mind that when they grow up they will need a lot of attention and training. After all, Fox Terriers are very active and flighty dogs, which are quite difficult to force to adhere to certain rules and practice manners and skills. If you manage to tame the character of this dog, you will get a lively and welcoming companion in return.

To maintain good shape, feed the Fox Terrier twice a day with high-quality food. The size of the portion depends on the size, age, structure, metabolism and activity level of the dog. On an average dog of this breed, two bowls of dry food are enough. Do not forget that the food for your pet must contain the necessary substances and trace elements, which contributes to active life and good health of the dog. You can vary the diet by adding porridge, boiled meat and vegetables, alternating reception with dry food.

Pet care:

1. Care for a smooth-haired Fox Terrier is easy enough, as they are small, short-haired dogs. To remove a dead undercoat, it is enough to comb the dog with a rubber glove or stiff brush once a week.
2. Regular baths are not needed - resort to this should, if the dog is significantly soiled. On average, enough to bathe the dog once a month. To obtain the perfect texture of wool cover, you can contact a professional groomer. Although it is possible to do it yourself. It should be noted that the wool should not be cut, as it changes its dense texture, making it soft, which can lead to loss of gloss.
3. You should check your pet's ears weekly for signs of infection, irritation, or contamination. They should be cleaned regularly with a veterinarian-approved care product and a cotton ball.
4. Brush your teeth at least once a week to prevent buildup of plaque and to prevent gum disease.
5. If claws are not wiped off in a natural way, they should be cut with a frequency of once a month.

For this type of dog, tail docking is a rarity,today, only the owners do this, whose pets participate in exhibitions, respectively, it is not necessary to do so.

Video: Fox Terrier Dog Breed