Fox Terrier Dog Breed: What You Need to Know

fox terrier

The Fox Terrier is a very brave little dog. Don’t let its size lull you into complacency thinking that this is a breed that does not know much about being brave and strong. It knows all it needs to know about both, and that is part of what makes this dog so remarkable. It’s one that makes a great pet to anyone with or without kids, those who have their own large home or even a small home. It is a breed that loves to play, and it’s a joyous animal to have around. When someone looking for a dog meets the Fox Terrier, it’s next to impossible to ignore the sheer happiness that this dog emanates from head to toe. Darling in every way, you should get to know the Fox Terrier before you rule it out as your next member of the family. It’s true that not all families and homes are right for the Fox Terrier, but it seems to be one of the most adaptable and versatile dogs around, which makes it one you want to get to know a bit more.

Personality and Temperament

There is nothing we can say about the Fox Terrier that is negative. It is really a joyful dog with a joyful personality. This little dog adores children, loving spending time with them playing and keeping watch. It has an instinctive manner that allows it to know that kids are friendly and wonderful, and that they are someone he should protect. The Fox Terrier is a very affectionate and playful dog, so it wants to live in a home with a family who loves to give it attention and love, and that is what makes this breed so remarkable. You will find that this Fox Terrier is the kind of dog you cannot get over in terms of cuteness and sweet behavior, and we love that about him.

However, the Fox Terrier is also a dog that is very bad with smaller animals. It does well with other dogs, but it’s not a fan of animals smaller than it that do not belong to the dog family. That said, if you have cats or other small non-K9 animals, you do not want to bring home a Fox Terrier. This is a dog that will likely chase, hunt and kill smaller animals because that is what the animal is bred to do. It has a long history as a hunting dog, and it doesn’t deviate much from that in terms of its personality. You will want to be very sure you get a dog that works well with your smaller animals; and the Fox Terrier is not one of those animals.

On a good note, though, the Fox Terrier is a great watchdog, a wonderfully intelligent dog and a great trick learner. It’s also a bit on the Type-A personality side, which means it’s more likely to become stressed and high-strung if it’s not given a routine, structure and a loving household.

Lifestyle and Expectation

What can you expect from the Fox Terrier when you get it home? Well, you can expect that this sweet dog will live a long time with your family. The average lifespan of the Fox Terrier is around 15 years, which means you have a very long-term friend in this dog. Additionally, it’s one that does not grow to become very large. The Fox Terrier is one that grows to around 16 inches tall and around 20 pounds at most. Females are a little bit shorter and a little bit lighter most of the time, so you can expect to have a slightly smaller dog if you go with a female.

Health wise, the Fox Terrier is great. You’re not going to find that this is a dog prone to many breed-specific health issues, though you might find that it is a dog that is prone to deafness if you get a white one (genetics), and it might have a problem with post-nasal drip as well as cataracts. Other health issues might include proneness to mast cell tumors, lens luxation, Legg-Perthes disease, distichiasis, and even should dislocation. However, it’s a generally healthy breed with no more chance of being diagnosed with health issues than any other breed.

Easy to groom with a weekly brushing, you’ll find that this dog only really sheds a little. It is a dog, however, that loves to exercise. You will find that this dog loves to run and jog, which might just inspire you to want to do a bit more of both. It will get you healthier than ever. It loves to run free, too, so a house with a big yard that’s fenced in is going to be wonderful for the Fox Terrier. If you are out and about, a good idea is to keep your dog on a leash as it will actually take off and chase anything smaller than it, so random cats around the neighborhood when you take long walks will pose a problem for Fox Terriers not on a leash.

Breed History

A member of the Dachshund, English Hound and Fox Hound family, the Fox Terrier is a dog that has been around since long before the 17th century, though that is when the breed became most popular. Used to hunt and to get rid of animals that were taking issues to mess with their stock, the Fox Terrier was big on chasing rabbits out of gardens and even fox and rats that were in the pastures or gardens messing with the farmer’s crops and/or animals.

It’s a wonderful watchdog, and it was known for actually following small animals into their burrows, digging them out and forcing them to retreat so that he could kill them back in the days when that was what the breed was used most for. Today, Fox Terriers still do the same job for farmers, but the breed is also widely used around the world as a dog that is there for nothing more than companionship and enjoyment.

Photo by Getty Images

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