Everything you need to know about the Foxterrier

If you are thinking of getting a furry friend for your apartment and think that the Fox Terrier is good only because of its small size, you are wrong. Fox Terrier dogs are like small cars but with a lot of power.

HISTORICAL

Originating from England, the wire-coated and smooth-coated Fox Terriers have been differentiated as species since 1984. Found less and less in cities, they are found in paintings as early as the 14th century, although the breed was recognized in the 1860s. Used for hunting, Fox Terrier dogs stand out for the agility they demonstrate, for their extraordinary curiosity, and for the courage and perseverance with which they pursue their goal. Used mainly for hunting foxes and rabbits, badgers, the Fox Terrier is famous for hunting rodents, but thanks to its courage and ability to move very quickly, it was also used to hunt large animals such as bears, wild boars, deer, usually together with other dogs of the same breed, managing to harass and keep the animal still until the hunter arrived.

In 1876, standards were established for this breed The Fox Terrier clubstandards maintained to this day, changing only some aspects. The Fox Terrier breed is one of the most appreciated and awarded breeds in dog competitions for its particular appearance and performance.
In Great Britain the breed has been declared vulnerable for several years following procedures that flag breeds with fewer than 300 registrations per year

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Fox Terriers It is a small dog weighing between 7 and 10 kg, with a height at the withers between 35 and 40 cm. Males are slightly larger and heavier than females. Whether a charming or smooth terrier, they have an elongated head with a short, straight nape. It is a well-proportioned dog, the eyes are always dark and very lively. The ears are small V-shaped, folded towards the face. The neck is long and muscular

Smooth fox terrier it has shiny, short hair, well glued to the body, while the curly-haired one has longer hair, very strong and fascinating. The Wire-coated Fox Terrier has longer hair on the muzzle, eyebrows and paws.
The body of the Fox Terrier is very athletic, built to be able to move very quickly and enter the visions of hunting animals. The bones of the body are solid, the back always straight and slightly inclined suggests an animal with a predisposition to prolonged effort. The legs give the sensation of being on top of each other, they are of medium length, muscular and ready to run at any moment.

The fox terrier’s tail is straight, always raised like an antenna. In past years it was cut in ¾, but today this practice has been abandoned

The fox terrier in the “maximum attention” position resembles a very small horse.

PERSONALITY

Fox Terriers it is a “bomb” of energy. Always looking for activity, always curious, tenacious, resistant to fatigue, very courageous. He is a very intelligent, independent, terribly stubborn, extroverted, prying, cheerful dog, an ideal playmate for children. Despite their small size, they are bold and do not hesitate to get into fights with much larger dogs.

If you do not have a very active character, a Fox Terrier dog will tire you terribly and, due to the lack of engaging activities, will become anxious and disturb you by barking excessively and barking at some objects in the house. The Fox Terrier needs more than a walk, he needs a lot of exercise, running, games that attract his attention and tire him.

It is not a very sociable breed with other animals, it considers large ones a threat and follows the principle “the best defense is the attack” and considers small ones as prey to be hunted. They do not get along with cats unless they are raised together or after extensive training. With people, however, they are very sociable, eager for attention and play, resorting to the same tricks to get them to pay attention to them. They are very vocal dogs, they like to bark at any sound, so it is good to take this into consideration if you want to get a Fox Terrier for your apartment. Of course, with an active daily life, with early training, this behavior can be relatively correct. Like barking, digging is one of his favorite activities. It seems that even after all this time, even though most Fox Terriers have become pets, some genes have been preserved very well. The one who will investigate, dig for “unknown leeks”, for hours if necessary, so if you have a well-landscaped garden that you care about, limit his access and, better yet, require appropriate training.
In the case of this breed, the motto “a tired dog is a happy dog” is perfectly valid (and the owner will be happy – I would add)

TREATMENT

Taking care of the Fox Terrier is not very complicated, but it requires special attention. Weekly brushing should not be missing and the fur of the charming terrier should be trimmed several times a year as needed. The charming terrier is not cut with scissors because the fur softens, discolors, curls and loses its charming appearance. That’s why we recommend you go to a dog barber who is familiar with this grooming procedure called trimming. The Fox Terrier is one of the breeds that sheds the least. The smooth-coated Fox Terrier needs to be combed, its grooming is much simpler, as its fur is much shorter and adheres to the body.

TRAINING

As I have presented in this article, Fox Terrier dogs are very cute and intelligent but fiercely stubborn. To have a balanced dog it is necessary to resort to training from an early age. Being a very adventurous dog you need to implement some very important commands: YOU CAN’T STAY HERE
We recommend a leash for this dog because his hunter spirit will make him bark at the first inviting smell, thus risking losing him. And walking patiently on a leash will be a challenge for the Fox Terrier, which is why basic walk training is welcome.
As I was saying, if we want to have a sociable dog, capable of accepting other animals around, we must also teach him this from an early age.
Barking and digging are problems that can become really annoying. Only with training and a lot of patience will we be able to temper them in these fun activities for Fox Terriers

Training, in addition to teaching the dog to be easier to handle, will require his attention and consume a lot of his energy because he is a very attentive dog and very eager to please those who play with him.
Signing up for Agility courses is an excellent solution, in addition to the energy it will consume, it is also very good for this type of activity.
And at home you can keep your four-legged friend busy by providing him with a multitude of commercially available interactive games.

HEALTH

Taste Fox Terriers it is known as a breed without much tendency to get sick. Of course, all dogs can develop certain health problems or inherit them genetically, which is why it is recommended to purchase dogs from licensed kennels. Among the most common diseases in this breed are:

Atopic dermatitis
Cataract
Glaucoma
Thyroid diseases
Hearing loss
Myasthenia gravis

The average lifespan is between 12-14 years, often exceeding 15 years if the dog has had a balanced life.
Before purchasing a Fox Terrier dog it is a good idea to speak to a veterinarian to ask for some information on this breed, as well as whether there are some health tests that you can ask the breeder from whom you intend to purchase the puppy, tests carried out on the parents of the puppy you choose. It’s also a good idea to talk to a trainer who can tell you in more detail what the personality of a dog of this breed is, so you know what to expect.
Being a very energetic dog, if you have a sedentary character, it is best to move towards another breed.

PERSONALITIES WHO HAD FOX TERRIERS:Albert Einstein, Clin Eastwood, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Deanna Durbin, Emilia Clarke, Humphrey Bogart, Josephine Dunn, Lucille Ball, Mary Pickford, Myrna Loy, Olivia de Havilland, Rachel Smith, William Powell