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TOY FOX TERRIER — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION
Breed Description / Health Issues / Breed Standards / Grooming / Training / Additional Information
Breed Description
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| Breed Registries: |
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Note: The breed registries indicated above are the most recognized all-breed registries. The breed may also be recognized by other registries not indicated here. For further details about dog registries, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America.
* — See Update Re: Newly Recognized Breeds (28 February 2006). As of March 1, 2006, the breed can be recognized for registration purposes in accordance with the CKC policies governing recognition. Effective June 1, 2006, the breed will also be eligible to compete in CKC approved events.
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| Origin: |
Great Britain |
| Height: |
8.5 to 11.5 inches |
| Weight: |
3 ½ to 7 lbs. (1.5 to 3 Kg) |
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Also known as the Amertoy (short for American Toy Fox Terrier), the Toy Fox Terrier is a descendant of the Smooth Fox Terrier which originated in England. He is a true American developed through a cross of small Smooth Fox Terriers with various types of toy breeds, including the Italian Greyhound, Miniature Pinscher, and the Chihuahua. Although smaller than the Smooth Fox Terrier, he is still a working terrier.
The Toy Fox Terrier remains playful all of his life. He is spirited, determined, easily trained, alert, loyal, fearless and very intelligent. He is a fast learner, eager to please, and adapts well to almost any situation. He makes a wonderful companion and is said to anticipate his master's moods and thoughts. He posesses the terrier's keen intelligence, courage and animation as well as the toy's devotion and loyalty to his family.
The Amertoy's appearance is athletic, graceful and agile, giving an impression of effortless movement, strength and stamina. His coat is short, satiny, fine in texture and smooth to touch. He is usually white with black and/or tan markings with the head mainly black or tan.
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Health Issues:
Though generally a very healthy breed, the Toy Fox Terrier is susceptible to certain health problems, including:
- Demodectic Mange — A skin disease caused by microscopic parasitic mites.
- Patellar Luxation — A dislocation of the kneecap (patella). This may result from injury or from congenital deformities. All breeding dogs should be screened for Patellar Luxation.
- Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease — Generally a disease of small breeds and often confused with congenital hip dysplasia.
- von Willebrand's Disease — An autosomal recessive genetic disease. Affected animals suffer a condition which makes them more likely to bleed abnormally, similar in symptoms to Hemophilia in humans.
- Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter (CHG) — Thyroid hormone is essential for normal development and metabolism in dogs, especially during the rapid growth period that puppies experience. Pups affected with CHG are abnormal from just a few days of age. They do not move around as much as normal pups, and the head may appear large in comparison to the body. By the age of three weeks, most affected pups will have died or have been euthanized. Recent studies have shown that the disorder is inherited as a simple autosomal recessive trait. For a puppy to have CHG, it must receive the allele of the disease gene from both parents, and male and female puppies are equally affected. The parents of affected pups show no outward signs of disease, but they are obligate carriers. On average, in a breeding program, both male and female carriers will pass on their mutant alleles to 50% of all their offspring. When two carriers are inadvertently mated, on average 25% of the puppies will have CHG. That means that in litters from such matings, there may be some combination of CHG and normal pups, all CHG puppies, or all normal puppies. Unidentified carriers in breeding programs continue to spread the mutant allele throughout the Toy Fox Terrier breed. The genetic basis of CHG in Toy Fox Terriers has been discovered, and a DNA-based carrier test is now available. This test is offered to Toy Fox Terrier breeders through the Laboratory of Comparative Medical Genetics at Michigan State University in hopes that it will be used to eliminate CHG from TFT breeding programs. See: Procedure for submitting samples for DNA carrier testing of Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter (CHG) in Toy Fox Terriers (TFT)
If you are considering the adoption of a Toy Fox Terrier puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards
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Bailey
Photo courtesy of Angie Lovell
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Grooming Information:
- Grooming — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.
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Training Resources:
- Training — For information on training your Toy Fox Terrier, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
- Toy Breeds—Housebreaking
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Additional Information:
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Bailey
