Fox Terrier
Origin: England
With boundless energy and a bold personality, the Fox Terrier is a lively, intelligent and friendly hunting terrier — small but fearless and playful.
- Size
- Small
- Lifespan
- 12 - 15 years
- Coat
- Wire Coat
- Group
- Terriers
Image:State FarmCC BY 2.0
Coat Variants
Within the same breed standard, this breed comes in different coat types. Temperament and care needs are largely the same; the difference lies in coat texture and grooming routine.
Smooth coat
A short, dense coat that lies flat. It is easy to care for; brushing once a week is enough.
Wire coat
A hard, wiry, slightly wavy coat. It needs regular hand-stripping to maintain its texture.
Gallery
Image:Pleple2000CC BY-SA 3.0 edited
Image:Lilly MCC BY-SA 2.5 edited
Image:P-piter , szablon opisu wstawiony przez Pleple2000CC BY-SA 3.0 edited
Image:FiszkaCC BY-SA 4.0 edited
Image:Pleple2000CC BY-SA 3.0 edited
Image:Britchi MirelaCC BY-SA 4.0 edited
Temperament & Character
Care
About the Breed
Origin and History
The Fox Terrier is an agile hunting terrier developed in England to bolt foxes from their dens during fox hunts. It comes in two types: smooth-coated and wire-coated. It is a classic terrier known for its courage, energy and intelligence.
Appearance and Coat
It has a small, athletic body with an upright stance. The smooth type has a short, flat coat, while the wire type has a hard, wiry coat; it usually carries black-and-tan markings on a white base. It sheds little.
Personality and Temperament
The Fox Terrier is lively, brave and extremely energetic. It has typical terrier determination; it is curious, playful and bold. It is devoted to its family and friendly. It has a strong prey drive; it tends to bark and dig and is prone to running off.
Care, Exercise and Training
The smooth type is easy to groom; the wire type requires periodic hand-stripping. It needs plenty of exercise and play; because of its strong prey drive, a secure area is important. Intelligent but independent, it needs consistent, reward-based training.
Health
It is generally robust. Luxating patella, congenital deafness, a hip joint condition (Legg-Perthes), lens luxation (a DNA test is available) and cataracts may occur. Regular eye check-ups are recommended. The Fox Terrier suits active owners looking for an energetic, brave and playful dog who can give it plenty of exercise and a secure space.
PatiBase tip: Keep all vaccines, check-ups and treatment history in a digital health record, and track vet appointments with reminders in the app.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Fox Terrier
Fox Terrier & Mixes
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