INTRODUCTION

The Fox Terrier was originally bred to draw foxes out of hiding during hunts. Today they are primarily family companions and show dogs, although you will occasionally find them in the Northeastern United States’ hunting country, still in their traditional role. Although they are purebred dogs, you can still find them in shelters and rescues. Remember to adopt. Don’t go shopping if you want to take a dog home. Fox Terriers are very intelligent dogs, and they have a lot of energy. It’s best that they be with humans who provide them with plenty of exercise and playtime, or else they might find their own ways to entertain themselves with unwanted behavior. Keep your dog physically and mentally stimulated, and you’ll have a loving and playful companion.

HIGHLIGHTS

Fox Terriers like to eat and can become overweight. Fox Terriers can be difficult to housebreak, so crate training is recommended.Fox Terriers bark a lot and their barking is often high pitched.Fox Terriers are prone to chase rabbits, birds, cats and even other dogs. They are very skittish and will fight with other dogs, even those that are much larger than they are. Be sure to keep your Fox Terrier on a leash when not in a safe area.Fox Terriers should not be left alone with non-canine pets unless they have been trained to get along with them.Fox Terriers are very energetic and need 30 to 45 minutes of vigorous exercise each day. If they do not have the opportunity to burn off their natural energy, they can become destructive or become nuisance barkers.Although they are loyal to their families and love to play, Fox Terriers are too rough and energetic to play with small children.Fox Terriers are escape artists. They can jump higher than you think and dig holes or try to escape from their yards.Fox Terriers are a fairly rare breed. If you are going to buy a puppy, you may find it difficult to find a good breeder, and even when you find one, you may have to wait several months for a litter to be born.

HISTORY

Given the jumping nature of the Flat-Coat, it is appropriate that one of his ancestors was named Old Bounce. Old Bounce and his daughter, Young Bounce, were important to the development of the breed. They were members of a line of working retrievers owned by gamekeeper J. Hull in 1864, but the man most credited with the development of the breed was H.E. Shirley, who helped mould them into a stable type. The Flat-Coat was a very popular hunting dog until the end of World War I, but then the Labrador and Golden Retriever began to steal the show. Their numbers dwindled dangerously and they flirted with extinction on a couple of occasions. Fortunately, its fans managed to pull it out of the abyss in the mid-1960s. The Flat-Coat never regained its initial popularity, but breeders consider it an asset. It remains a rare breed, ranking 100th out of 155 breeds and varieties registered by the American Kennel Club. If you want a Flat-Coat, expect to spend a year or more on a waiting list, not to mention undergoing the third degree from a protective breeder who wants to make sure you will provide the right home for one of his puppies.