All About
Toy Fox
Terrier Dogs
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The Toy Fox Terrier, a.k.a. the Amertoy
By: Stephanie Hetu
Of the thirty-three major terrier breeds (most of which were
first used for hunting of some sort and so came up as aggressive
and lively), the Toy Fox Terrier has a positive reputation as
being the runt of the Smooth Fox Terrier group. And despite its
diminutive size, the Toy Fox Terrier is one of the scrappiest and
toughest of terriers.
It started, in the 15th century, with the smooth-haired Fox
Terrier being favored by the British to go to ground for small
game animals and moved to the 18th century when the English made
fox hunting the ideal sport, the hunt masters (the one assigned
to kill the fox) chose terriers to be by their sides. Then, the
hunters became dismayed that the terrier's legs were too short to
keep up with the foxhounds and started a plan which generated a
great number of hunt kennels, where the smooth-haired Fox Terrier
was bred, developed, and improved upon to meet the hunt masters»
needs and standards.
In the latter part of the 18th century, terrier owners noticed
that the runts of the 18 to 20 pound terriers proved to be what
one breeder calls the scrappiest. It was their laudable
temperament that impressed breeders enough to create and develop
a smaller version by crossing the prized Smooth Fox Terrier with
toy breeds (such as the Manchester Toy and the Chihuahua),
establishing by 1876 a standard Toy Fox Terrier that was by the
early 1920's the hunter's cherished foxer. Now down to about
seven pounds and measuring about 8 ½ to 11 ½ inches, the
tenacious, confrontational, and agile breed was one of the finest
and most loyal of the working dogs.
But while today's Toy Fox Terriers are still determined,
undaunted animals that are still considered and used as working
terriers, they are also lively and loving and loveable as pets.
Also sometimes called the Amertoy (American Toy Fox Terrier),
this lively, lithe, pocket-sized pooch is smart (trainable),
spunky (entertaining), and easy to spoil (so loveable is it).
They fit anywhere, eat very little, and require no special
grooming.
The Toy Fox Terrier has few needs, that is. It only needs a
weekly brushing (to prevent matting), and needs very little
exercising, as it gets much from being active by nature running
about your home and property. But outside conditions are usually
not good for the Toy Fox, as it cannot tolerate extreme cold or
extreme heat and detests getting wet. In addition, it is not a
pet for children, as it is too fragile for typical roughhousing
that might have the kids unintentionally injuring it. Still, the
stamina and devotion is there, making the Toy Fox Terrier a
superb companion.
For more really great info and lot's of fun stuff for
Terrier Dogs & Terrier Dog Lovers.....Please visit:
Happy Terrier Dogs A virtual Paradise for
Terrier Dogs
Reprinted with permission
Copyright © 2005
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