A relatively new breed, the Toy Fox Terrier is a favorite among people who like terriers and who want a travel companion dog. With a satin-life, short-haired satin coat and with a terrier’s distinctive ears and body frame, this is definitely one of those toy breeds with a larger-than-life personality. Smart and eager to please, this is a great training dog who will lap up your affection. And with minimal grooming and care needs, the Toy Fox has quickly become one of the most popular dog breeds.
…HAVE EVERYTHING?
Size and Travel Options
Standing at 8.5-11.5 inches tall and weighing between 3.5-9 pounds, only the tallest dogs in this breed will have any trouble being able to travel with you in the cabin of a plane. With its social and outgoing personality, non-stop barking or travel anxiety is rarely an issue.
While many terriers are considered hypoallergenic, this breed is one of the exceptions. So just keep this in mind for your family or before letting your pet roam trains, subways, airports, or other public travel spots. Plus, it’s also important to watch out for smaller animals, especially rodents and birds, since this breed can have a potentially strong prey drive.
Personality as a Travel Companion
The Toy Fox Terrier is great for the business traveler or long-trip adventurer who may not be able to keep up with a heavy grooming schedule. You can help along the dog’s natural shedding with a brushing, but this short-haired terrier really just needs an occasional bath to look its best. This energetic dog is willing to serve as dutiful lapdog as long as you’re giving it plenty of attention and providing regular opportunities for exercise.
As much as you’ll need to be mindful of smaller pets when traveling, the dog’s prey drive can be a plus for hotel and household pest control alike. But with the dog’s intelligence and eagerness, you can mold a Toy Fox Terrier into a trick-performing dog, faithful hunter, or lapdog. Regardless, expect this breed to bring a charming, even beguiling, personality to the task.
Health and Longevity
Despite the breed’s short history, this dog has proven itself to be a healthy and sturdy dog. It does share many of the same health concerns as other toy sized breed including patellar luxation and eye conditions. But even more than most toy breeds, the Toy Fox can struggle with obesity. The breed should ideally stay between 3.5-7 pounds, but many will trend closer to 9 pounds. For the healthiest and longest-living pets, don’t let your terrier overeat. Trimmed nails, dental health, and periodic vet check-ups are recommended, but most dogs will go their adult lives will little, if any, veterinary care. The life expectancy of the Toy Fox Terrier is 13-15 years.
Toy Fox Terrier Breeders and Adoption Centers
The Toy Fox Terrier was created in the early 1900s by miniaturizing the Smooth Fox Terrier with toy-sized breeds. Ideally, the breed standard aims for 9-10 inches tall and 3.5-7 pounds. This is a big reason why if you’re interested in a puppy that won’t outgrow its ability to travel with you, it can be a good idea to reach out to a breeder. But since this has become such a popular dog breed, it’s usually not too hard to find one. Thus, the overall range of costs for this breed are some of the highest we’ve seen. From a rescue or adoption center, you might pay somewhere around $300, For a neighborhood litter or casual breeder, you might pay somewhere around where $400-$800, while top breeders with healthy puppies of strong pedigree might ask anywhere between $800-$4000+.