The Toy Fox Terrier is a true American Breed developed by breeding small Smooth Fox Terriers with several toy breeds including the Chihuahua and Manchester Terrier. Today, the Toy Fox Terrier is a well-balanced toy dog of athletic appearance displaying grace and agility in equal measure with strength and stamina. From the hunt to the show ring, the Toy Fox Terrier has become a cherished companion dog and excellent show piece. The Toy Fox Terrier has shown that he is at home in conformation, obedience and agility trials, his favorite spotlight is the center stage of his owner’s life. The Toy Fox Terrier is a toy and a terrier, and both have influenced his personality and character. While retaining the terrier gameness, courage and animation. The cross-breeding with various toy breeds mentioned created a milder disposition. Although easier to live with than many terriers, the Toy Fox Terrier is still a working terrier, and many of them delight in hunting and going to ground. Given the opportunity, the Toy Fox Terrier will pursue the quarry of the backyard or barnyard with diligence. Known to tree squirrels and flush out rodents, the hunt is always welcome. Flyball or fetch are easily learned and perfected for endless hours of activity. However, if you enjoy a lap dog, this little companion appears to know the latest in television entertainment of his household. Children especially enjoy the unending energy and zeal for play throughout this dog’s life.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Toy Fox Terrier is truly a Toy and a Terrier and both have influenced his personality and character. As a Terrier, the TFT possesses keen intelligence, courage, and animation. As a Toy, he is diminutive, and devoted with an endless abiding love for his master. The Toy Fox Terrier is a well-balanced Toy dog of athletic appearance displaying grace and agility in equal measure with strength and stamina. His lithe muscular body has a smooth elegant outline, which conveys the impression of effortless movement and endless endurance. He is naturally well-groomed, proud, animated and alert. Characteristic traits are his elegant head; his short, glossy and predominantly white coat coupled with predominantly solid head and his short high-set tail.
SIZE, PROPORTION AND SUBSTANCE
Size: 8.5 – 11.5 inches, 9-11 inches preferred, 8.5 – 11.5 acceptable. Proportion: The Toy Fox Terrier is square in proportion, with height being approximately equal to length with height measured from withers to ground and length measured from point of shoulder to buttocks. Slightly longer in bitches acceptable. Substance: Bone must be strong, but not excessive and always in proportion to size. Overall balance is important. Disqualification: Any dog under 8.5 inches or over 11.5 inches.
Head
The head is elegant, balanced and expressive with no indication of coarseness. Expression: is intelligent, alert, eager and full of interest. Eyes: Clear, bright and dark, including eye rims, with the exception of chocolates whose eye rims should be self-colored. The eyes are full, round and somewhat prominent, yet never bulging, with a soft intelligent expression. They are set well apart, not slanted, and fit well together into the sockets. Ears: The ears are erect, pointed, inverted V-shaped, set high and close together, but never touching. The size is in proportion to the head and body. Disqualification: Ears not erect on any dog over six months of age. Skull: is moderate in width, slightly rounded and softly wedge-shaped. Medium stop, somewhat sloping. When viewed from the front, the head widens gradually from the nose to the base of the ears. The distance from the nose to the stop is equal to the distance from the stop to the occipital. The cheeks are flat and muscular, with the area below the eyes well filled in. Faults: Apple head. Muzzle: Strong rather than fine, in proportion to the head as a whole and parallel to the top of the skull. Nose: Black only with the exception of self-colored in chocolate dogs. Disqualification: Dudley nose. Lips: are small and tight fitting. Bite: A full complement of strong white teeth meeting in a scissors bite is preferred. Loss of teeth should not be faulted as long as the bite can be determined as correct. Disqualification: Undershot, wry mouth, overshot more than 1/8 inch.
NECK, TOPLINE AND BODY
The neck is carried proudly erect, well set on, slightly arched, gracefully curved, clean, muscular and free from throatiness. It is proportioned to the head and body and widens gradually blending smoothly into the shoulders. The length of the neck is approximately the same as that of the head. The topline is level when standing and gaiting. The body is balanced and tapers slightly from the ribs to flank with length approximately equal to height; females may be slightly longer. The chest is deep and muscular with well-sprung ribs. Depth of chest extends to the point of elbow. The back is straight, level and muscular. Short and strong in loin with moderate tuck-up to denote grace and elegance. The croup is level with the topline and well rounded. The tail is set high, held erect and in proportion to the size of the dog. Docked with to the 3rd or 4th joint.
FOREQUARTERS
Forequarters are well angulated. The shoulder is firmly set and has adequate muscle, but is not overdeveloped. The shoulders are sloping and well laid back, blending smoothly from neck to back. The forechest is well developed. The elbows are close and perpendicular to the body. The legs are parallel and straight to the pasterns, which are strong and straight while remaining flexible. Feet are small and oval, pointing forward turning neither in nor out. Toes are strong, well arched and closely knit with deep pads.
HINDQUARTERS
Hindquarters are well angulated, strong, muscular and free from droop or crouch. The upper and lower thighs are strong, well muscled and of good length. The stifles are clearly defined and well angulated. Hock joints are well let down and firm. The rear pasterns are straight. The legs are parallel from the rear and turn neither in nor out.
COAT
The coat is short, satiny, shiny, fine in texture and smooth to the touch. It is slightly longer at the ruff, uniformly covering the body.
COLOR
Tri-color: Predominantly black head with sharply defined tan markings on cheeks, lips and eye dots. Body is over fifty percent white with or without black body spots. White, Chocolate and Tan: Predominantly chocolate head with sharply defined tan markings on cheeks, lips and eye dots. Body is over fifty percent white with or without chocolate body spots. White and Tan: Predominantly tan head. Body is over fifty percent white with or without tan body spots. White and Black: Predominantly black head. Body is over fifty percent white with or without black body spots. Color should be rich and clear. Blazes are acceptable, but may not touch the eyes or the ears. Clear white is preferred but a small amount of ticking is not to be penalized. Body spots on black headed tri-colors must be black; body spots on chocolate headed tri-colors must be chocolate; both with or without a slight fringe of tan alongside any body spots near the chest and under the tail as seen in normal bi-color patterning. Faults: Color, other than ticking, that extends below the elbow or the hock. Disqualifications: A blaze extending into the eyes or ears. Any color combination not stated above. Any dog whose head is more that fifty percent white. Any dog whose body is not more than fifty percent white. Any dog whose head and Body Spots are of different colors.
GAIT
Movement is smooth and flowing, with the legs moving nearly parallel and in a line at a walk or slow trot. The topline should remain straight and head and tail carriage erect while gaiting. Movement is balanced and coordinated with good reach and strong drive. Fault: Hackney gait.
TEMPERAMENT
The Toy Fox Terrier is intelligent, alert and friendly, and completely loyal to their owners and protective of them. He learns new tasks quickly, is eaer to please, and adapts to almost any situation. The Toy Fox Terrier, like other terriers, is self-possessed, spirited, determined and not easily intimidated. He is highly animated toy dog that is comical, entertaining and playful all his life. Any individuals lacking good terrier attitude and personality are to be faulted.
DISQUALIFICATIONS:
