HISTORY
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 eager 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:
Any dog under 8.5 inches or over
11.5 inches.
Ears not erect on any dog over six months of age.
Dudley nose.
Undershot, wry mouth overshot more than 1/8 inch.
A blaze extending into the eye or ears.
Any color combination not stated above.
Any dog whose head is more than fifty-percent white.
Any dog whose body is not more than fifty percent white.
Any dog whose head and body are of different colors.
Effective: April 1, 2002
Final
Approval: August, 2003
