Toy Fox Terrier

3-7 lbs
8-11"
United States
American Toy Terrier, Amertoy, TFT

The Toy Fox Terrier is an American breed that is a direct descendant of the Smooth Fox Terrier. The breed was created in the 1900s to help get rid of rats and other small vermin. The Toy Fox Terrier is very smart, alert, playful and fearless and is said to be a big dog inside a little dog’s body. Hunters of today still use them to go down into a fox’s den to flush the fox into the open.  A hunter can easily fit the dog in his pocket or backpack. The Toy Fox Terrier’s short coat is easy to groom; their appearance is agile and athletic. This confident little canine is full of fun and spunk. 

purpose Purpose
hunting squirrels and rodents
history Date of Origin
1800s
ancestry Ancestry
smooth fox terrier, chihuahua, miniature pinscher, manchester terrier

Toy Fox Terrier Health

Sketch of Toy Fox Terrier
Average Size
Male Toy Fox Terrier size stats
Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 3-7 lbs
Female Toy Fox Terrier size stats
Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 3-7 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Lens Luxation
  • Von Willebrand's Disease
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Minor Concerns
  • Allergies
  • Hypothyroidism
Occasional Tests
  • Eye
  • Hip
  • Dna For Vwd
  • X-Rays
  • Eye Examination
  • Allergy Tests

Toy Fox Terrier Breed History

The Toy Fox Terrier was developed in the United States in the 1900s by breeding the Smooth Fox Terrier and several smaller breeds, which may have included the Toy Manchester Terrier, Miniature Pinscher and the Chihuahua. The idea of the Toy Fox Terrier came to those involved in breeding after Smooth Fox Terrier litters had runts born in the group. The Smooth Fox Terrier had been brought over to the United States from the UK in the 1870s. The Smooth Fox Terrier was first registered in the United Kingdom in 1875. The main purpose of the Toy Fox Terrier when first developed in the 1900s was to get rid of vermin. Because of their small size and agility, they were also often seen performing in traveling three-ring circuses. The Toy Fox Terrier is a toy breed which retained the Terrier hunting instincts and courage of the descendants from earlier days. The breed was first recognized and registered by the United Kennel Club in 1936. The National Toy Fox Terrier Association was founded in 1949 and they developed the breed’s standards. This lively dog was admitted into the AKC’s Toy Group in 2003. The breed loves being the center of attention and these delightful dogs are often seen in TV commercials. Additionally, the Toy Fox Terrier does very well in hunting trials, flyball races and in earthdog trial competitions. The earthdog trial tests the working ability and hunting instincts of small dogs.

Toy Fox Terrier Breed Appearance

The Toy Fox Terrier is a well-balanced Toy dog.  They have an athletic appearance with defined muscles. The Toy Fox Terrier coat is short, fine and smooth.  The hair is a little longer at the ruff. Primarily white in color, the coat also comes in several combinations such as tricolor (black, tan and white), white and tan, and white and black.  The combination of white, chocolate and tan is allowed in AKC but not the UKC.  The prominent eyes of this breed are round and dark in color. They have an alert and intelligent expression. The Toy Fox Terrier’s ears are erect and pointed and are close together, but do not touch. The skull is slightly rounded, the cheeks are flat and also muscular. The Toy Fox Terrier’s muzzle is strong and proportionate to the head. Their teeth have a scissor bite. Their nose is black, except for the chocolate colored dogs (self-colored). Their feet are small and oval; the toes are strong and closely knit with deep pads. The tail is short and high set. Breeders often dock the tail about three-fifth of the way from the tip. Their gait of the Toy Fox Terrier is smooth and full of confidence.

Appearance of Toy Fox Terrier
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Toy Fox Terrier eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Toy Fox Terrier nose
Black
brown Toy Fox Terrier nose
Brown
Coat Color Possibilities
black Toy Fox Terrier coat
Black
brown Toy Fox Terrier coat
Brown
white Toy Fox Terrier coat
White
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Toy Fox Terrier straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Toy Fox Terrier Breed Maintenance

The Toy Fox Terrier’s short coat is easy to groom.  Weekly brushing can help remove dead hair.  This breed sheds moderately to frequently so adequate brushing is a must. The breed is fairly active and should be walked daily. It is important to provide a high-quality dog food as many Toy Fox Terriers have food intolerances or are allergic to corn, wheat, fillers and beet pulp. Their teeth should be brushed weekly.  Denta-bones can also help prevent tartar build-up. Nails should be trimmed monthly. Because of their size, the Toy Fox Terrier does well with apartment living, though they are barkers. This alert little canine makes an excellent watch dog. The Toy Fox Terrier does better in warmer climates.

Brushes for Toy Fox Terrier
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Toy Fox Terrier requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Toy Fox Terrier Temperament

The breed can have a bit of the Napoleon complex, which makes him believe he is the boss. There is a lot of personality within this little guy. He must be taught boundaries. It is important to train and socialize a Toy Fox Terrier at a young age. A loving breed, they can also be willful and stubborn. Because they are not as high energy as other Terriers they can make a great companion for an active elderly person. The Toy Fox Terrier can also make a wonderful family pet but are not recommended for families with small children. A toddler can accidentally hurt the toy breed, which may make him bite the child. 

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
6 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
30 minutes
activity minutes

Toy Fox Terrier Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
0.8 cups
Daily Cost
$0.75 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$20.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Toy Fox Terrier Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of Toy Fox Terrier at six months
Male Toy Fox Terrier size stats at six months
Height: 5.5 inches Weight: 2.5 lbs
Female Toy Fox Terrier size stats at six months
Height: 5.5 inches Weight: 2.5 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of Toy Fox Terrier at 12 months
Male Toy Fox Terrier size stats at 12 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 5.0 lbs
Female Toy Fox Terrier size stats at 12 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 5.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of Toy Fox Terrier at 18 months
Male Toy Fox Terrier size stats at 18 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 5.0 lbs
Female Toy Fox Terrier size stats at 18 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 5.0 lbs

Toy Fox Terrier Owner Experiences

Charlee
3 Years
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I got him as a puppy. He's very extremely mischievous. He loves me but any other person he only tolerates. If we go in public he constantly barks and never stops barking. Lol. But honestly I love this little dog so much, and wouldn't trade him for anything. He's very loving.yet also very independent when he wants to be. He's loyal. Very funny personality. Does crazy little things that make me laugh, although I wanna kill him sometimes with the barking the good definitely outweighs the bad in this one.
1 year ago
Boots
6 Months
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I had a TFT prior to Boots and absolutely love this breed. No big poops to clean up, friendly, fun and this dog is a magnet for nice people. People flock to him and just smile so nicely when they see him. He can be a bit of a stinker when he doesn't get his way, but other than that, he is the perfect companion for me.
3 years, 1 month ago
6 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
A very lovely walk with this dog very curious loves to stop and play a very fun time
6 years, 9 months ago
8 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Explore the city
Walk
Run
This little guy's focus was absolutely astonishing. One he got leashed up and outside, his nose was attached to the ground and no amount of enthusiastic talking, treats, or games could get him to think of anything other than sniffing every scent in the neighborhood. At one point he spotted a cat and was ready for the games to begin. He pulled so hard in attempt of pursuit, but fortunately he had a nice harness and I had a strong hand on the leash. He was very disappointed that we weren't launching into the game of the hunt. Once we arrived back at the house he was fantastic. In his own environment he was more than willing to eat treats and show me his repertoire of tricks.
6 years, 9 months ago
Rambo
13 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My dog is very alert loves to bark at people he doesn't know & is also affectionate towards people he does know sometimes .
5 years, 2 months ago
Tequila
2 Years
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
It’s fun you just need to Mach their energy or else they can be too much maintenance
4 years, 2 months ago
Tesla Le
10 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Walk
Run
Hide & Seek
Tug-of-war
Hes extremely smart. He is not stubborn. He is a quiet and stoic dog and respectful. Loves to lay at my feet rafher than sleep against my chest. He very curious, rarely destructive and his energy is relaxed and playful. He almost never ever barks. And he has the cutest yawns I have ever heard. He is definitely not toy sized. at Least 13 pounds despite being full toy fox terrier so that scale must be wrong or i got a miniature fox terrier
3 years, 5 months ago
Super Cooper
4 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Loves to show affection. Perfect alert dog to visitors. Loves to hunt small prey and can't help himself to chase down and attack. Very active and always ready to protect his territory. Fetch is how I burn his energy he can fetch all day. He can be eating and once he sees that ball he can't help himself not to chase and retrieve it. He is also playful and doesn't mind small children. Listens very well on command. Doesnt like baths but he is still and calm when doing so. He has a very good appetite and drinks lots of water. Doesnt care for cold weather but doesnt hate it. Can be difficult to potty train but it can be done. Overall a very intelligent and good on commands well behaved.
3 years, 3 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd