Toy Foxillon

The Toy Foxillon was created from crossing a Toy Fox Terrier with a Papillon. But other than that, there’s little known regarding its origin. Concerning the Toy Fox Terrier, its origins go back as far as the 1500s in England, where Terriers originated. This breed descends from the Smooth Fox Terrier, which was created to aid in fox hunting. The Smooth Fox Terrier’s size range was pretty wide, with dogs weighing from 7 to 20 pounds. The small dogs were more acclaimed, as they were known for being feistier and would excel in ratting, hunting, and guarding tasks. The Smooth Fox Terrier was registered in the United Kennel Club in 1912 and all sizes were registered within the same breed. Since the 1920 several fanciers started petitioning to have the smaller dogs recognized as a different breed. It wasn’t until 1936 where the Toy Fox Terrier was finally acknowledged as a separate breed by the UKC, and it got the American Kennel Club’s recognition in 2003. On the other hand, the Papillon is known to be depicted in several portraits during the 16^th century. Artists like Watteau, Rubens, Boucher, Van Dyke, Fragonard, and Rembrandt, often painted Papillons and their mistresses. These little dogs were highly popular amongst court ladies in Europe and were carried by traders through France, Spain, and Italy. The Papillon’s ancestors had floppy ears, until in the 17^th century, during the court of Louis XIV, the Papillon with pointy, standing ears that we know today, was developed. The breed received the name “Papillon” (butterfly in French), for its feathered, pointy ears that give him a butterfly appearance. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1915.