Toy Fox Terrier
About the Toy Fox Terrier
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Toy (under 10 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 8-11" |
| Weight | 3-7 lbs |
| Coat Type | Smooth |
| Coat Length | Short |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Moderate (30-60 min/day)
30 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $800-$1,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $900/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Toy Fox Terriers may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Toy Fox Terrier
The story behind the Toy Fox Terrier
The breed developed in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century from the smallest Smooth Fox Terriers, which American breeders crossed with toy breeds including Manchester Terrier, Chihuahua and Italian Greyhound stock to fix a smaller size while keeping terrier character. The dogs were used on farms as ratters and became popular with travelling circuses and entertainers, where their trainability and showmanship made them natural performers. United Kennel Club acceptance came around the middle of the twentieth century, with the American Kennel Club admitting the dog to its toy group a good deal later. The breed remains chiefly an American one, kept as a companion, earthdog and sport competitor, and it is distinct from the British toy terrier breeds despite superficial similarity. Numbers outside North America remain small.
Originally bred for: Farm ratter, performing and circus dog, companion terrier. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Toy Fox Terrier
Small dogs with fast metabolisms do better on two or three modest meals of a complete toy-breed diet than on one large one, since very small puppies in particular cope poorly with long gaps. Use small kibble, and keep treats tiny given the frame.
Watch for: No breed-specific food intolerance is recognised. Dental disease is common in toy breeds and often explains reluctance to eat, so appetite changes deserve a dental check. Any persistent digestive or skin problem should be assessed by a vet before restricting foods.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for small breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Toy Fox Terrier
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a comfortable no-pull harness.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.