First developed by crossing ancient Dachschunds, English Hounds, Fox Hounds and Beagles, this is the oldest type of terrier, dating back to the 17th century in the British Isles. Farmers used Smooth Terriers to hunt animals that would terrorize their stock, such as fox and rats. Through relentless digging, barking and growling, the Fox Terrier would eventually get its prey by sheer tenacity. The Smooth Fox Terrier was set apart from other types of terriers back in 1876, making it different from the wirehaired dogs.
Males can reach a height of 14 to 16 inches tall while females reach 13 to 15 inches tall. Males weigh 15 to 20 pounds, while females weigh between 13 and 18 pounds.
Personality
The Smooth Fox Terrier is brave, bold, cheerful, friendly, lovable, enthusiastic and playful. It is a great companion dog for kids, displaying plenty of devotion and loyalty for its family. If let loose, this terrier will likely seek out and kill small prey like rabbits and mice. Because it likes to explore, it needs to be kept on a leash within a fenced-in yard. It gets along with other dogs if you socialize it early on. This intelligent breed takes well to tricks and is a quick learner. The Smooth Fox Terrier is full of energy so it can become quite frustrated when it's not given the proper outlet for daily exercise. Behavior issues include excessive barking, guarding its food, jealousy, separation anxiety, aggressiveness, destructiveness, growling, biting and snapping. These behaviors are a direct result of its owners, so proper obedience training is required to keep this dog in line.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 12 - 15 years |
| Nicknames: | No nicknames known |
Smooth Fox Terrier Build Information
Males can reach a height of 14 to 16 inches tall while females reach 13 to 15 inches tall. Males weigh 15 to 20 pounds, while females weigh between 13 and 18 pounds.
| Size: | Small |
Behaviour and Personality
The Smooth Fox Terrier is brave, bold, cheerful, friendly, lovable, enthusiastic and playful. It is a great companion dog for kids, displaying plenty of devotion and loyalty for its family. If let loose, this terrier will likely seek out and kill small prey like rabbits and mice. Because it likes to explore, it needs to be kept on a leash within a fenced-in yard. It gets along with other dogs if you socialize it early on. This intelligent breed takes well to tricks and is a quick learner. The Smooth Fox Terrier is full of energy so it can become quite frustrated when it's not given the proper outlet for daily exercise. Behavior issues include excessive barking, guarding its food, jealousy, separation anxiety, aggressiveness, destructiveness, growling, biting and snapping. These behaviors are a direct result of its owners, so proper obedience training is required to keep this dog in line.
| Activity Level: | Very active |
| Affection Level: | Very affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Kid friendly |
Appearance
Easy to maintain, the coat of the Smooth Fox Terrier needs to be brushed only as necessary, preferably with a firm bristle brush. Occasional baths or shampoos may be necessary, with shedding occurring on an average seasonal basis.
| Shedding: | Moderate |
| Grooming: | Low maintenance |
Smooth Fox Terrier Common Health Conditions
This breed is prone to deafness primarily in white Smooth Fox Terriers, as well as mast cell tumors. Other minor health issues include post-nasal drip, lens luxation, cataracts, distichiasis, cataracts, Legg-Perthes disease and shoulder dislocation.
Smooth Fox Terrier Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
Because of its history of being a hunting dog, this energetic breed needs daily walks and opportunities to run around in a fenced-in yard. There are no known nicknames for this breed, although it is typically shortened to Fox Terrier for easy identification. The life expectancy of the Smooth Fox Terrier is 15 years max
| Training: | Hard to train |