Fun Fox Terrier Facts For Kids

Fox terriers have two varieties of the terrier dog breed, commonly called the Smooth Fox Terriers and the Wire Fox Terriers.

Colonel Thomas Thornton, in the year 1790, was the first person to have a white terrier (as per records). Sawrey Gilpin created a portrait of this terrier, too, and it is clear that Thornton's terrier, Pitch, got a lot of recognition.

A Wire Fox Terrier is known to be handsome, feisty, and happy, whereas Smooth Fox Terriers are known to be intelligent, stylish, and posh.

This dog breed is believed to have descended from the hybridization of the beagle, Pointer, English Toy Terrier, Old English Bulldog, and even the Dalmatian.

A number of breeds have diverged and were created from these two breeds of fox terrier (Wire Fox Terrier and Smooth Fox Terrier) and are now recognized separately and belong to the terrier group, including Miniature Fox Terrier, the Jack Russell Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier, and Rat Terrier.

The Wire and Smooth Fox Terriers share many similar characteristics; the distinction lies in the coat and the markings.

To know more about this fascinating animal, you can check out the facts given below.

If you want to know more about other animals, you can try looking at our other articles on Boxerdoodle and Victorian Bulldog facts.

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Fox Terrier Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a fox terrier?

The fox terrier is a dog breed that has two dog breeds under it, namely Smooth Fox Terrier and Wire Fox Terrier.  

What class of animal does a fox terrier belong to?

The fox terrier (Canis lupus) belongs to the class Mammalia.

How many fox terriers are there in the world?

A particular number that is allotted to their kind is unknown. It has been observed that the number of Wired Fox Terriers is more in the world than the Smooth Fox Terriers.

Where does a fox terrier live?

The fox terrier dog breed is very adaptable, they were bred the most in 19th-century households and were used as hunting dogs, but as the pace of hunting increased, the breeders started breeding fox terriers with longer legs. However, because they increased quite significantly in size, their hunting days got numbered time.

Now, this dog breed is kept as pets, and they can adapt to the space of an apartment.

What is a fox terrier's habitat?

Fox terriers were first found in 18th-century England, where they were used for hunting foxes and bringing them out of their hiding spots.

Who do fox terriers live with?

Fox terriers live with humans as household pets.

How long does a fox terrier live?

Fox terriers live for about 14-16 years on average.

How do they reproduce?

Wirehaired Fox Terrier and Smooth Fox Terrier dogs are healthy breeds with high energy levels and a good sense of humor. The dog becomes mature by the age of 18 months.

If you plan to mate and breed your Wire Fox Terrier, thorough medical history should be checked before mating them with its partner so that the fox terrier puppy doesn't suffer from any genetic disorder.

Make sure that you go through the history of the partners and their parents and ensure that they are not suffering from any serious genetic disorder.

Any serious genetic issue can result in the stunted or improper growth of the new puppies. So, breeding processes have to be done carefully.

What is their conservation status?

The Smooth Fox Terrier has been identified as one of several Vulnerable native breeds in the UK. This happens when there are fewer than 300 annual registrations with The Kennel Club. For example, back in 2016, the Smooth Fox Terrier was identified at number 118, which lowered to 112 in 2019. In 2020, it slightly increased to 122.

Fox Terrier Fun Facts

What do fox terriers look like?

A fox terrier is essentially a tricolor; it is mostly white with black and has brown markings. It has a short tail and v-shaped ears that flop forward, resting on its head.

Its snout is long and its legs are of an appropriate size for its squared body. Wire Fox Terriers have thick eyebrows and splendid chin whiskers.

The Wire Fox Terriers are rough-coated with a hard and crisp thick double coat and a coarse texture under the coat that provides it protection from harsh and chilly climates. Their fur is so dense that their skin cannot be seen or felt. The individual hairs twist themselves, but they can't be called curly.

It looks like the Smooth Fox Terrier with its dark eyes and ears shaped like a V. The Smooth Fox Terrier has a short whitish coat. They have a wedge-shaped head.

How cute are they?

Fox terriers are of short to mid-sized height and are extremely cute. The Wire and Smooth Fox Terrier is particularly considered handsome and stylish with a cutting edge. The dense coat is mostly white, with a tinge of black and tan. This makes the Wired and Smooth Fox Terrier particularly adorable to look at.

How do they communicate?

They communicate with human beings through visual and verbal communications, which include tail positioning, body posture, facial expression, eye gaze, barking, growling, and whimpering. They also often communicate by their gustatory sense(by taste), by releasing pheromones, and through scent trails.

Fox terriers are known as bundles of energy. They may often be found barking or digging, which indicates their excessive curiosity.

Wire Fox Terriers are more active and curious than the Smooth Fox Terrier. You can teach a fox terrier several different tricks and also train them to be a good therapy dog if you want.

They are really intelligent and will respond well to any training if done correctly. If you are trying to help them socialize, it should be done at an early stage when they are starting to grasp the concept of communication and their terrier temperament is developing.

How big is a fox terrier?

The fox terrier is around 14.1-15.3 in (36-39 cm) when it comes to its height. That means it is quite small (almost half the size) when we compare it to the Great Dane. The Great Dane stands at 28-34 in (71-86 cm).

How fast can a fox terrier run?

They can run at a speed of 38 mph (61.2 kmph).

How much does a fox terrier weigh?

An average member of the breed weighs between 15-21 lb (6.8-9.5 kg). A Great Dane is nearly three times the size of a fox terrier.

What are the male and female names of the species?

These dogs don't have specific names for their male and female species. A male fox terrier is called a dog, and a female is called a bitch.

What would you call a baby fox terrier?

A baby fox terrier is called a puppy.

What do they eat?

The puppies of the two breeds, Smooth Fox Terrier and Wire Fox Terriers, need food specially formulated to meet their dietary needs for early development. Puppies, when they are three to six months, require three feedings each day.

From six months to a year old, two feedings each day are enough to supply nutrition and fuel your puppy’s high energy level. After they cross their first year, the dogs are allowed to have adult dog food and bite-sized snacks or treats.

Are they slobbery?

The Wire and Smooth Fox Terrier do not drool much. The Wire and Smooth Fox Terrier could be a perfect match for you if you like to be clean and wish for stuff to stay high on the cleanliness meter. Minimal drooling naturally means fewer slobber marks.

Would they make a good pet?

Most fox terrier make excellent family dogs. They are independent and highly intelligent and have a strong sense of loyalty to family members.

Fox terriers are one of the happiest dogs out there with a good temperament. They are small and cuddly and can easily fit in a lap. On the other hand, they are also sporty enough for mountain hikes.

Even though training can become a little tough owing to the breed's individualism, they make fantastic pets. However, all being said, fox terrier need proper training before they can be socialized with other canines as they can turn unfriendly owing to their history; they have a natural hunting drive in them.

Fox terriers have won the title of Best in Show not just once but around fifteen times, which is the highest number for any dog breed.

If you are already a proud owner of this happy breed or if you are planning to get Smooth Fox Terriers or Wire Fox Terriers as a family pet, you are signing up for something extremely exciting and wonderful.

However, you need to keep in mind that you must be able to provide an environment that is suited for a fox terrier, and if that is sorted, you are looking at the most beautiful companionship one can ask for.

Primarily the fox terrier was originally used to eliminate foxes during hunts by removing them from their hiding spots. However, now they’re family-friendly pets and are often seen in dog shows. However, you can occasionally spot them during hunting in countries of the northeastern United States, where they still perform their traditional role.

The fox terrier is a pet dog that many iconic celebrities have had throughout history. This dog will not think twice before picking a fight with other dogs, so it is advisable to make them socialize from a very young age, when they are just a puppy.

The owners need to spend a lot of time in order to build a strong relationship with this breed and any other pets that the owner has in the house.

Like all other dog breeds, early socialization with children makes them of very gentle temperament. However, to be safe, if you have a garden or backyard, keep your fence high and your dog on a leash so that they don't run away!

The average litter size of a fox terrier breed, including both its subspecies, varies from three to six puppies with an average life expectancy of 11-14 years. When these puppies are born, they should be vaccinated, and they need training from early on as the fox terrier temperament is quite playful, and they have a high energy level.

Fox terrier puppies have a mischievous drive, especially before they learn the dos and don’ts of your household.

You should avoid leaving them alone without supervision.

If the puppy or the dogs are not monitored with proper training and exercise, they may destroy furniture and other things that might catch their attention.

Also, like all other breeds, you should keep a check on their weight, skin, coat, and other behavioral aspects as they can shed light on any health conditions that the dog is going through.

Did you know...

One of the unique behaviors of a Wire Fox Terrier is its tail. Unlike all other dogs, Wire Fox Terriers have a quivering tail, and not one that wags. This tail is strong and straight and has the strength to allow the dogs to pull themselves out of trouble.

The Smooth Fox Terrier dog breed is the first breed from the fox terrier group that was recognized on an official basis by the Kennel Club of England in 1875.

Smooth Fox Terriers are quite bold. They can be quite friendly too, but they are well-known as watchdogs.

Fox terriers were developed with a specific purpose based on their hunting tendencies. They are generally used for hunting out birds and foxes. They were bred in such a manner so that their white coat could be more prominent. This would help hunters distinguish them from foxes.

Snowy from 'The Adventures Of Tintin' series is a Wire Fox Terrier. Herge got the inspiration of Snowy from a frequently-visited cafe owner's fox terrier.

Characteristics and health issues

This fun-loving dog breed is susceptible to a lot of health conditions, and they need to be taken proper care of. Fox terriers love to eat and can often become overweight.

They need plenty of exercise and training, and their calorie intake needs to be measured and monitored to keep a check on their weight. Fox terriers are also susceptible to deafness.

It is advisable not to breed them in case they turn deaf over the course of time. Fox terriers also suffer from cataracts, in which they are unable to see things properly.

However, it is possible to surgically remove it and restore the vision.

They also suffer from hip dysplasia, which is a genetic disorder in which there is a defect in the hip bone connecting the hip joint. If a fox terrier suffers from it, it would suffer pain in the rear legs or can also be prone to arthritis.

This dog breed is also known to suffer from lens luxation, in which the lens of the eye is misplaced because of the disorientation of the eye ligament. Fox terriers are also known to suffer from Legg-Perthes disease, in which the dogs suffer from a deformity in the ball of the hip joint.

In this case, the dogs suffer from arthritis too. The good news is it can be surgically repaired.

Getting your own fox terrier

Getting your own dog and choosing one from the terrier group can be an excellent option if you are committed to the relationship. You should check local shelters and rescue groups if you are interested in adopting a beautiful fox terrier.

If you prefer to buy, ensure you use a trusted breeder or pet shop. It might cost you around the $1000 mark.

These dog breeds need proper training and exercise to keep a check on their weight. Since the dogs are extremely intelligent, they might easily get distracted.

The trick is to keep them occupied and start the exercise and training from an early age. They also need regular grooming sessions; their coat needs to be brushed on a regular basis to keep the skin healthy.

Even though these dogs shed very little, yet it needs their grooming time to keep the hair follicle stimulated, and prevents the coat from getting tangled.

Like all dogs, they need a lot of care from human parents. They can be great family dogs and are well-adjusted with children.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals, including Rottweiler Lab mix, or Italian wolf.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our terrier coloring pages.