The Fox Terrier has not changed too much since its emergence over 200 years ago. They are still the same feisty barking, chewing, digging Terriers that they’ve always been. The breed is primarily a companion dog today and there is never a dull moment with them around. These little guys are very intelligent and are often mischievous, which is sometimes not the greatest combination. You will often find yourself laughing and wondering how your pup outsmarted you again.
The “Foxy” was originally developed in the late 18th century in England. This was around the time when fox hunting became extremely popular, and hunters needed a dog that was both small and spunky that would be able to flush foxes out of their dens. The job of the Fox Terrier was to lead the foxes toward either Foxhounds or the hunters themselves. The 15-19 pound Terrier was excellent at what they did. The breed was once royalty as well, King Edward VII had a Fox Terrier that he was very close with. When Edward died in 1910, his pup was following behind the casket during the funeral procession.
There are two types of Foxy’s: Smooth Fox Terriers and Wired Fox Terriers. The original Fox Terrier was a Smooth type, however, they are very seldomly seen today. The main difference between the two types is simply their coats, which differ in the same way that their names suggest. The breed is highly intelligent and has become very popular in obedience competitions. They are trainable and will always be ready to learn some new tricks, as long as there are some yummy treats involved.
Early socialization is very important when it comes to raising this dog. They are known to be quite scrappy with other dogs and will not shy away from going up against a dog much larger than them. When these pups aren’t busy digging, they will be on high alert to defend their territory, you can be sure that they will immediately alert you any time there is something out of the ordinary. The high energy level of the Foxy is not something that every owner can handle, they can sometimes be a handful to take care of, however, you can be sure that you will rarely be bored with these little guys around.
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