SMOOTH FOX TERRIER RESCUE

Background Information of Smooth Fox Terriers

The Smooth Fox Terrier was bred to work with the fox hunt. In the 1800's as it was illegal for the English farmers to own large dogs.  There was a tax on all long tailed dogs, so the farmers that had small varmint dogs cut the tails short.  They left enough lenght for a handle to be able to get the dog out of a den or hole if it got stuck when hunting.  Fox Terriers were expected to stand up to quarry larger than themselves and so today have no fear of larger animals.  This attitude today can get them in big trouble. For more information on the Smooth Fox Terrier go to the Fox Terrier Network, Inc. website.

There are four related breeds today.  They are the Smooth Fox Terrier,  the Toy Fox Terrier (bred down from the Smooth) the Rat Terrier (a cross of the Smooth and the Manchester Terrier, plus others) and the Jack Russell Terrier (originally bred from the same root stock by the Rev. Jack Russell).  All are descendants of the now extinct English White Terrier.  Although they are different breeds with special characteristics of their own, they are all true English terriers at heart.

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Webmaster: Pam Bishop copyright 1997, 2008. Smooth Fox Terrier Rescue last updated: 29 May 2008