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Frequently Asked Questions
What are Toy Fox Terriers?
TFTs are, as their name implies, both a toy and a terrier.The breed is considered a 'rat terrier' type of terrier, bred primarily to hunt rats. The breed evolved from generic rat terriers until the 1930s when they were recognized as a breed unique to itself. TFTs were recognized on January 1st, 2003, by the American Kennel Club as a member of the Toy Group. However, like the other terriers in that group, they are as much terrier as toy. They are bright, active little dogs who thrive on attention from their people.
How big are they?
The breed standard requires that dogs be under 7 pounds. Most of our dogs are between 5 and 6 pounds. Occasionally we will get a puppy who grows to be larger, but this is uncommon. Most TFTs are around 7-8" at the shoulder.
Do they shed?
Yes, they do.. It's very minimal, but still there. They are pretty low-maintenance as far as grooming goes- they don't need anything regularly but do like being rubbed down with a grooming glove occasionally.
Are Toy Fox Terriers good with children?
Generally yes, as long as the kids are good with dogs.However, all dogs should be supervised with children.
Are they good with other animals?
When well socialized and properly introduceed, they are generally great with other animals. Many of ours really like cats. They also do well with other dogs, but birds or small animals should probably not be left alone with them. They -are- terriers.
How much exercise do they need?
TFTs are fairly laidback dogs overall when compared with larger family dogs, on a par with other toy breeds. Their size makes it possible for them to get most of their exercise indoors without a problem. They really enjoy walks though, and individual dogs can vary in their activity level.
How long do they live?
The average lifespan is 12-15 years, and older dogs aren't unheard of.
What health problems are there in the breed?
In very small dogs (under 3 pounds as an adult), heart defects are not unknown. Open fontenelles are not unknown either but most close by 6 months of age. We will not sell dogs that have not been health cleared by a vet for both problems.
What kind of activities do they enjoy?
We participate in go-to-ground events, which test a terrier's ability to enter a burrow and follow it to prey. In the past, we've also done field trials and we're beginning to get involved in agility. While we find that our dogs really like to participate in these things, they're also perfectly happy to be lap and couch dogs.
Are they easy to train?
Generally, yes. They are very intelligent dogs, and learn very quickly. However, they don't do well with heavy-handed training methods and are more suited to reward-heavy training such as clicker training.
Do you ship puppies?
Not at this time. We feel that although adult dogs can be shipped safely, puppies are just too delicate to handle the stress, particularly in case of a mishap.