The Fox Terrier is a medium-sized dog breed native to England. Initially it was used for baiting and hunting small burrowing animals (fox, badger).
Differs in extreme curiosity and mobility. Now this is a family breed and an excellent companion for those people who prefer an active lifestyle.
Important! It is not recommended for people with disabilities, as well as pensioners with a passive daily routine.
Description of the breed
There are two species, which in the recent past were one breed:
- The Smooth-haired is a small dog with a strong build, well-developed muscles and powerful limbs. The coat is straight and thick, lying close to the body. Color: completely white; white with brown or black spots; ginger.
- Wirehaired - more common among fox terrier lovers. The main external differences from the first: wiry wool, slightly curly, elastic and rough to the touch. On the back and paws it is stiffer and longer than on the sides and shoulders. Color: two-tone with a predominant white color and red spots; tricolor with black and brown spots on a white background.
How long do they live?
Life expectancy depends on the conditions of maintenance and care. On average (regardless of the species), a fox terrier lives 13 years. But the wire-haired one, due to its greater endurance, can reach 16 years or more.
Character
The difference in character between the two breeds is imperceptible. These dogs are energetic, cheerful, alert, intelligent and cunning. They are prone to mischief and fussiness, so they will never let their owner get bored. Fox Terriers are children at heart and remain so throughout their lives. Due to restlessness, they can cause damage in the apartment, even as adults: tearing wallpaper and furniture, throwing things around, chewing shoes.
Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to education and training. Although in modern life these dogs are almost never used for their intended purpose, the fox terrier has not lost its hunting skills . Hence his passion for digging and loud barking.
Fox Terriers are also jealous, fearless and reckless by nature. They clearly sense the hierarchy in the family, so it is difficult for them to get along with other pets.
Fox Terrier puppies and proper education
Fox Terriers are smart and active, and are easy to train. The puppy quickly remembers the nickname, especially short and sonorous ones. To help him learn it faster, you need to call him by name as soon as he wakes up, stroking him affectionately. If the dog is guilty, you can lightly hit him with a folded newspaper or lightly shake him by the scruff of the neck. You cannot let the dog escape or escape punishment, otherwise it will not recognize its owner.
The first commands that a puppy must learn:
- "Place!";
- "To me!";
- "Ugh!".
When training him to use the toilet, you need to observe which place the puppy chooses to do the task. Then put a soft cloth there. Dogs usually go to the toilet after sleeping or eating. Therefore, the animal can be seated in advance in the chosen place and lightly held.
Important! There is no need to punish your puppy if he makes a puddle. You can’t even rub his nose into it.
Fox Terrier puppies are easy to care for, but require constant attention and care from the owner. A pet is a personal responsibility, so you should carefully monitor its mood and well-being.
Hunting with a fox terrier
Due to their compact size, these dogs easily enter the hole. They are able to pursue prey for a long time without getting tired. Despite the fact that fox terriers were originally bred to hunt burrowing animals and rats, sometimes they are also taken to hunt large game (deer, wild boar, etc.). Bold and courageous, the Fox Terrier is one of the most popular hunting breeds in the world.
What to feed?
These dogs need a lot more food than they might think. The smaller the animal, the faster its metabolism. But you need to take into account not only weight, but also the activity level and age of the pet. The food is dry and natural. You need to decide in advance how you plan to feed your dog. Keep in mind that if you choose a natural diet, you will have to spend a lot of time preparing food.
Important! You cannot mix feeding types. If you have started to accustom your fox terrier to natural products, then later switching him to dry food will be very difficult and harmful to the animal’s body.
Puppy
Puppies up to three months are fed six times a day, gradually reducing the number of meals. So, by the age of six months the animal will already be fed up to four times a day, and by eight months it will completely switch to two feedings a day, like adults.
Important! Accustom puppies to a diet from an early age. Don't feed them at night. Normal metabolism depends on this.
Newborn puppies feed only on their mother's milk.
After reaching three weeks, you can start complementary feeding in the form of finely chopped boiled eggs. After another couple of weeks, it is recommended to give cottage cheese, cheese, natural milk - the diet should include a lot of protein.
After this, the puppy is gradually accustomed to meat (no more than ten grams per day). Already from three months, cartilage, bones and raw vegetables (pumpkin, carrots) are allowed. And from six months - offal and boiled sea fish, low-fat sausages. For rapid growth and weight gain, porridges are prepared: semolina, oatmeal, etc.
If you plan to feed your puppy dry food, you should start at three weeks of age. At first, the food must be mixed with water.
Adult dog
Adult dogs need a lot of calories, especially in the first years of life. As in the case of puppies, it is important for them to receive a lot of animal protein (two-thirds of the total food): boiled and raw meat (beef, lamb, chicken), as well as fish and eggs .
Porridge and vegetables will provide the fox terrier with vegetable protein and fiber. An adult dog's food should be healthy and varied. To prevent “boring”, it is enough to combine products with each other. For example, add vegetables (zucchini, cabbage) or meat to porridge.
Important! It is unacceptable to feed your dog scraps from your table. Human food contains seasonings, salt and chemical additives, which will negatively affect your pet's health.
Feeding recommendations
To raise a healthy and active fox terrier, from an early age it is necessary to provide the puppy with proper feeding, the basis of which is a balanced diet of nutrients and energy. For puppies, it is better to use food containing components to strengthen the immune system and maintain the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This food is Purina® PRO PLAN® Small & Mini Puppy dry complete food with OPTISTART® complex for puppies of small and toy breeds.
It is recommended that adult Fox Terriers be fed Purina® PRO PLAN® Small & Mini Adult complete dry food with OPTIBALANCE® Complex to maintain the dog's overall health in excellent condition.
Care
The Fox Terrier is a breed characterized by good health and ease of care. Adapted to life in apartments and outdoors.
Important! If your dog is kept outdoors, you should check the fences daily for signs of undermining. Fox Terriers are restless by nature and love to dig.
Basic rules of care:
- Walking: at least twice a day. At the same time, try to keep the dog busy with something (playing with a ball, running a race). It is advisable to give your Fox Terrier active physical activity if you do not want chaos to settle in your apartment.
Important! Be sure to walk on a leash! The Fox Terrier, having a fighting disposition and a strong hunting instinct, is capable of becoming uncontrollable and getting into fights with other animals.
- Examination of ears and teeth once a month. To prevent infections, pluck hair from the ears.
- Bathe no more than once a month. Wash the paw pads every time after a walk and inspect for cracks.
- Trim nails as they grow.
- Regular grooming .
Interesting! Fox Terriers hardly shed. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to removing the dog’s “overripe” coat.
There are several methods of caring for the coat of this breed: trimming, shearing and rolling .
Trimming
It involves removing hair by plucking it all over the body using a special comb. It's easy to check if trimming is necessary.
To do this, grab a tuft of wool with your fingers and gently pull it up. If some of the wool remains in your hands, then the time has come. The trimming process itself is very tiring for both the dog and the owner. It is important to accustom your puppy to this from early childhood (from four or five months). Before plucking the fox terrier, carefully comb it with a comb with sparse metal teeth, removing excess undercoat. After this, trimming begins directly: dead cover is removed from the body, leaving length on the muzzle (mustache and beard) and paws, forming a breed standard. Conducted three times a year.
A haircut
Some owners wonder if there is a difference in results between trimming and cutting? The answer to this question is clear. Grooming wire-haired dogs damages the animal's outer coat, thinning the coat. But there are situations when the dog is so neglected that clipping with scissors is indispensable. In this case, they first go over the coat with scissors, carefully thinning out the rolled fur, and then trim it.
Rolling
It is a type of trimming, but tucking is done in more detail, forming three layers for the fox terrier. Suitable for dogs with coarse, thick hair and the obligatory presence of undercoat. It is carried out in several stages, once every one and a half or two months. The main difference from trimming is that the hair is not removed from the entire body, but is thinned out partially, in rows. More suitable for show fox terriers.
Nutrition
The baby's diet allows the use of dry food or natural products. Fox Terrier puppies will be healthier if you include in your home diet:
- Chicken, beef and veal;
- Fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese);
- Buckwheat and rice;
- Cereals;
- Rice or semolina porridge;
- Boiled fish fillet (be sure to remove the bones!);
- Raw vegetables and fruits (beets, carrots, pumpkin, grated apples).
Important! If the dog is kept on a natural diet, it is recommended to additionally give it vitamin complexes.
Mating and birth
Fox Terriers mature quite early. The ability to reproduce begins at eight months. But, in order to avoid physiological abnormalities in the offspring, it is advisable to postpone mating until the age of two.
Important! Mating between smooth-haired and wire-haired breeds is not allowed. Although in the recent past this was one breed, now the Fox Terrier standard does not allow such mating.
It is advisable for a male and female to meet on the territory of a male - this way he will feel more confident. The most favorable mating time for a female is on the twelfth day after the start of estrus.
It will be easy to tell from your dog's behavior whether she is pregnant. Previously very active, the females become lazy and clumsy, their appetite increases - these are the first signs that the mating was successful.
Pregnancy lasts from fifty to sixty days. During this period, the dog is provided with maximum rest and balanced nutrition. The first birth is usually a real test for a dog, so it is important that it takes place under the supervision of a specialist. The female may not immediately understand how to handle the puppies. It is necessary to place the babies close to the mother and make sure that she does not injure them. After a week, the female will get used to the parental role and will begin to take care of the puppies.
Fox Terrier puppies: tooth and nail care
When Fox Terrier puppies reach four months of age, their nails must be trimmed with nail scissors. Otherwise, the nail plate will grow into the flesh of the finger. The puppy will begin to limp. After trimming, the claws need to be sharpened with a nail file. An adult dog does not always need a haircut: the nails wear down on their own if he walks enough.
Dogs, like people, lose their baby teeth. It happens that the growth of the molar begins before the loss of the milk. Then you will have to take the puppy to the veterinarian. During the period of teething, the dog needs toys, otherwise the animal will chew everything it comes across. Permanent teeth are cleaned twice a week. You buy special paste and brush at a pet store.
Nicknames
When choosing a name, be guided by the fact that it will have to be pronounced many times daily. Therefore, short and sonorous nicknames are preferred. This could be the name of your favorite historical or literary character, favorite singer or actor.
If you are lost in the choice or simply do not have imagination, refer to special lists of names.
Examples of nicknames for girls: Jessie, Gerda, Kira, Linda, Masha, Inga, Vesta, Dina, Bertha, Casey.
Examples of nicknames for boys: Athos, Pirate, Demon, Cupid, Richie, Storm, Prince, Marat, Chris, Faust.
Reference! To make sure your dog remembers the name easily, don’t come up with a word that’s too long. A name with two or three syllables will be the best option.
Price of a dog
It is better to buy a fox terrier from trusted kennels. The price depends on the class:
- pet class (presence of pedigree along with any deviations from the standard) - from 10 to 15 thousand rubles ;
- breed class (good pedigree, but not up to the ideal standard due to minor characteristics) - from 15 to 18 thousand rubles ;
- show class (high-breed puppies with exemplary anatomy and temperament) - from 18 to 22 thousand rubles ;
The Fox Terrier is a friendly and mischievous dog that will fill your life with bright emotions and adventures. You simply won't be bored with him! But, despite its cocky character, it is also a very affectionate animal that can easily find a common language with both children and adults.
