DOG BREED INFORMATION – SMOOTH FOX TERRIER

• Origin: United Kingdom
• Alternate names: Fox Terrier, Foxie, SFT
• Size: Small
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Popularity: Ranked #122 in 2017

• Availability in India:
• Avg Puppy Price in India: ₹30,000 and above
• Dog Breed Group: Terrier Group
• Guide Dog: No

Is Smooth Fox Terrier Good for Indians?

The Smooth Fox Terrier is not a very common European breed like Beagles, Golden Retrievers et cetera which are quite easily available and are also fairly high in demand in India. These terrier dogs are a bit rare to be seen in the Indian households and are mostly available at a reputed and large-scale breeder’s place only. But, this breed certainly has the potential to be a great pet for anyone residing in India (or elsewhere) because of the following reasons:

1. The fox terriers are relatively easy to maintain and handle.
2. These dogs have a pretty decent tolerance to both low and high temperatures; thus, they can comfortably thrive in a hot country like India.
3. The cost of bringing them home and then efficiently maintaining them is not that high.
4. Their general health and fitness are terrific and hence, these dogs only need the attention of a veterinarian on rare occasions.

Smooth Fox Terrier Dog Official Breed Standards

The Fox Terriers (smooth) are square-proportioned and compactly built canines. They are very energetic and active and possess a good amount of endurance, speed, and power. The official standards of the Smooth Fox Terriers are given as follows:

• Smooth Fox Terrier Height and Weight

The average height and weight of the Smooth Fox Terriers are 13-16 inches (at the shoulders) and 6-9 kilograms, respectively. The male and the female SFT’s are not that different when it comes to their overall size.

• Coat

The SFT’s have a smooth, flat-lying coat which is fairly abundant and quite hard and dense. Their coat is mostly available in colors like Brown, Tan, Red et cetera.

• Body

The Smooth Fox Terriers are small-sized canines having a clean and muscular neck which is reasonably long. They have a deep but not a broad chest, a straight and short back region and a strong and gaily carried tail which is set quite high on the back. Their forequarters and hindquarters are well-laid back, muscly and fairly powerful.

• Head

They possess a flat and moderately narrow skull and an overall decently proportioned head when compared to the rest of the body. Their eyes are mostly dark in color, circular in shape and are moderately small. The ears are small and V-shaped and are usually dropped forward close to the cheeks.

• Jaws

Their jaw region is quite strong and sturdy and the teeth are firmly placed inside their mouth. The muzzle is of fair length and is tapering in nature.

• Temperament

The Smooth Fox Terriers are highly enthusiastic and playful dogs who are immensely active and love to be involved in some kind of physical activity or task. They are affectionate towards their family members and are fond of spending their time with their close ones. These dogs are friendly and gentle with the small kids present in the house but they don’t show the same warmth to other animals (dogs, cats etc.) and hence, they do not do quite well in the houses that already have a pet living there. This breed is very fearless and they know how to protect their housemates and property from any intruders as they possess a great watchdog ability. General character traits of the Smooth Fox Terriers are listed below:

• Active
• Affectionate
• Alert
• Fearless
• Intelligent
• Playful

Smooth Fox Terrier Dog Overview

The Smooth Fox Terriers are one of the most lively, energetic and spirited canines present today in the world. They have the ability to cheer up anyone’s mood in no time with their positive attitude and cheerful personality.

This breed may appear small and fragile, but these dogs are immensely fearless and they possess great protective instincts for their family and their territory. They always remain quite alert and aware of their surroundings and are normally, a bit reserved with strangers.

Their high affinity for energy and general feisty character might be a bit too much for a novice dog owner and thus they are not highly recommended to an inexperienced dog parent. But, this bundle of joy is very well suited and a great option for anyone who knows how to efficiently raise and maintain a bouncy and a dynamic pooch.

Popular Smooth Fox Terrier Types and Colors

The Fox Terriers, in general, are divided into two types based on the different kinds of coat that they possess. These types are:

• Smooth Fox Terriers
• Wire Fox Terriers

Coming to the SFT’s, they are available in many different colors which are as follows:

• Tri-color
• White
• Black
• Black and White
• Black and Tan
• Brown
• Red

Smooth Fox Terrier Dog Breed Characteristics

Smooth Fox Terrier Maintenance and Care

• Feeding

The Smooth Fox Terrier is a small breed and thus they should be fed carefully and in limited amounts. The feeding material should be of high quality and it can be either prepared at home or purchased from a store. These dogs should be given multiple meals at regular intervals but the portion size of the meal must be small.

• Exercise

The SFT’s are very lively and active dogs and they enjoy to spend their time outside the house a lot. Their exercise needs are fairly high and thus, long walks on a daily basis are very good for them. Running sessions and playing time with the family is also very helpful in keeping them fit as well as happy.

• Training

They are generally quite responsive and positive towards any kind of training exercise. They learn the things that are taught to them fairly quickly and their high intelligence level definitely helps them a lot with that. They can be a little hard to train if the owner is new to being a dog parent, but they enjoy their training sessions if they are trained efficiently and in a fun manner.

• Grooming and Shedding

They have moderate grooming requirements and brushing their coat on a weekly basis is more than enough for them. Trimming of nails and bathing them can be done as deemed necessary by the owner. Coming to their shedding potential; these dogs shed in minimal amounts and that too quite infrequently.

• Health Issues

These dogs may suffer from a few health-related issues during their lifetime, but if given proper care and attention, then they can be protected against many of the common health concerns. Some of the problems found in the Smooth Fox Terriers are:

• Distichiasis
• Legg-Perthes
• Cataract
• Patellar Luxation
• Cardiac Disease

• Visits to the Vet

These dogs generally remain quite fit and healthy and thus, they only need to be taken to a vet’s clinic on an occasional basis.

Smooth Fox Terrier History and Background

The Fox Terrier breed originated in the 17^th century in the United Kingdom. They were developed by cross-breeding the English Hounds, the Dachshunds, the Beagles and the English Foxhounds.

These dogs were primarily used by the British farmers to protect their stocks from various small animals like rats, vermin et cetera. They were very good at tracking and hunting their target and thus were highly appreciated for their efforts.

This breed was found to be possessing two different kinds of coat: smooth and wired, but still, they were considered a single breed. And only, after several years of existence, these two different types of fox terriers were separated as in the year 1876, the very first standard for Smooth Fox Terriers was created. But, still, many established breed clubs consider both the smooth and wired Fox Terrier to be the same breed.