Miniature Fox Terrier
Recommended for: Families with older children, couples
Maintenance Level: Medium
Lifespan: Medium
Temperament:
Medium
Medium
Health Risk:
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Breed Overview
The Miniature Fox Terrier, also known as the Mini Foxie and Toy Fox Terrier, is a small sized dog that was originally bred for hunting game and vermin. Miniature Fox Terriers have a short and smooth coat, which may get longer at the neck.
Mini Foxies tend to shed a lot of fur, so regular grooming is necessary. These dogs have nails that grow fast, so clipping their nails once a month to prevent issues is also recommended. Overall, Mini Foxies are easy to groom.
This beautiful, lively and courageous breed comes in a variety of colours that include black, white, brown, and tan, but they should be predominantly white with black and/or tan markings.
Both female and male Mini Foxies grow to between 24–30 cm. Mini Foxies tend to weigh no more than 6 kg (unless overfed). The life expectancy of Mini Foxies is up to 18 years, so it’s important to be prepared for that commitment when buying one.
Mini Foxies have a high level of exercise needs. It’s recommended that owners walk them daily. This breed also has high energy levels, so it’s important to allow them to use that energy throughout the day to avoid a restless dog at night. They may also have a tendency to bark. They make good family pets but keep in mind their high prey drive especially around other small furry animals like Guinea pigs or rats.
Personality and Temperament
This breed has a strong, confident, loyal, and defensive attitude. Due to the Mini Foxie’s temperament and history, they do better in households with slightly older children but they can be very defensive of small children if they are raised together.
Mini Foxies need regular training from a young age or they could suffer from small dog syndrome. They are very easy to train and do not require a lot of effort.
Mini Foxies get along well with other animals if they are raised together or introduced to each other as companions. They have a tendency to bark at strangers walking past the house and coming into your home.
Common Miniature Fox Terrier Diseases & Conditions
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
- Patella luxation is a very common issue among smaller dogs. It occurs when the animal’s kneecap becomes dislocated from its thigh bone. It can be spotted if your dog limps or skips steps and this can start as young as 6 months old. Treatment for patella luxation can be as minor as a massage to as major as surgery.
- Demodectic mange. This mange is caused by a demodex mite, which is passed from the mother dog to her pups when they are very young. It lives in the hair follicles and can present as patches of red, scaly skin with bald spots on the head, neck and forelegs. If this occurs in adulthood (after 5 years), a vet visit is recommended because it can be associated with cancer or other internal diseases.
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. The condition occurs when blood supply to the hip area is decreased and is a common disease amongst the toy breeds of dog. Symptoms can include limping or staggering.If you suspect your Miniature Fox Terrier is suffering from this condition, make an appointment to see your vet. The condition can usually be corrected with simple surgery.
- Von Willebrand’s disease causes clotting problems in the blood. This can cause excessive loss of blood after a cut, surgery or trauma and can result in a number of serious health issues. It’s recommended that you take your dog to the vet for a check-up because symptoms can be difficult to notice.
Not all conditions are covered by Pet Insurance. For details of Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance cover, refer to the Product Disclosure Statement.
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History
Miniature Fox Terriers were originally bred to fight off small vermin such as rats and rabbits. The breed came from crossing small Fox Terriers with Toy Manchester Terriers and English Toy Terriers.
It is known that Mini Foxies ancestors come from England. However, Mini Foxies were actually bred in Australia some time in the mid to late 19th century. They then moved from being a farmer’s best friend to also being a suburban family’s best friend.
Due to the breed’s strong hard-working history, Mini Foxies love to be pampered and treated like the king or queen of the household.
Miniature Fox Terrier Facts!
- Miniature Fox Terriers are not very well-known outside of Australia and New Zealand.
- Swimmer, Ian Thorpe and Figure Skater, Sean Carlow are two athletes who own Mini Foxies.
- The demand for Mini Foxies on Australian farms is high and still rising.
- Mini Foxies adapt well to small spaces, such as apartments as long as their barking is controlled.
- There have been some cases of Mini Foxies living up to 20 years with the right health conditions and a lot of love.
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MORE INFORMATION
Mini Foxie Club of Australia: http://www.minifoxie.org/
