Toy Fox Terrier 



History 
The immediate
ancestor of the Toy Fox Terrier is the larger Smooth Fox Terrier. The
original Fox Terrier breed standard was written in England in 1876. The
size of the breed at that time was 18 to 20 pounds. Owners of these
brave little dogs found that the smallest, which they called "runts",
were the scrappiest of the bunch. These little dogs were prized for
their temperament. Smaller dogs were developed and eventually were found
in the seven-pound range. The
United Kennel Club began registering the Smooth Fox Terrier in 1912.
Between then and the mid-1920's, the Toy Fox Terrier was developed,
being a miniature of the previous breed, however they were still
registered under the name of Fox Terrier (Smooth). Those dogs appear
almost identical to the dogs of today. It was not until February 24,
1936, that U.K.C. began registering the Toy Fox Terrier under its
current name.

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General
Appearance
The Toy Fox Terrier is small in size,
with a body that is square when viewed from the side. The length of the
head, neck and legs are in proportion to the length and depth of the
body. The body is compact, with the short tail carried upright. With a
short, glossy coat that is predominantly white, the appearance is
elegant, balanced and aristocratic. Highly intelligent, alert, loyal,
fearless and having much endurance, this small dog, above all, has the
conformation, characteristics and personality of a terrier.

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Characteristics
The
Toy Fox Terrier is self-possessed, spirited and determined. They are
energetic, lively and strong for their size. They are not easily
intimidated by other pets. Most are comical, entertaining and playful
all of their life, which is generally long in comparison to many other
breeds. They are friendly and loyal to their master or owners, yet
protective. As a rule they are easily trained and adapt to showing in
conformation and obedience. Any
individuals lacking good terrier attitude and personality are to be
faulted.

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Head
A
typical head unmistakably stamps the dog as being of this breed.
The head is in proportion to the rest
of the body. It resembles a blunt wedge when viewed from both the front
and in profile. When viewed from the front, the head widens gradually
from the black nose to the base of the ears in practically an unbroken
line. The distance from the nose to the stop is equal to the distance
from the stop to the occiput. The
skull is moderate in width and slightly rounded. The skull and muzzle
are both in proportion to the length and overall size of the head. The
muzzle tapers gradually from the base of the ears to the nose. Medium
stop; somewhat sloping.b The
cheeks are flat and muscular, with the area below the eyes well
filled-in. Close-lying
lips.
Serious Faults*
Domed skull (apple head). Flat skull. Deep, sharp stop. Shallow stop.
Roman nose.
Faults*
Backskull or foreskull too wide. Narrow muzzle. Wide muzzle. Short
muzzle. Long muzzle. Cheeks too
bulgy or too flat.

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TEETH
A full
complement of strong, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite is
preferred. An even bite is permissible. Loss of teeth should not be
faulted for a dog of any age as long as the bite can be determined as
correct.
Faults:
Overshot over 1/16 inch. Puppy teeth retained after one year of age.
EYES * Dark in color;
as dark as possible being preferred. Clear and bright, with a soft,
intelligent expression. Globular, round, and somewhat prominent, yet not
bulging. They are set well apart and fit well into the sockets.
Faults*
Light color. Too large or too small. Protruding. Squinty. Dull. Set too
wide apart. Set too close together. Lack of expression.

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NOSE
The nose is
black in color. Puppies are usually born with pink-colored noses, which
generally turn dark before or by weaning time.
Faults:
Brown nose. Brownish tinge. Small pink or flesh-colored specks on nose.
EARS * Pointed, inverted, V-shaped:
placed well up on the sides of the head. Close together, but never
touching. The inner base is on a level with the top of the skull. Always
erect when alert; carried erect in motion. The size is in proportion to
the size of the head and the overall size of the dog.
Serious Faults*
Rounded. Set too wide apart. Low-set. Too large. Too small. Flop ears.

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Neck
The length of the neck is
approximately the same as that of the head and is in proportion to the
body and size of the dog. The neck widens gradually, blending smoothly
into the shoulders. The neck is clean and is slightly arched in a
graceful curve.
Faults *
Neck too short, too thick or with loose, excess skin. Ewe neck. Goose
neck.

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ForeQurters
The shoulders are sloping and well-laid-back (approximately at a 45
degree angle); blending smoothly from neck to back.
FORELEGS * When viewed from the
side, the forelegs are straight from the elbows to the feet, which point
forward. When viewed from the front, the forelegs are some distance
apart and drop straight from the elbows to the feet. The elbows are
close and perpendicular to the body. The pasterns are strong and
straight while remaining flexible. Bone size is in proportion to the
size of the dog.
Dewclaw removal is optional, but
recommended.
Faults*
Straight shoulders. Loaded shoulders. Steep shoulders. Down in withers.
Too far apart at withers. Out at elbows. Tied in elbows. Down in
pasterns. Bowed front.
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Body
In shape, the body appears square when
viewed from the side, with height approximately equal to length. The
height is measured from the highest point of the withers to the bottom
of the front feet. The length is measured from the prosternum (front
point of the shoulder - forechest) to the point of the buttocks.
The body is balanced and tapers
slightly from the ribs to the flank, with an evident, moderate tuck-up.
The back is short and strong. The
backline is strong, straight and firm, blending smoothly from the neck
and shoulder to the tail. The
chest is deep, with an oval-shaped, well-sprung rib cage. The brisket
extends to or just above the elbows. The chest is in proportion and in
balance with the rest of the body. Serious
Faults * Sway back. Roach
back. Sloping croup. Taller at hips than at withers. Taller at withers
than at hips. Short-bodied. Long-bodied. Too much or too little tuckup.
Lack of muscling. Muscle bound. Barrel-chested. Narrow chest. Brisket
too shallow or too deep. Pointed brisket (when viewed from front.

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HindQurters
Strong
and muscular; free of droop or crouch. The rump is well-filled-in on
each side of the tail. The hipbones are on a level with or just below
the back. Good width and depth at pelvis. Good muscling over hips,
blending smoothly down over the upper to the lower thighs. Any
male six months of age, or older, should have two normal size testicles
clearly visible and well-seated in the scrotum.
HIND LEGS *The hind legs appear
strong and straight down to the feet. The upper and lower thighs are
strong, well-muscled and of good length. The stifles are clearly-defined
and well-angulated. The hocks are well bent. When viewed from the rear,
the stifles, hocks and feet are straight and parallel to each other.
Bone size is in proportion to the size of the dog. If present, dewclaws
are removed.
Serious Faults*
Sloping, breaking off in rump. Narrow and/or shallow pelvis. Faults:
Hind legs lacking angulation or over-angulated. Hipbones above the back
level. Lack of muscle in hips and thighs. Too much muscle in hips and
thighs. Thighs too short or too long. Bow-hocked. Cowhocked. Straight in
stifle. Over-angulated stifle. Stifles turning in or out. Legs too close
together or too far apart.

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Feet
The
feet are oval in shape and compact, with arched toes and hard, tough and
well-cushioned pads.
Faults*
Round feet. Splayed. Flat. Feet turned in or out.
Tail * Set
on high and on a level with the back. Carried gaily, above the
horizontal line of the back when the dog is in motion or at attention;
may be dropped when the dog is at ease. Docked with approximately 2/5th
of the full tail remaining; equivalent length if a bobtail. Minimum
length about one inch, maximum length about three inches, for dogs six
months of age or older.
Serious Faults *
Tail curled. Tail carried straight over the back. Set too low.
Faults *
Too short. Too long. Not carried gaily when in motion.

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Coat
A distinguishing feature of the breed,
the coat is short, satiny and shiny; fine in texture and smooth to the
touch. It is slightly longer at the ruff (back of neck and shoulder);
uniformly covering the body. The underline, inside of front legs, and
lower part of back legs are covered with at least a thin coat of hair.
The skin is firm but pliable.
Serious Fault * Wiry
coat.
Faults*
Too long, too coarse. Dry and dull. Too thin. Loose or non-pliable skin.

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Colour
White is the predominating body color.
White is not the predominating head color. Predominating to mean
"more than half".
ACCEPTABLE COLORS & COLOR
PATTERNS
White and black with tan trim.
Black predominates on the head. The
ears are black on the back with a very narrow, black rim on the inner
edge. The tan trim is found on the cheeks and/or chops and as eye dots.
Face with or without a white blaze. A blaze may extend onto either or
both sides of the lower muzzle. White frost or tiny white spots on the
lower muzzle are acceptable. White is the predominating body color, with
or without black spots. Ticking is permitted to some degree provided the
white predominates and general good looks are maintained. It is
preferred that the black markings be free of any tan or brown shadings
or very small tan or brown spots, but not faulted.
White and Black Everything
in regard to color and markings are the same as above, except there is
no tan trim.

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Colour
White and Tan Tan
predominates on the head. The ears are tan on the back with a very
narrow tan rim on the inner edge. Trim is a lighter or darker shade of
tan on the cheeks and/or chops and eye dots, if visible. Face with or
without a white blaze. The blaze may extend onto either or both sides of
the lower muzzle. White frost or tiny white spots on the lower muzzle
are acceptable. The body is predominantly white, with or without tan
spots. Ticking is permitted to some degree provided the white
predominates and general good looks are maintained. It is preferred that
the tan markings be free of any black or brown shadings or very small
black or brown spots, but not faulted.
Faults*
A wide blaze that extends up to the eyes. Black or tan coloring, other
than speckling (ticking) on the legs below the wrist joint of the
forelegs or the hock joint of the hind legs. Any variation from that
which is stated for the color and markings in any color combination is a
fault. In a White and Tan - tan markings that are too red, chocolate-
shaded or brindled.

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Weight
Dogs
six months of age or older must weigh from three-and-one-half up to, and
including, seven pounds.
Gait Movement
* is smooth and flowing, with the legs moving straight, parallel
and in a line at a walk or slow trot, with the back straight and the
head and tail up. There is balance and coordination with good reach in
the front and good drive from the rear. Movement is used to evaluate
gait and to evaluate the parts involved in gait, therefore the points
allotted to movement are included when considering all the dog's
structural parts involved.
In gaiting, the stifles, hocks and
feet should turn neither in nor out, and the hind legs should move in
line with the front legs.
Serious Fault *
Hackney gait.

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Disqualifictions
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Extreme viciousness or shyness.
Undershot bite. Overshot bite of more than 1/8 inch. Wry mouth. Liver
colored nose. Dudley nose. No tail. Dogs of any age over seven pounds.
Any dog six months of age or older weighing less than three-and-one-half
pounds. Ears not erect on any dog over six months of age. Any
solid-colored dog. Maltese or chocolate markings. Any color combination
in which white is not the predominant body color. Any color combination
other than stated combinations. In any color combination, any dog whose
head is more than half white. Any dog whose head and/or ear color and
body spots are of different colors.

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Faults
Any departure from the
foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriosness with
which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its
degree
Note * Male
animals should have two apparently noemal testicles fully descended into
the scrotum.
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Dutch Kenstaff Staffordshire Bull Terrier ® All rights reserved
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