Fox Terrier Smooth Coat

Small but mighty, the Smooth Fox Terrier is a robust, short-backed terrier with a straight, flat, smooth but dense coat. Alert and sharp in expression, the Fox Terrier comes in white, with tan, black or black and tan markings.

Smooth Coated Fox Terrier with blue collar

Fox Terrier with Smooth Coat standing in the woods

The need-to-know

Dog suitable for owners with some experience
Extra training required
Generally healthy breed
Enjoys active walks
Enjoys one to two hours of walking a day

Small dog
Minimum drool
Requires grooming once a week
Chatty and vocal dog
Barks, alerts and may be physically protective/suspicious of visitors

Might not like other dogs
May need additional training to live with other pets
May need additional supervision to live with children
Needs a small garden
Can live in semi-rural areas

Can be left occasionally with training

Generally healthy breed

The Smooth Fox Terrier breed can suffer from:
- Patellar luxation
- Legg-Perthes disease
- Lens luxation which is a condition where the lens moves from it's normal position in the eye which will result in vision loss and can cause pain.
- Atopy¹ where the skin reacts to allergens in the environment and becomes sore and itchy.

Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- Eye screening scheme

¹ K. Jaeger et al, 'Breed and site predispositions of dogs with atopic dermatitis: a comparison of five locations in three continents', 2010, Veterinary Dermatology.

Previous Next

1 of 1

Personality

Sharp, independent minded and clever, the quick little Fox Terrier is a formidable foe should you happen to be a rat, mouse or fox. Typical of the terrier type, the Smooth Fox Terrier is inclined to kill first, ask questions later, and so owners should be aware of their high prey drive and desire to behave like a working terrier even if they are a star of the show ring! Around the house, Fox Terriers are good and amusing companions, if given sufficient training and solid socialisation and habituation to family life – however a bored or under-stimulated Fox Terrier is likely to be loud and destructive.

History and Origins

Developed in the 19th Century from a variety of working terrier types, particularly the wire coated black and tan terriers from Wales, Derbyshire and Durham. They were used to flush out foxes who had gone to ground and for general ratting and watch dog purposes. Originally the Fox Terrier was classed as one breed with two coat varieties, the Wire and the Smooth, however they are now considered separate breeds with their own respective breed standards.

Ideal Owner

You’ll need bags of energy and at the same time, a good dollop of calm, to match the Smooth Terrier and help temper their feisty nature. For those with the time to train and socialise, the Smooth Fox makes an excellent stable-yard companion, no rat will dare show a paw whilst a Fox Terrier is around! They’ll like long walks and some fun training beyond the basics required for polite manners but are not demanding on grooming or space.

Exercise Needs

Although the modern Smooth Fox Terrier is primarily a show and companion dog, their working ability remains strong. An hour’s walk per day should be considered the minimum, with much more exercise being welcome, alongside training, games and doggy sports or competition.

Space Requirements

Suited to most homes whether country or urban but they will need a very secure garden, and plenty of interesting walking routes with space to run and play games.

Nutrition and Feeding

Small dogs have a fast metabolism, meaning they burn energy at a high rate, although their small stomachs mean that they must eat little and often. Small-breed foods are specifically designed with appropriate levels of key nutrients and smaller kibble sizes to suit smaller mouths. This also encourages chewing and improves digestion.

Grooming Smooth-coated Fox Terriers

The smooth coat is fairly low maintenance, but a brush over twice a week will keep the Fox Terrier clean, tidy – and give you a chance to check for any injuries, parasites or abnormalities. A wash of their lower legs is also advised after muddy country walks, and frequent checking of their strong, fast-growing nails, will keep them looking and feeling their best.

Training Smooth-coated Fox Terriers

Best motivated with food and toys and the opportunity to play out the ‘chase-grab-kill’ sequence in appropriate ways, the Smooth Fox Terrier may be fun to train for the clever and dedicated trainer. If training is not your thing however, this may not be the dog for you. Focus on teaching a strong recall (but do not expect to be able to rely on that if prey is spotted) and socialise well with other animals when young, as a fearful Fox Terrier is likely to respond aggressively rather than shying away.

Suitability for Family Life

Better suited to quiet, steady homes either with no children or older children who can follow rules and respect a dog’s space. Although good with their own children, terriers are not inclined to tolerate clumsy or overbearing children. For those who like training as a hobby or enjoy long walks, the Smooth Fox Terrier can be an excellent companion.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

Previous Next

1 of 1

Did you know?

The name ‘terrier’ derives from the latin ‘terra’ meaning earth. Small terriers like the Fox Terrier were original bred to go to ground, down into the holes that foxes and badgers live in. This means being small enough to fit into those holes, brave enough to face a frightened fox or badger head on, and nimble enough to drive them out of their den. It is therefore not a surprise that many terriers believe themselves to be far bigger and more fearsome than their actual size suggests.