Fox Terrier: content rules and variety of nicknames

Fox terriers are considered one of the most recognizable dog breeds. And this is not surprising, because they are one of the most common in the whole world and have been loved by many as funny and loyal pets. Nevertheless, such dogs were by no means brought out for entertainment, and this to a certain extent affects the specifics of the content and upbringing of such animals. In order for mutual understanding to prevail with the chosen pet, you need to figure out what kind of dog it is.

As befits the vast majority of terriers, Fox is a true British. Its name largely explains the main "specialization" of the dog. Despite its rather modest size, it is best suited for fox hunting (in English "fox") and a variety of rodents living in holes and annoying people.

Interestingly, even scientists today cannot say who and when brought modern fox terriers, but it is known that certain similar dogs were found on the British Isles long before the advent of the English language - the ancient Romans wrote about them in 55 BC. They described the representatives of the breed as fast animals with a loud bark, capable of sneaking behind prey even into the closest hole.

As long as the four-legged were used by commoners, there was no need to meet certain standards. Weak and inappropriate puppies were rejected, and the kids of the avid rat hunters were valued above any others. However, from about the XIV century a new hobby began to spread among the English nobility, which consisted of hunting burrowing animals.

The British peers could not only afford to buy the best dogs, but even specifically display them to guarantee success. Modern scientists believe that then the most demanded were smooth-haired fox terriers, considered direct descendants of such breeds as the classic Old English black and tan terrier, as well as the Beagle, Greyhound and Bull Terrier.

Smooth wool is not very suitable for working in a burrow - it gets dirty and requires careful care. Oddly enough, the wire-haired variety of foxes appeared only a few centuries later - at the end of the century before last. For this purpose, fox terriers with the toughest wool were specially selected, then crossing them with welsh terriers. Due to this, the genotype of two varieties of the breed began to differ significantly.

However, for a long time there was no question of considering the Fox Terrier as a specific breed with a clearly recognized standard. Even wealthy hunters preferred to experiment independently, not trying to make their dog look like any of the previously known. As a result, we can speak about some special fox terrier similar to the current one tentatively from the end of the 18th century.

The start of breeding modern foxes falls around the middle of the century before last. In 1859, small dogs began to get to dog shows for the first time, although they did not immediately come to the courtyard there. Interestingly, at this point they were no longer a wonder in Russia, but they reached France, Italy and the Netherlands 10 years later. At the same time, having already begun to storm the exhibitions, the fox terrier did not have its own breed standard until 1875, and only its appearance gave the breed the opportunity to officially register itself - to be included in the lists of the English Club of Dog Breeding.

Breeders, who became the engine of the appearance of Fox Terriers as a separate breed, set as their task to create a dog that would not have excesses in any direction. Because of this, modern fox is thin, but not rude, stocky, but not squat - in a word, he is strong, and mobile, and elegant. At the same time, the dog could not objectively be considered a champion in any of the above parameters, but as a hunting dog it seems almost the ideal solution.

As befits a dog bred specifically for work in the hole, the size of the fox terrier is not at all impressive - its height at the withers does not exceed a modest 39 centimeters. With such a modest size, the dog does not look like a feeble decorative dwarf - on the contrary, even by the look of the animal, you can determine that a strong personality is about him.

The top of the dog’s skull has an almost flat surface, the head is elongated, while the muzzle occupies almost the entire length of the head. Its key part is strong jaws - inexperienced dog breeders usually cannot believe that such a small dog has such a strong grip, which is ensured by a complete scissor bite.

The nose is medium in size and has a black lobe, and dark eyes are small in size and rounded in shape, almost without being convex. The ears of the fox terrier are relatively small and have a triangular shape, slightly hanging down to the cheekbones.

Characterization of the neck usually begins with the fact that the connecting link between the head and the body is characterized by a certain dryness. The lack of thickness should not be misleading - there are muscles here, and they are enough to solve serious hunting problems. Closer to the body, the neck expands.

The body of the animal does not differ in great length - this is equally true for the back and lumbar region. At the same time, the chest is well developed; false ribs stand out on it. The case is crowned with a neat tail, which, according to the standard, must be lifted upward, remaining straight, and nothing else.

The dog moves thanks to the straight front limbs with well-developed shoulders, as well as the hind legs with pumped up hips, which can give the animal a certain strength. Actually the legs are round and compact. As for the wool, its appearance varies greatly depending on which subspecies we are talking about - smooth-haired or wire-haired. The first has a very short (up to 2 centimeters), but thick wool, which is pressed to the body, the second has curly "bristles" with a length of 2-4 centimeters.

In terms of coloring, the fox terrier is usually white, but with numerous accents that may turn out to be black, reddish-brown or black.

There are certain signs in the presence of which a particular fox is guaranteed not to be allowed to the exhibition. These are atypical colors, for example, coffee, blue or red stains are unacceptable. Wool is allowed both short and soft, and long hard, however, fluff is completely unacceptable. The tip of the nose is strictly black, the absence of any color or the presence of several immediately disqualifies the dog. Ears should be lowered, but not limp.

Owners of a fox terrier should prepare in advance for the fact that their pet is not a subordinate, but an equal occupant of the house, and it is good if not an unconditional leader. Doggie has impressive self-confidence, he is mobile and active. Genetically determined readiness to fight with any enemies makes him not just a strong, but a dominant person.

The owner should immediately tune in to the fact that his new roommate requires serious education, because you will not be able to return the missed time, and the masterful beast will grow up naughty. Who exactly is madly delighted at the appearance of such a friend is the children. As befits a hunting dog, the fox terrier has an inexhaustible supply of energy and, in the absence of the opportunity to hunt, will spend its energy on games with pleasure.

Compatibility of the representatives of this breed with other domestic animals is doubtful. It all depends on how well the dog was brought up, whether he was accustomed to the fact that he would not necessarily be the absolute king of the situation. If you engage in raising a puppy, and in addition, genetics will be relatively prosperous, the option is not ruled out in which the fox terrier gets along normally even with the traditional enemy of all dogs - the cat.

At the same time, we must not forget that these animals were bred for hunting purposes, which means that a certain degree of aggressiveness should nevertheless be inherent in them, and some bullies will be happy to climb into a fight with any animal you like. Regardless of how peaceful or hostile your individual is, remember: other dogs and rodents traditionally cause a particular negative in the breed.

The hunting soul determines one more unusual feature of the fox terrier: he loves to dig holes.Do not think that the dog is familiar with the rules of decency and will engage in his favorite hobby only on the street. If the owner does not find time for timely and fairly long walks, the dog will try to dig a hole right in the apartment. Another specific characteristic of this animal is that it is the dog that needs to chase after each passing transport, so it will be difficult for owners in cities with busy traffic.

Despite the fact that the fox terrier is intended primarily for hunting, it would be a mistake to think that such a dog is not suitable for owners who are not fond of hunting. In fact, such a dog easily becomes an excellent watchman, because he has all the necessary inclinations for this. This self-confident little man is convinced that the territory to which he is accustomed is his personal property, and just won’t let anyone in there.

Naturally, an animal that constantly fights against foxes and other similar animals cannot be timid, so this watchman has no authorities capable of intimidating him.

Fox terriers in ideal conditions live relatively long - for a well-groomed dog, even 15 years old may not be the limit. In order for the pet to live as long as possible, you need to properly care for it and do not ignore mandatory activities like vaccinations and deworming. As befits a hunting breed, these dogs are usually praised for their fairly good health and increased stamina, thanks to which they usually live long enough without outstanding care.

However, if you are not ready for unpleasant surprises, it is better not to start the dog’s health status, because there are certain diseases to which Foxes are more susceptible. The most dangerous ones include epilepsy, diabetes and cataracts. Most often, a predisposition to such ailments is laid down at the genetic level, because the task of a person who decides to acquire such a favorite is diligently take an interest in the pedigree of the puppy you like in order to protect yourself from surprises.

These two breeds are difficult to confuse among themselves, because they are the closest relatives. German yagd terriers were bred on the basis of the English Fox Terriers. At the same time, they have completely different characteristics, and it is impossible to choose which one is definitely better - dogs are just suitable for different purposes.

Both breeds are classified as hunting breeds, but the difference lies in how the breeders related to the creation of each breed. So, the fuzzy standard of the fox terrier developed back in those days when no one was seriously engaged in breeding - this is a dog whose type was not specially selected. This is simply the most successful dog for hunting of all that was available to hunters of the century before last. Among other things Fox Terriers have been performing at exhibitions for more than 150 years, and this means that in many ways their standard involves following external signs even to the detriment of professional qualities.

The Yagd Terrier, although bred on the basis of the Fox Terrier, was created in a completely different way. He was led by people who did not like that even hunting dogs should be aesthetically pleasing, while something completely different was required from them. These people deliberately chose rejected dark fox terriers, as experience suggested that such animals behave more aggressively on the hunt and are able to successfully get into a fight with any opponent.

For this reason, the Fox Terrier and the Yagd Terrier are dogs for different tasks.. Foxes are almost never used for hunting today - the overwhelming majority of these doggies serve as companions, in extreme cases, as watchmen. They are cute, children can play with them - in short, this is a typical pet that the whole family loves. In this regard, the Yagd Terrier has remained a true pro, and in most cases it is hunters who start it, since such a dog becomes literally mad with rage when he sees an opponent suitable for the role of game.

The main rule that must be clearly understood by the owners: the fox terrier does not understand at all when to stop, he will eat until the food runs out. For this reason Never overfeed the dog., as well as it is unacceptable to pamper the animal with treats, otherwise it will simply become fat and lose its ability to move normally, not to mention cardiovascular diseases.

In order not to make a mistake in the dosage, many owners prefer to feed the pet with dry food with a known calorie content of 100 grams - for these purposes, products of the holistic or super-premium classes are suitable.

If you decide to feed your four-legged friend with natural products, you will have to calculate calories yourself. At the same time, emphasis should be placed on certain products, trying to avoid what is not mentioned in the list below.

• Meat and fish. Since the dog loves to eat and can easily fatten, they usually feed it with low-fat types of meat - such as lamb or beef. If the meat itself can be given raw, then beef offal, which is also allowed for inclusion in the diet, is allowed only in boiled form. In addition, for the dog it will be useful to periodically include marine fish fillets on the menu.

• Other animal products. Some amino acids are inherent only in animal food - especially those products that are designed for growing young animals. Chicken eggs are shown to fox terriers, as well as cottage cheese. Both that, and another is a valuable source of a number of vitamins and minerals which are difficult for receiving elsewhere. But with other dairy products and especially fresh milk, it is better not to experiment.

• Vegetables and fruits. As in the case of humans, the main source of vitamins for fox is still greens, which must be given regularly. For this purpose, for example, cabbage, carrots, beets and apples are suitable. In this case, it would be a big mistake to give the animal any fruit - for example, for dogs, in principle, it is undesirable to eat legumes or citrus fruits.

• Cereals. Fox, even if it has never been involved in hunting, is a model of a real zinger - it is constantly on the move and spends a breathtaking amount of calories. Their best source is a variety of cereals, and although not all are allowed to the pet, oatmeal, rice or buckwheat should be present in its diet with an enviable frequency.

Curiously, experts advise giving the Fox Terrier one fasting day once a week - on this day the dog can be fed only with rye crackers, raw carrots and water. Such starvation has a positive effect on the digestive system of the animal, which gets an excellent opportunity to relax. By the way, of all vegetables, only carrots are given to the pet raw - all other fruits will have to be specially stewed. The opposite rule works with fruits - they are never served cooked.

The above menu is relevant for an adult dog, but not for a puppy. They begin to gradually accustom the kid to “extraneous” food even when he eats mainly milk.They begin with its periodic replacement with diluted powdered milk, slightly sweetened with sugar, and a little later you can add semolina porridge to this mass. At the end of the first month, the predator must get acquainted with products of animal origin - he finely scrapes the meat and treats the doggie to the chicken yolk, which is very useful for the formation of a young organism.

As befits hunting dogs, fox terriers are not particularly picky about living conditions. Given the modest size of the dog, he can live both in a private house and in a city apartment, only the owners need to keep in mind the increased mobility of their pet. In the absence of your own personal plot, you will have to walk the dog more often and more intensively.

Ignore the walk or limit it to inadequate - And the domestic dog will surely nashalit at home, but not from evil, but simply because he has nowhere to put extra energy. In rural areas, this is somewhat easier, since a four-legged friend can walk himself. But then you need to make sure that the fence from all sides is an insurmountable obstacle for a shorty who is very jumpy.

Smooth-haired fox terriers require minimal hygiene - a short and smooth coat can be combed once a week, and dogs are rarely needed to wash, because the coat has a unique property of repelling dirt.

The wire-haired brethren, it would seem, should be even more resistant to any problems, but their hair of increased length is inclined to entangle pollution in its structure and simply stray into lumps, so lovers of aesthetics will have to torment themselves. All of these curls must be trimmed 3-4 times a year, and the procedure is not very approved by the dog itself - for this reason, it is advised to accustom the puppy to beauty from the age of one and a half months.

Most dog breeds are advised Pay special attention to eye hygiene, but the Fox Terrier usually has no problems with this - you can periodically inspect the corners and remove the accumulated mucus from there with a damp cloth. Oddly enough, do not cling too much to your ears - you need to check only once every 2 weeks, and you need to clean not the smallest specks of dust, but only clearly visible dirt and large lumps of sulfur.

But paws require much more gentle care - the animal’s pads are very tender, and experts recommend washing them after each exit to the street, and even moisturizing with special creams.

In terms of training, the fox terrier is very controversial: on the one hand, it is rather cool about learning, and on the other, in the form of a game it can be carried away and trained. Experts say that the dog will learn much faster if you show that learning is insanely interesting for you too. The animal tends to become attached to the owner and tries to do so that the owner is pleased with it.

It should be understood that a person should not go too far: learning should be interesting and exciting, active and diverse, and excessive passion for it on your part will simply kill interest in your pet. It is recommended to “shock” the puppy with an unexpected change of teams. Dog handlers give one more advice: the pet will be more attentive to the issues of training, if you have already satisfied its restlessness, having walked it well.

In a civilization with an abundance of different pets, it is fundamentally important to calm down the hunting instincts of the beast, so restraint and obedience during walking are critical.Keep in mind that making a dog completely unemotional will not work - it will still sometimes break down on cats, and this will have to be treated with some understanding.

Another important point in training is the training of the fox terrier on a leash. At first, hyperactive Fox seems like a complete savagery to restrict his freedom of movement, but without this you risk simply losing a friend in the city crowd.

Experts say that training for a collar must be combined with team training - The leash itself increases the discipline of the student, which means it speeds up the assimilation of teams. In the process, the Aport! Team can be brought to automatism, because the fox terrier loves to wear various objects in his teeth, and you just need to teach him to give them on command.

Since representatives of this breed are often bred for trips to exhibitions, you need to teach the dog to touch - at the show this will happen. It is noted that stroking the back and head, as well as lightly pulling on the tail, contribute to another useful result - from this, the correct posture is formed in Fox. While the dog is small and not yet aggressive, it makes sense to attract unfamiliar people to such trainings for the animal - then it will be a full preparation for the exhibition.

The fox terrier is very self-confident, he is not inherent in modesty., because a well-bred puppy should be specially trained in the principles of cultural behavior and restraint. A simple example: separate your own meal from the dog’s meal, do not treat your pet with food from your table, otherwise the little sly person will quickly understand that you can feast on the table.

The same applies to toys purchased specifically for the animal - they should not be associated with any other items in the house. So, an attempt to play with a four-legged friend with a napkin or rag will lead to the fact that any fabric in the house will be perceived only as a toy. Then do not complain later that the dog ruined your pants or curtains.

The name for the puppy must be chosen carefully - it must be short and simple, so that it is easy to pronounce to the person and just remember the name holder himself. At the same time, all household members should like the name, because renaming a puppy is a big nonsense.

For the boy, as befits a true English gentleman, any English male name is suitable, especially if it has a certain raid of aristocracy. Such doggies are often called like this: Archie, Mike, Luke, Oscar, Jerry, Charlie, Henry or Simon. You can, of course, do something more original - many men name their pets in honor of idols, thanks to this there are dogs nicknamed Zidane, Messi, Osborne or even Rockefeller.

For girls, something more tender is needed, but the main direction of choice remains the same - the emphasis is on English names, only for women. Often you can meet fox terriers nicknamed Dina, Molly, Daisy, Sally, Linda, Gloria, Chelsea. The bitch is less often called in honor of idols, but still nicknames like Heidi, Adele, Limes or even Gucci meet. But patriotism is more precisely among the ladies, so do not be surprised to meet a fox named Bug

About the features of this breed of dogs, see below.