Page 11 - ShowSight Presents - The Toy Fox Terrier

THE TOY FOX TERRIER
The Toy Fox Terrier is an American breed that was developed by dog fanciers in the 1930s. It is said that this
was achieved by crossing ‘runt’ Fox Terriers with Toy breeds such as the Miniature Pinscher, Italian Greyhound, and Chihuahua to create a diminutive dog while retaining Terrier gameness, courage and animation.
by SHERYL IRWIN
Relatively new to the AKC, the Toy Fox Terrier was only accepted as Foundation Stock in 2001 and eligible to fully participate in conformation events in 2003. From 2003 to 2017, a mere 14 years, there has been a signifi- cant improvement in the overall qual- ity of the TFT. Limited only by height parameters and not restricted by weight allowed breeders to develop a dog with both strong bone and good substance even in those dogs at the higher end of the breed standard for height. Tall wil- lowy TFTs on spindly legs are seldom seen in the AKC show ring anymore.
The Toy Fox Terrier displays his Terrier-like self-possessed and spirited attitude as he enters the show ring with both his head and tail carried erect. His smooth and flowing movement, coupled with good reach and strong
drive, shows no hint of a bounce or hackney gait. A properly moving Toy Fox Terrier literally owns the ground he walks on. He is a well-balanced ath- letic little dog with his grace and agil- ity equaled to his strength and stamina. He’s all about Structure and Movement!
While the TFT is a natural ‘show off’ and enjoys strutting his stuff in the show ring he does not necessarily like the table and that should be understood by the judge. The first step in making this a positive experience for both the dog and the judge is to give the dogs some space. In an effort to avoid the dog being crowded and stepping back from the judge the exhibitor can set the dog slightly further back on the table leaving plenty of room for the judge to approach and conduct the examina- tion. Many exhibitors train their show
268 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JULY 2017