Judging the Toy Fox Terrier

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, February 2013 issue.

Judging the Toy Fox Terrier

The Toy Fox Terrier is a small terrier that ranges in size from 8½” to 11½”. They are the epitome of a big dog in a small package. Their personality and temperament should reflect terrier courage and animation. They should have grace, elegance, and agility, all displayed in equal measures that balance and complement the total dog.

Type and temperament are embodied in a well-balanced, square package of terrier attitude that moves forward with grace, elegance, gusto, and style. The body is balanced, with the length approximately equal to the height. The length is measured from the point of shoulder to the point of buttocks, and the height is measured from the withers to the ground.

Substance should be substantial but not overdone for the size of the dog. Although the AKC breed standard makes no mention of the correct weight for a Toy Fox Terrier, the original UKC breed standard, which served as the blueprint for the breed, does. It states that a dog of correct size should weigh between 3½ and 7 lbs. The UKC standard even disqualifies a dog that does not fall within this size range. Toy Fox Terriers are both “Toys” and “Terriers.”

The Toy Fox Terrier’s characteristic traits are his elegant head, square athletic body with a short tail set on high, and his short, satiny, predominantly white coat (with or without body spots). He is naturally well-groomed, proud, animated, and alert.

The head is elegant, balanced, and expressive, with no indication of coarseness. The distance from the nose to the stop is equal to the distance from the stop to the occipital point. The skull is slightly rounded but never domed or apple-headed. The expression is intelligent, alert, and full of interest. The eyes are round, dark, set well apart, and fit well into the sockets. The ears are high-set, close together, and balanced with the size of the head and body.

When moving, the backline is level and flat in motion as the little dog double tracks in a straight line with slight convergence at a trot. The movement is balanced and coordinated with good reach and strong drive.

Any resemblance to a hackney gait is to be faulted. His lithe, muscular body has a smooth, elegant outline that moves forward effortlessly. Movement should be judged on a loose lead. The dog should never be strung up, nor should he run around the ring at lightning speed.

The forequarters are well-angulated, and the shoulders are firmly set with adequate muscle but not overdeveloped. The shoulders are sloping and well-laid back, blending smoothly from the neck to the back. The forechest is well-developed.

The standard is silent regarding the Toy Fox Terrier’s upper arm—its length or position on the body. However, the AKC standard leaves little doubt by stating, “Fore-chest is well developed.” The “Terrier front,” with its shorter upper arm and lack of forechest (a specialized digging front), is incorrect in the Toy Fox Terrier.

There are four color combinations allowed in the Toy Fox Terrier. They are white, black and tan tricolor; white, chocolate and tan tricolor; white and tan; and white and black. The body of the dog should be over fifty percent white and can have body spots that match the main color on the head. Blazes are acceptable as long as they do not extend into the eye or the ear. The above illustrations were created by Jeanne Flora and the written descriptions which serve to further clarify the AKC Breed Standard are the culmination of two years of work by the Judges Education Committee, Kelley Maldon, John Davidson and Olen Nichols. The complete Illustrated Breed Standard in PowerPoint for the Toy Fox Terrier was approved in 2008 and it can be found on the American Toy Fox Terrier Club website.