Information on AKC Toy Fox Terrier Puppies
Toy Fox Terrier Breed Standard
Toy Group
General Appearance
The Toy Fox Terrier is truly a toy and a terrier and both have influenced his
personality and character. As a terrier, the Toy Fox Terrier possesses keen intelligence,
courage, and animation. As a toy his is diminutive, and devoted with an endless
abiding love for his master. The Toy Fox Terrier is a well-balanced Toy dog of
athletic appearance displaying grace and agility in equal measure with strength
and stamina. His lithe muscular body has a smooth elegant outline which conveys
the impression of effortless movement and endless endurance. He is naturally well
groomed, proud, animated, and alert. Characteristic traits are his elegant head,
his short glossy and predominantly white coat, coupled with a predominantly solid
head, and his short high-set tail.
Size, Proportion and Substance
Size: 8.5 - 11.5 inches, 9 -11 preferred, 8.5 - 11.5 acceptable.
Proportion:
The Toy Fox Terrier is square in proportion, with height being approximately equal
to length; with height measured from withers to ground and length measured from
point of shoulder to buttocks. Slightly longer in bitches is acceptable.
Substance:
Bone must be strong, but not excessive and always in proportion to size. Overall
balance is important.
Disqualification: Any dog under 8.5 inches and over 11.5 inches.
Head
The head is elegant, balanced and expressive with no indication of coarseness.
Expression is intelligent, alert, eager and full of interest.
Eyes:
clear, bright and dark, including eye-rims, with the exception of chocolates whose
eye-rims should be self-colored. The eyes are full, round and somewhat prominent,
yet never bulging, with a soft intelligent expression. They are set well apart,
not slanted, and fit well together into the sockets.
Ears: The ears are
erect, pointed, inverted V-shaped, set high and close together, but never touching.
The size is in proportion to the head and body.
Disqualification: Ears
not erect on any dog over six months of age.
Skull: is moderate in width,
slightly rounded and softly wedge shaped. Medium stop, somewhat sloping. When
viewed from the front, the head widens gradually from the nose to the base of
the ears. The distance from the nose to the stop is equal to the distance from
the stop to the occiput. The cheeks are flat and muscular, with the area below
the eyes well filled in.
Faults: Apple head.
Muzzle: Strong rather
than fine, in proportion to the head as a whole and parallel to the top of the
skull.
Nose: Black only with the exception of self-colored in chocolate
dogs.
Disqualification: Dudley nose.
Lips: are small and tight fitting.
Bite: a full complement of strong white teeth meeting in a scissors bite
is preferred. Loss of teeth should not be faulted as long as the bite can be determined
as correct.
Disqualification: Undershot, wry mouth, overshot more than
1/8 inch.
Neck, Topline and Body
The neck is carried proudly erect, well set on, slightly arched, gracefully curved,
clean, muscular and free from throatiness. It is proportioned to the head and
body and widens gradually blending smoothly into the shoulders. The length of
the neck is approximately the same as that of the head. The
topline is
level when standing and gaiting. The
body is balanced and tapers slightly
from ribs to flank. The
chest is deep and muscular with well sprung ribs.
Depth of chest extends to the point of elbow. The
back is straight, level,
and muscular. Short and strong in loin with moderate tuck-up to denote grace and
elegance. The
croup is level with topline and well-rounded. The
tail
is set high, held erect and in proportion to the size of the dog. Docked to the
3rd or 4th joint.
Forequarters
Forequarters are well angulated. The shoulder is firmly set and has adequate muscle,
but is not overdeveloped. The shoulders are sloping and well laid back, blending
smoothly from neck to back. The forechest is well developed. The elbows are close
and perpendicular to the body. The legs are parallel and straight to the pasterns
which are strong and straight while remaining flexible. Feet are small and oval,
pointing forward turning neither in nor out. Toes are strong, well-arched and
closely knit with deep pads.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are well angulated, strong and muscular. The upper and lower thighs
are strong, well muscled and of good length. The stifles are clearly defined and
well angulated. Hock joints are well let down and firm. The rear pasterns are
straight. The legs are parallel from the rear and turn neither in nor out. Dewclaws
should be removed from hindquarters if present.
Coat
The coat is shiny, satiny, fine in texture and smooth to the touch. It is slightly
longer in the ruff, uniformly covering the body.
Color
Tri-Color: Predominately black head with sharply defined
tan markings on cheeks, lips and eye dots. Body is over fifty-per-cent white,
with or without black body spots.
White, Chocolate and Tan: Predominately
chocolate head with sharply defined tan markings on cheeks, lips and eye
dots. Body is over fifty-percent white, with or without chocolate body spots.
White and Tan: Predominately tan head. Body is over fifty-percent
white with or without tan body spots.
White and Black: Predominately
black head. Body is over fifty percent white with or without black body
spots. Color should be rich and clear. Blazes are acceptable, but may not
touch the eyes or ears. Clear white is preferred, but a small amount of
ticking is not to be penalized. Body spots on black headed tri-colors must
be black; body spots on chocolate headed tri-colors must be chocolate; both
with or without a slight fringe of tan alongside any body spots near the
chest and under the tail as seen in normal bi-color patterning.
Faults:
Color, other than ticking, that extends below the elbow or the hock.
Disqualifications:
A blaze extending into the eyes or ears. Any color combination not stated
above. Any dog whose head is more than fifty-percent white. Any dog whose
body is not more than fifty-percent white. Any dog whose head and body spots
are of different colors.
Gait
Movement is smooth and flowing with good reach and strong drive. The topline should
remain straight and head and tail carriage erect while gaiting.
Fault:
Hackney gait.
Temperament
The Toy Fox Terrier is intelligent, alert and friendly, and loyal to its owners.
He learns new tasks quickly, is eager to please, and adapts to almost any situation.
The Toy Fox Terrier, like other terriers, is self-possessed, spirited, determined
and not easily intimidated. He is a highly animated toy dog that is comical, entertaining
and playful all of his life. Any individuals lacking good terrier attitude and
personality are to be faulted.
Disqualifications
Any dog under 8.5 inches or over 11.5 inches.
Ears not erect on any dog over six months of age.
Dudley nose.
Undershot, wry mouth, overshot more than 1/8 inch.
A blaze extending into the eye or ears.
Any color combination not stated above.
Any dog whose head is more than fifty percent white.
Any dog whose body is not more than fifty percent white.
Any dog whose head and body spots are of different colors.
Approved: July 8, 2003
Effective: August 27, 2003