Known for its boundless enthusiasm, the playful little Fox Terrier is a popular family pet. Cross-bred in England from a variety of Terriers and other hunting dogs, the Fox Terrier was used, as the name implies, to hunt foxes.

There are smooth-coated and wire-coated Foxies, aptly named Smooth Fox Terriers and Wire Fox Terriers. In Australia, you’ll find more Smooth than Wire Foxies.

The Fox Terrier is a small dog standing 36-39 cm tall and weighing 7-8 kg. It can be solid white or white with black or tan markings. The coat of the Smooth Fox Terrier is flat, dense and clean and requires little grooming. The Wire Fox Terrier has a dense, wiry top coat with a softer, shorter undercoat and requires regular grooming as well as occasional hand trimming.

What makes the Fox Terrier such a popular dog is its extremely friendly and excitable character. It gets on very well with children but must be socialised as puppies to get along with other pets. Fox Terriers can make good watchdogs, protecting family members from perceived threats, but need firm training to stop their barking.

This is a little dog with heaps of personality. Super alert and active, it loves nothing better than to play and exercise. An intelligent and curious dog, the Fox Terrier enjoys digging and exploring, which can get it into trouble. If you have a garden, you’ll need to teach your Foxie not to dig up your plants. This dog will happily spend its time either indoors or outdoors.

The Fox Terrier’s curiosity and impulsiveness make this dog more prone to accidents involving other dogs, snakes and cars. Put a fence around your yard and when you walk your Foxie, and keep it firmly on a lead. Fox Terriers have a lifespan of about 14 years.