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TOY FOX TERRIER
Official U.K.C. Breed Standard
Revised January 1, 1999
History
The immediate ancestor of the Toy Fox Terrier is
the larger Smooth Fox Terrier. The original Fox Terrier breed standard was
written in England in 1876. The size of the breed at that time was 18 to 20
pounds. Owners of these brave little dogs found that the smallest, which they
called "runts", were the scrappiest of the bunch. These little dogs
were prized for their temperament. Smaller dogs were developed and eventually
were found in the seven-pound range.
The United Kennel Club began registering the
Smooth Fox Terrier in 1912. Between then and the mid-1920's, the Toy Fox
Terrier was developed, being a miniature of the previous breed, however they
were still registered under the name of Fox Terrier (Smooth). Those dogs
appear almost identical to the dogs of today. It was not until February 24,
1936, that U.K.C. began registering the Toy Fox Terrier under its current
name.
General Appearance
The Toy Fox Terrier is small in size, with a body
that is square when viewed from the side. The length of the head, neck and
legs are in proportion to the length and depth of the body. The body is
compact, with the short tail carried upright. With a short, glossy coat that
is predominantly white, the appearance is elegant, balanced and aristocratic.
Highly intelligent, alert, loyal, fearless and having much endurance, this
small dog, above all, has the conformation, characteristics and personality of
a terrier.
Characteristics
The Toy Fox Terrier is self-possessed, spirited
and determined. They are energetic, lively and strong for their size. They are
not easily intimidated by other pets. Most are comical, entertaining and
playful all of their life, which is generally long in comparison to many other
breeds. They are friendly and loyal to their master or owners, yet protective.
As a rule they are easily trained and adapt to showing in conformation and
obedience.
Any individuals lacking good terrier attitude and
personality are to be faulted.
Head
A typical head unmistakably stamps the dog as
being of this breed.
The head is in proportion to the rest of the body.
It resembles a blunt wedge when viewed from both the front and in profile.
When viewed from the front, the head widens gradually from the black nose to
the base of the ears in practically an unbroken line. The distance from the
nose to the stop is equal to the distance from the stop to the occiput.
The skull is moderate in width and slightly
rounded. The skull and muzzle are both in proportion to the length and overall
size of the head. The muzzle tapers gradually from the base of the ears to the
nose. Medium stop; somewhat sloping.
The cheeks are flat and muscular, with the area
below the eyes well filled-in.
Close-lying lips.
Serious Faults: Domed
skull (apple head). Flat skull. Deep, sharp stop. Shallow stop. Roman nose.
Faults: Backskull
or foreskull too wide. Narrow muzzle. Wide muzzle. Short muzzle. Long muzzle.
Cheeks too bulgy or too flat.
TEETH -- A full complement of strong, white teeth
meeting in a scissors bite is preferred. An even bite is permissible. Loss of
teeth should not be faulted for a dog of any age as long as the bite can be
determined as correct.
Faults: Overshot
over 1/16 inch. Puppy teeth retained after one year of age.
EYES -- Dark in color; as dark as possible being
preferred. Clear and bright, with a soft, intelligent expression. Globular,
round, and somewhat prominent, yet not bulging. They are set well apart and
fit well into the sockets.
Faults: Light
color. Too large or too small. Protruding. Squinty. Dull. Set too wide apart.
Set too close together. Lack of expression.
NOSE -- The nose is black in color. Puppies are
usually born with pink-colored noses, which generally turn dark before or by
weaning time.
Faults:
Brown nose. Brownish tinge. Small pink or flesh-colored specks on nose.
EARS -- Pointed, inverted, V-shaped: placed well
up on the sides of the head. Close together, but never touching. The inner
base is on a level with the top of the skull. Always erect when alert; carried
erect in motion. The size is in proportion to the size of the head and the
overall size of the dog.
Serious Faults: Rounded.
Set too wide apart. Low-set. Too large. Too small. Flop ears.
Neck
The length of the neck is approximately the same
as that of the head and is in proportion to the body and size of the dog. The
neck widens gradually, blending smoothly into the shoulders. The neck is clean
and is slightly arched in a graceful curve.
Faults: Neck
too short, too thick or with loose, excess skin. Ewe neck. Goose neck.
Forequarters
The shoulders are sloping and well-laid-back
(approximately at a 45 degree angle); blending smoothly from neck to back.
FORELEGS -- When viewed from the side, the
forelegs are straight from the elbows to the feet, which point forward. When
viewed from the front, the forelegs are some distance apart and drop straight
from the elbows to the feet. The elbows are close and perpendicular to the
body. The pasterns are strong and straight while remaining flexible. Bone size
is in proportion to the size of the dog.
Dewclaw removal is optional, but recommended.
Faults: Straight
shoulders. Loaded shoulders. Steep shoulders. Down in withers. Too far apart
at withers. Out at elbows. Tied in elbows. Down in pasterns. Bowed front.
Body
In shape, the body appears square when viewed from
the side, with height approximately equal to length. The height is measured
from the highest point of the withers to the bottom of the front feet. The
length is measured from the prosternum (front point of the shoulder -
forechest) to the point of the buttocks.
The body is balanced and tapers slightly from the
ribs to the flank, with an evident, moderate tuck-up.
The back is short and strong. The backline is
strong, straight and firm, blending smoothly from the neck and shoulder to the
tail.
The chest is deep, with an oval-shaped,
well-sprung rib cage. The brisket extends to or just above the elbows. The
chest is in proportion and in balance with the rest of the body.
Serious Faults: Sway
back. Roach back. Sloping croup. Taller at hips than at withers. Taller at
withers than at hips. Short-bodied. Long-bodied. Too much or too little tuckup.
Lack of muscling. Muscle bound. Barrel-chested. Narrow chest. Brisket too
shallow or too deep. Pointed brisket (when viewed from front.)
Hindquarters
Strong and muscular; free of droop or crouch. The
rump is well-filled-in on each side of the tail. The hipbones are on a level
with or just below the back. Good width and depth at pelvis. Good muscling
over hips, blending smoothly down over the upper to the lower thighs.
Any male six months of age, or older, should have
two normal size testicles clearly visible and well-seated in the scrotum.
HIND LEGS -- The hind legs appear strong and
straight down to the feet. The upper and lower thighs are strong, well-muscled
and of good length. The stifles are clearly-defined and well-angulated. The
hocks are well bent. When viewed from the rear, the stifles, hocks and feet
are straight and parallel to each other. Bone size is in proportion to the
size of the dog. If present, dewclaws are removed.
Serious Faults: Sloping,
breaking off in rump. Narrow and/or shallow pelvis. Faults: Hind legs lacking
angulation or over-angulated. Hipbones above the back level. Lack of muscle in
hips and thighs. Too much muscle in hips and thighs. Thighs too short or too
long. Bow-hocked. Cowhocked. Straight in stifle. Over-angulated stifle.
Stifles turning in or out. Legs too close together or too far apart.
Feet
The feet are oval in shape and compact, with
arched toes and hard, tough and well-cushioned pads.
Faults: Round
feet. Splayed. Flat. Feet turned in or out.
Tail
Set on high and on a level with the back. Carried
gaily, above the horizontal line of the back when the dog is in motion or at
attention; may be dropped when the dog is at ease. Docked with approximately
2/5th of the full tail remaining; equivalent length if a bobtail. Minimum
length about one inch, maximum length about three inches, for dogs six months
of age or older.
Serious Faults: Tail
curled. Tail carried straight over the back. Set too low.
Faults: Too
short. Too long. Not carried gaily when in motion.
Coat
A distinguishing feature of the breed, the coat is
short, satiny and shiny; fine in texture and smooth to the touch. It is
slightly longer at the ruff (back of neck and shoulder); uniformly covering
the body. The underline, inside of front legs, and lower part of back legs are
covered with at least a thin coat of hair. The skin is firm but pliable.
Serious Fault: Wiry
coat.
Faults: Too
long, too coarse. Dry and dull. Too thin. Loose or non-pliable skin.
Color
White is the predominating body color. White is
not the predominating head color. Predominating to mean "more than
half".
ACCEPTABLE COLORS & COLOR PATTERNS
-- White and black with tan trim.
Black predominates on the head. The ears are black
on the back with a very narrow, black rim on the inner edge. The tan trim is
found on the cheeks and/or chops and as eye dots. Face with or without a white
blaze. A blaze may extend onto either or both sides of the lower muzzle. White
frost or tiny white spots on the lower muzzle are acceptable. White is the
predominating body color, with or without black spots. Ticking is permitted to
some degree provided the white predominates and general good looks are
maintained. It is preferred that the black markings be free of any tan or
brown shadings or very small tan or brown spots, but not faulted.
-- White and Black
Everything in regard to color and markings are the
same as above, except there is no tan trim.
-- White and Tan
Tan predominates on the head. The ears are tan on
the back with a very narrow tan rim on the inner edge. Trim is a lighter or
darker shade of tan on the cheeks and/or chops and eye dots, if visible. Face
with or without a white blaze. The blaze may extend onto either or both sides
of the lower muzzle. White frost or tiny white spots on the lower muzzle are
acceptable. The body is predominantly white, with or without tan spots.
Ticking is permitted to some degree provided the white predominates and
general good looks are maintained. It is preferred that the tan markings be
free of any black or brown shadings or very small black or brown spots, but
not faulted.
Faults: A
wide blaze that extends up to the eyes. Black or tan coloring, other than
speckling (ticking) on the legs below the wrist joint of the forelegs or the
hock joint of the hind legs. Any variation from that which is stated for the
color and markings in any color combination is a fault. In a White and Tan -
tan markings that are too red, chocolate- shaded or brindled.
Weight
Dogs six months of age or older must weigh from
three-and-one-half up to, and including, seven pounds.
Gait
Movement is smooth and flowing, with the legs
moving straight, parallel and in a line at a walk or slow trot, with the back
straight and the head and tail up. There is balance and coordination with good
reach in the front and good drive from the rear. Movement is used to evaluate
gait and to evaluate the parts involved in gait, therefore the points allotted
to movement are included when considering all the dog's structural parts
involved.
In gaiting, the stifles, hocks and feet should
turn neither in nor out, and the hind legs should move in line with the front
legs.
Serious Fault: Hackney
gait.
Disqualifications
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Extreme
viciousness or shyness. Undershot bite. Overshot bite of more than 1/8 inch.
Wry mouth. Liver colored nose. Dudley nose. No tail. Dogs of any age over
seven pounds. Any dog six months of age or older weighing less than
three-and-one-half pounds. Ears not erect on any dog over six months of age.
Any solid-colored dog. Maltese or chocolate markings. Any color combination in
which white is not the predominant body color. Any color combination other
than stated combinations. In any color combination, any dog whose head is more
than half white. Any dog whose head and/or ear color and body spots are of
different colors.
SCALE OF POINTS
Head
Neck
Shoulders
Chest, Ribs, Underline (tuck up)
Back and Loin
Hindquarters (hips, croup, pelvis and
thighs)
Tail (set and carriage)
Forelegs and Hind legs
Coat & Color
Characteristics, Attitude and Temperament
(anything else to complete the 'total'
dog)
Total |
20
5
10
10
10
10
5
10
10
10
100
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