American Toy Fox Terrier (Amertoy)

The American Toy Fox Terrier is a small dog with a decorative appearance and a strong terrier character. Once used to catch rats, mice, and other vermin, these little dogs are now kept as companions, but they haven't lost their interest in hunting or become couch potatoes. Miniature Toy Fox Terriers are agile, alert, courageous, playful, and friendly.

Content

1 History of origin
2 Appearance and standards
3 Character and behavior
4 Education and training
5 Content
6 Health and life expectancy
7 Choosing a Toy Fox Terrier Puppy and Price
8 Photos

History of origin

The American Toy Fox Terrier's ancestors are smooth fox terriers, which were actively used for hunting by the English as early as the 16th century. Smaller specimens were often found among the standard breeds. They were also of interest to breeders because they were more agile and energetic, qualities that made them excellent at hunting rodents.

In 1912, the United Kennel Club began registering shorthaired fox terriers; the small dogs were registered alongside the larger ones under the same name. In the mid-1920s, Toy breeders petitioned the UKC to make them a separate breed. To maintain the dogs' miniature size, they began infusing the blood of other miniature breeds: miniature pinschers, Chihuahua, Manchester Terriers and Italian greyhoundsThe request was granted in 1936. The miniature dogs were registered under the name Toy Fox Terrier. Since 1960, any crossbreeding has been prohibited. Another name for the breed is the American Toy Fox Terrier, or Amertoy for short.

Video about the American Toy Fox Terrier (Amertoy) dog breed:

Appearance and standards

The Toy Fox Terrier is a small, well-built dog with an athletic build and strong bone structure. Its entire appearance exudes grace and agility, tirelessness and strength. Its physique is flexible, muscular, and smooth. When moving, it exhibits a lightness and endless stamina. Overall balance is of great importance. The preferred height is 23-28 cm; weight 1.5-3 kg.

The head is well balanced, the skull is rounded, and the muzzle is wedge-shaped. The stop is well defined. The distance from the tip of the nose to the stop is equal to the distance from the stop to the occiput. The muzzle is strong, slightly dry, and generally proportionate to the head. The nose is black, although brown may be present in brown dogs. The lips are thin and close-fitting. The teeth are complete, white, and correctly aligned. The eyes are round, slightly protruding, with an intelligent, pleasant expression, set well apart. The eyelids are tightly fitting. The ears are pointed, erect, and set high.

The neck is carried proudly, dry, and without dewlap. The body is well balanced and square, meaning the length of the body is approximately equal to the height. Females may be slightly longer. The topline is straight and horizontal. The croup is well rounded. The underline is tucked up. The chest is deep with well-sprung ribs. The tail is set high. The legs are straight and parallel. Dewclaws are removed. The paws are small, oval, with strong, well-knit toes.

The tail can be docked at the level of the 3-4 vertebrae.

The coat is not dense, short, shiny, of good texture, and soft to the touch. It is slightly longer around the neck than on the body. There are four distinct colors. They differ in the color of the head and body markings, if present. In all four variations, white is the dominant body color. Pure white is preferred, but a small amount of ticking is permitted. The head may be brown and tan, red, black, or black and tan. The color of the markings on the body and head is the same. The markings on the body should not extend below the elbow or hock. Tan markings are clearly visible on the jaws, cheekbones, and above the eyes. The body is at least 50% white. The colors should be pure and rich. A white blaze is permitted, but it should not touch the ears or eyes.

Character and behavior

Toy Fox Terriers are funny, intelligent dogs that retain a puppy-like spirit throughout their lives. They're never boring, and their constant pranks and tricks are sure to bring a smile. At the same time, they're courageous and endlessly loyal, naturally proud and alert. Among family members, Toy Fox Terriers are sweet and friendly. They get along well with older children. It's not advisable to bring a Toy Fox Terrier into a family with small children. A toddler could accidentally hurt the dog, which in turn won't tolerate being bullied and may snap back. They're wary of strangers.

Within a single breed, dogs can vary greatly in personality. Some are more stubborn and impulsive, while others are obedient and calm.

Like all terriers, the small Toy Fox Terrier loves to dig, bark, explore new territories and smells, and hunt for butterflies and leaves. It can be aggressive toward other dogs, regardless of size. The Amertoy is highly territorial, which, combined with its alertness and loud, ringing bark, makes it an excellent watchdog. The Toy Fox Terrier thrives on attention and is quite demanding. It requires a lot of time daily. Without human interaction, it will become unhappy and problematic. Once it's had its fill of play and running, it transforms from a restless creature into a calm, soft warmer, curling up at its owner's feet.

Amertois generally get along well with cats and other dogs. However, they won't allow strange animals onto their territory. Small rodents and birds may be considered potential prey. A Toy Fox Terrier can easily catch a parrot in mid-flight.

Education and training

Toy Fox Terriers are very intelligent and quickly understand what's expected of them, but they do have a terrier-like stubbornness, so training should begin as early as possible. Socialization is especially important. As soon as the dog is allowed outside, it is introduced to new places, smells, other animals, and people. This will help the puppy grow up obedient, confident, and well-balanced.

In the United States, Mini Fox Terriers were extremely popular with clowns. These small dogs could be seen in many circuses, further demonstrating their exceptional intelligence and trainability. The challenge of training them lies in finding the right approach. Dogs quickly become bored with monotonous repetition of commands, but if you can combine training with play, the results are sure to be impressive.

Amertoys make excellent athletes. They most often participate in active sports such as agility, frisbee, lure coursing, and racing.

Content

Thanks to its small size, the Toy Fox Terrier fits perfectly into any size house or apartment. However, its boisterous nature and high activity level will keep everyone busy. Throughout the day, the dog will actively participate in all activities and beg to be played with. Amertoys are very warm-loving, and even if they have their own cozy home, they prefer to sleep on the owner's bed. Don't be surprised if you find a miracle inside the duvet cover; they love to snuggle up with their ears. Toy Fox Terrier owners should always be vigilant, as these dogs are partial to litter.

The cheerful, energetic, agile and athletic Toy Fox Terrier requires good exercise and regular walks.

Care

There's nothing complicated about grooming an Amertoy. It's recommended to brush the dog once a week. This will remove mature hairs and provide a massage effect. Bathe the dog thoroughly as needed. In winter, it rarely gets dirty, but in summer, it loves to roll around in the dirt. It's also hot, so bathing may be necessary once a week. With this frequency, only shampoos designed for frequent washing are used.

Ears are cleaned once a week. Nails are trimmed every 3-4 weeks. Some dogs have problems with their anal glands, which are located on either side of the anus. These glands should be cleaned as often as necessary.

And of course, don't forget about teeth. Good-quality baby teeth aren't essential for show business; they'll fall out anyway. However, dental care is essential from puppyhood. Regular brushing with a special toothbrush and toothpaste is key.

Clothing and accessories

A short coat without an undercoat won't keep a dog warm in cold weather. Amertoys need comfortable clothing appropriate for the weather. It's best to accustom a dog to being dressed from an early age.

For walks, it's best to purchase a retractable leash and harness, or a wide collar like those for Italian greyhounds, which won't damage the trachea or choke the dog. Only let an Amertoy off the leash if you're absolutely sure it won't get into trouble, attack other Amertoys, pick up uneatable food from the floor, or run away from its owner in search of something more interesting.

Most Toy Foxhounds prefer small squeaky toys and balls. Toys should not contain small parts that a dog could swallow. Latex toys are preferable; if swallowed, the bitten pieces will not damage the intestinal walls and will pass naturally.

Nutrition

Breeders recommend feeding miniature dogs high-quality dry or wet food. Amertoi are rarely picky eaters and, on the contrary, are often prone to overeating and gaining excess weight. A properly selected diet will help the Foxy always remain active, healthy, and cheerful. Most food manufacturers offer balanced diets for miniature breeds. Feeding amounts are calculated based on the dog's weight. During colder months, portions can be slightly increased, which is also acceptable if the dog is very active.

Health and life expectancy

All dogs are prone to certain health issues, and the Toy Fox Terrier is no exception. Unfortunately, a high breed profile does not guarantee excellent health. Breeders rarely speak openly about the problems they encounter in their lines, but owners should be aware of potential ailments. The breed has been noted to be predisposed to the following health issues:

Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head;
Hypothyroidism with goiter formation;
Patellar dislocation;
Circulatory pathologies characterized by poor coagulation;
Primary lens dislocation;
Demodicosis (most often affects dogs up to 12 months old, and then after 5 years;
Toy Fox Terriers often suffer from allergies.

Of course, not all of these pathologies can be detected in one puppy. Their presence is difficult to predict, so you need to deal with breeders who use only healthy dogs for breeding. This can be confirmed by genetic testing.

Most other illnesses encountered in dogs are usually related to improper care, maintenance, and nutrition. Prevention is also important: keep your pet up to date with vaccinations and regularly treat internal and external parasites. The average lifespan of an Amertoy is 11-13 years.

Choosing a Toy Fox Terrier Puppy and Price

The American Toy Fox Terrier is a new breed in Russia, and many haven't heard of it yet. However, there are already breeding kennels in major cities. Finding a breeder shouldn't be difficult, but you may have to wait a bit for a planned litter.

When visiting the chosen breeder, be sure to meet the puppy's parents and assess their temperament, upbringing, and training. Puppies from parents with bad temperaments may inherit undesirable traits. Pay attention to the breeder's living conditions. This is important, as unsanitary conditions increase the risk of apparently healthy puppies harboring latent infections that will soon become apparent. Puppies should be healthy, well-fed, have a good appetite, be active, playful, and inquisitive and not easily frightened. A breeder who has observed each puppy from birth can provide insight into their personality. A litter always includes the most active puppy—the leader—and quieter puppies.

If the dog is not going to be bred, appearance is not of much importance, but if you want a future show champion, it is better to choose a puppy with a breed specialist.

Potential owners shouldn't expect the price of an American Toy Fox Terrier puppy to be low. The breed is still very small, with many imported from the United States, and naturally, their puppies aren't cheap. The average price for an American Toy Fox Terrier is 40,000 rubles.