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If
the TFT just looks like a spotted Minpin or Toyman, you need to look again.
He has the vivaciousness of the Miniature Pinscher and the keenness of
the Toy Manchester but he is decidedly different.
Your job is to know and award that which makes him uniquely a Toy Fox
Terrier.
You know all about type
versus soundness and we covered the Rule Of Fives in the Talk About Type
discussion, so let’s get on to what it is that makes a Fox Terrier a Toy dog.
(Words or phrases in bold are direct from the Standard and within
context.)
The Standard says he has terrier attributes but reminds us that he is “diminutive”
and like all Toys, he has an “endless abiding love for his master.”
Now terrier folk, calm down, we know terriers love their family but
let’s admit it, the terrier will usually dawdle a bit when there’s an
interesting sound in the bushes or another dog to be checked out.
Like the Chihuahua (one of his admitted genetic contributors) when
called, the TFT will stop whatever he’s doing and race as fast as his sturdy
legs can carry him, straight into the arms or lap of his owner.
Yep, he’s a perfect blend of the “courage and animation” so
prized in the terrier, and the ever-attentive, eager to please, gentler
personality of the toy dog companion.
Size is cleverly addressed in this standard. Throughout
his history, the TFT has always been weighed out in competition.
The AKC standard keeps size down by measuring out dogs over 11.5 inches,
and demanding they be at least 8.5 inches tall.
One thing this does is prevent breeders from trying to breed or show
“tea cups” or from starving the dog to be sure it weighs in.
This dog is square in proportion as is the cobby little dog on the
right, but you will see many that are way long, especially in the first few
years, and more so if you forgive the slightly longer in males as well as
bitches. The bitch below left has
lovely proportion and bone and note that she is quite square.
 The
bone must be strong and that is not just for esthetic reasons.
What we aren’t broadcasting is that we don’t want dogs awarded that
will contribute to the breakage problem! Okay
so you know about some other breeds that have brittle bones but trust me, they
don’t all think they are superman and all are not given to leaping off tall
buildings as is this fearless little fox terrier.
 Head is elegant but the muzzle is strong rather than fine.
While there should be no indication of coarseness, we must
remember the history and the direction TFT people are coming from.
This is a toy dog but he is a working terrier.
You betcha! That is also why
under Bite we are told he must have a full complement of strong white
teeth..” The eyes are dark,
including eye-rims, with the exception chocolates. Note it did not say “tans.”
The eyes are round, not “oval” as in the Minpin.
They should be full… and somewhat prominent” and set well
apart, not slanted as in the Toy Manchester.
They are never bulging. The
soft intelligent expression isn’t particularly unique but on the other
hand it is definitely not the hard-bitten or stern expression seen in many
terriers. Ears are
confusing to some but two things will keep you on track.
First, they should be right up on top of the head, high and close
together, but never touching. Size
is no big deal as long as they are in proportion to the head and body.
As in most breeds, no exception is made for pups of show age.
The ears must be erect. (See
cover for excellent head and ears)
JUDGING TIP: Of course the breed is
judged on the table. Dogs may also
compete in UKC shows where they are not baited and are shown free posed so
don’t assume you have a novice in the ring.
Most will be good on the table but you may find things go more smoothly
if you try what I call the “Fancy Exam."
Glen and Jean Fancy may not have started the practice but they do it
soooo smoothly. UKC Judge Margo Carter has always gone over them in
the same way, for the same reason. The exam is done in
a quiet “hello doggy” non-excitable manner and the teeth are done last,
after
the dog has accepted being gently petted. No
need to cause the dog to move out of a carefully arranged pose by looking at
bite first. Great technique.
The Skull is
moderately wide and only slightly rounded.
It is softly wedge shaped and the standard further explains
that when view from the front, the head widens gradually right to the
base of the ears. When
viewed in profile, the medium stop is not abrupt, it is somewhat
sloping. The head is in equal
proportion from nose to stop and from stop to occiput and
should be in equal balance whether seen from front or profile and in proportion
to the dog. The head study
exemplifies proper stop, ratio, proportion, strength and shape.
An apple head is faulty. Muzzle is parallel to top of skull and
strong enough to grasp a varmit.
Lips are small and tight.
Bite is preferred full and complete with strong white
teeth that meet in a scissors. Lost
teeth should not to be faulted as long as the bite is correct.
So if the head looks like a Chihuahua, Minpin, Manchester, or most
terriers, it ain’t a Toy Fox.
 Neck
is
proudly erect, arched, curved, muscular, and should not be throaty.
In fact, this is a dog that fills up his supple skin so there should be
no wrinkles anywhere. The neck length is approximately the same as the head
but you don’t need to measure. This
standard clearly describes overall balance with no one feature exaggerated.
A swan neck would be too weak to allow the TFT to snap the neck of a
rodent in one swift shake. Topline
is level whether moving or
standing. The Body tapers
slightly from ribs to flank when viewed from above and has moderate tuck-up.
It should not appear racy in outline, this is a terrier with substance.
The chest is deep and muscular with well sprung ribs and
deep brisket, reaching to the elbow. The
Back is straight, level, and muscular and the Loin is
short and strong. The Croup
is also level with topline and “well rounded.
The Tail is set on high, held erect and (there’s
that thing about proportion again) in proportion to dog, meaning docked
to the 3rd or 4th joint.
This dog shows excellent topline (he’s a little stretched) body
shape and balance, neck, head proportion, short hocks, and tail set. 
Forequarters
are
well angulated but not overdeveloped meaning they are well muscled
but not bulging. The forechest
is well developed. Feet
are small and oval with strong well-arched tight toes and deep
pads. Not mentioned in the
standard but something for which you should be prepared during table exam, is a
condition called “short toe” wherein the outside toes are too short to touch
the ground. This is a recessive
hereditary condition resulting in improper weight distribution, which will
eventually weaken the pastern and may lead to arthritic problems.
Use your own judgment just as you would in any breed that exhibits a
problem that could hamper its intended function. It is said to be a minor thing and hopefully owners will not
exhibit a dog with this fault.
 Hindquarters
are strong and muscular, including the upper and lower thigh, which
should be of good length. Weak
underdeveloped rear quarters could be from “lack of conditioning” but
in a dog as active as the TFT, that means the exhibit is not properly kept
so…. A Toy Fox Terrier will
always be hard and muscular if well bred and given even a short opportunity to
exercise each day. The Stifles
are clearly defined and well angulated so a steep rear with weak
tendons is either indicative of serious genetic flaw in a dog that has always
earned its keep, or it indicates lack of care.
The breed is not cowhocked. Period.
Rear Dewclaws should be removed if present.
To a lot of old time dogmen, rear dewclaws meant the dog was immune to
snakebite. Who knows?
Coat
is shiny, satiny, fine in texture and smooth to the touch. It is not open, coarse or wiry.
The ruff and onto the neck and shoulders is slightly longer.
Although the standard states it uniformly covers the body, you will know
it may be thinner on muzzle, inside of legs, and feet.
The coat is very distinctive and you should note the smoothness as you
examine the dog. It should feel as
though the dog is snugly wrapped in satin.
Color is usually tri-color but white and tan, black and white, and tri-color with chocolate in place of black is equally acceptable.
The body is always over fifty percent white regardless
of the head color. The Tri-Color (black head or chocolate head) must have
sharply defined tan markings on cheeks, lips, and eye dots. Body spots (black, tan, or chocolate) should be rich
and clear and of the same color as the head. Blazes are
acceptable but may not touch the eyes or ears as in this puppy. The body
should be clear white but a small amount of ticking is not penalized.
Color is important in this breed. The
uniformity in most characteristics is remarkable, especially considering that
most people have never shown their dogs! But
obviously, they know what is correct so we must be careful not to undo nearly a
hundred years of work Color that extends
below the elbow or hock is faulted. The
puppy (left) has a multitude of color faults – the body is way over 50%
marked, and the markings extend below the hock.
In fact, any deviation from the traditional pattern and colors described
above are either disqualified or faulted. There
has been debate regarding the tan and white and while many breeders love them,
it is generally acknowledged that they are not as outgoing as the tri-color.
Gait
is smooth and flowing, not mincing, not high stepping and most definitely
not hackney. The front legs should
reach well out in a straight line from shoulder to foot with no wasted motion or
flipping of pasterns. The rear has strong
drive as befits a dog that is fit and muscular enough to do the many tasks
we have asked of him. Again, for
the third time, emphasis is on a level straight topline and the head and
tail carriage is erect.
Temperament is intelligent but
let’s face it, no standard calls for the dog to be a dullard. This standard spells it out.
He learns new tasks easily, is eager to please, and adapts to almost
any situation. He is like
other terriers and not easily intimidated so you can forgive a puppy
for being a bit overwhelmed, but the adult should be self-possessed,
spirited, determined. Then,
just to be sure you got the message, it warns that any dog lacking good
terrier attitude and personality is to be faulted.
You can be sure that the spiffy little dog in the photo is just bursting
with personality and ready to go a’huntin or take a trip ‘round the ring –
or cuddle in someone’s lap.
For the U.K.C. dogs, it
is a whole new atmosphere. Dogs
like the one on the left can no longer “just stand there” and look at the
owner. They are not sure about bait
and the bigger rings and greater numbers but they will catch on sooner than
their owners.
It is a new breed for
AKC judges and for the exhibitors, who are entering new territory.
Many do so with trepidation, having heard how strict AKC shows are and,
let’s face it, they are the new kids on the block and worried about how
“political” the judging may be. The next year will either convince them that this is a great
lot of fun and that our judges are kind, sensitive, and among the most
knowledgeable in the world. Or it
won’t.
You will either like this spirited little dog, or you won’t.
But what you must do is take time to learn what makes him a Toy Fox
Terrier and how to weigh his many virtues and then make a commitment to judge
him with his background and heritage in your mind.
 Feel
free to judge him with pride in what Americans can do.
He is among only a few breeds developed in this country and he takes a
back seat to none!
Photos courtesy of: Barbara Andrews, Margo Carter, Judy
Chestnut, Eliza Hopkins, Kelly Maldon, Susan McCoy, Darlene Rascatti and Sally
Richerson
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