United Kennel Club (UKC) Terrier Group
Toy Fox Terrier Breed Standard
Revised Jan. 1, 1999
Revision; May 1, 2017
The goals and purposes of
this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to
maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to
a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.
Breeders and judges have the
responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to
the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the
responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.
Any departure from the
following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault
should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect
upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its
traditional work.
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 (A dog with a Disqualification must not
be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
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) |
20
5
10
10
10
10
5
10
10
10
|
|
Total |
100
|
The docking of tails and cropping of ears in America is legal and remains a personal choice. However, as an international registry, the United Kennel Club is aware that the practices of cropping and docking have been forbidden in some countries. In light of these developments, the United Kennel Club feels that no dog in any UKC event, including conformation, shall be penalized for a full tail or natural ears.
UKC
and AKC Ch. Goldenhills Gone With The Wind.
Owned by the Andrews, he contributed to early Toy Fox
Terriers O'BJ. "Winston" was by UKC National Grand
Champion Apava Jet Setter, the
#1 All Time UKC sire.
Margo
Carter's Precious taking care of business. She was a Top Producer in UKC and for the Phoenix
Toy Fox Terrier breeding program.
Precious lived more than 16 years, went everywhere with Margo and was
indeed most precious!
