Let's talk Smooth Fox Terriers
The Smooth Fox Terrier stands out from the crowd with their distinctive V-shaped head. Originally bred as a hunting dog in their native England, the Smooth Fox Terrier has a bold temperament but is affectionate towards their owners. Bottom line, they’re not against cuddling. Their compact size means the Smooth Fox Terrier will be content in an apartment but be aware, they are energetic and prefer spending time outside in the company of their human(s). A Smooth Fox Terrier is always ready for their next adventure.
Official name: Smooth Fox Terrier
Other names: Fox Terrier
Origins: England
| Drooling tendencies |  |
Warm weather? |  |
| Shedding level |  |
Suited to apartment living? |  |
| *Energy Level | Moderate | *Friendly pet? | |
| Compatibility with other pets | |
*Can stay alone? | |
* We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches. Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behavior. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socializing your pet as well as covering their basic welfare needs (and their social and behavioral needs).
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.
Male
39 cm
Height
8 - 8.5 kg
Weight
Female
39 cm
Height
7 - 7.5 kg
Weight
| Baby age | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age | 2-10 months |
| Adult age | 10 months - 8 years |
| Mature age | 8-12 years |
| Senior age | From 12 years |
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Get to know the Smooth Fox Terrier
All you need to know about the breed
The Smooth Fox Terrier is a canine bundle of affection, loyalty and playfulness. Their intelligence and lively temperament requires a confident, active owner. Always looking for a new adventure? This rare terrier breed will be a willing companion!
Originally developed as hunting dogs, Smooth Fox Terriers have stamina and strength a-plenty, requiring up to 3 hours of exercise per day. They won’t turn down more. Their compact size means that the Smooth Fox Terrier adapts well to apartment life, so long as they can burn off all that energy. Off-the-lead runs should always be in a secure and enclosed space as this breed has a strong prey instinct.
Once trained, Smooth Fox Terriers make great playmates for children (although like other breeds should never be left alone with them) and are loyal to their human families. Cats, rabbits and hamsters however may be too tempting for this former hunting dog, unfortunately. On the plus side, Smooth Fox Terriers make for trustworthy watch dogs, slipping naturally into the role of protector.
When they’re not in play mode, Smooth Fox Terriers will stay close to their family members and maybe even snuggle up to you - but they’re not needy. Sadly, they are quite a rare breed today so if you have your heart set on a Smooth Fox Terrier, you’ll need to be patient.
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2 facts about Smooth Fox Terriers
1. Picks fights
Like any other breed, the Smooth Fox Terrier benefits from early socialisation, to get used to being around other dogs and humans. However, this is a bold and confident breed, so even after socialisation, the Smooth Fox Terrier is down to get scrappy with whatever dog crosses their path. For this reason, it’s best to keep them on a leash when outside, especially in busy areas.
2. Not a lap dog
The Smooth Fox Terrier may be on the smaller side but they should not be mistaken for a lap dog. While incredibly affectionate and loyal towards their humans, the Smooth Fox Terrier prefers to spend time playing games and exploring the great outdoors, as opposed to being a couch potato. Having said that, they’re not against cuddling every now and again.
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History of the breed
Smooth Fox Terriers have a whole lot of history. Developed in 18th century England, when hunting became popular among the gentry, it is thought that Smooth Fox Terriers descend from black and tan terrier breeds, such as Bull Terriers and Beagles. During hunts, they would ride in saddlebags up until the moment their services were required.
For many years Wire Fox Terriers and Smooth Fox Terriers were considered two varieties of the same breed, the main point of differentiation being their coat texture. More recent research however points to the two dogs having different canine ancestors. In 1985, the American Kennel Club formally recognised them as separate breeds.
To date, the Fox Terrier is the most successful breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Combined, both breeds have won 18 Best in Show titles (4 for the Smooth Fox Terrier and 14 for the Wire Fox Terrier). Unfortunately, despite their many qualities and affectionate temperament, today the Smooth Fox Terrier is one of several vulnerable native breeds in the UK.
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Smooth Fox Terriers
1. Body
Deep chest, but not broad, with moderate length tail.
2. Eyes
Dark, round eyes with a lively, intelligent look.
3. Ears
Small, V-shaped ears that flop forward towards the cheek.
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Smooth Fox Terrier
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Caring for your Smooth Fox Terrier
Grooming, training and exercise tips
The Smooth Fox Terrier has a short but dense coat that needs weekly grooming. Their ears should be checked weekly for wax and/or debris removal and nails should be kept trimmed. A monthly bath should suffice unless your Smooth Fox Terrier gets particularly enthusiastic about digging. Frequent tooth brushing (daily if possible) is important for good dental hygiene. Like most terrier dogs, this breed requires plenty of exercise and has an impressive stamina. Long, leisurely walks, chasing after a ball, and interactive play sessions are all things Smooth Fox Terriers enjoy with their humans. Like any other breed, Smooth Fox Terriers benefit from early training and socialisation. They are bold dogs but not known to be aggressive and their intelligence usually means they are a pleasure to train. Be sure to keep them on a leash in the city and if you have a garden, make sure there is a secure fence. This will prevent them from chasing after other dogs or smaller animals.
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All about Smooth Fox Terriers
And then some. The Smooth Fox Terrier is a bit of a barker. This is a positive when they are in watchdog mode, but it may also happen if they are bored or left to their own devices for too long. Early training should help to temper this trait.
Absolutely, especially if you’re active and outdoorsy. Although they’re on the smaller side, Smooth Fox Terriers require significant daily exercise. These loyal dogs make for affectionate companions and get on well with older children once trained, although like other dog breeds, adult supervision is always necessary. (They may be a bit too boisterous for tiny tots).
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Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/