A SHORT HISTORY

I was attracted to this breed because of a picture of my grandfather and his treasured hunting companion, Clown. Clown was typical of the type of dog that populated almost every farm in the early part of this century; a tricolor terrier. Some of these dogs may have been Toy Fox Terriers, others were Jack Russells or standard Fox Terriers, while still others were just black and white mixed breed dogs. These dogs hunted with the men, let the children dress them in baby clothes and won mamma’s heart enough that she’d let them sleep by the stove on cold winter nights. This was a practical, intelligent, easy keeper that fit that lifestyle well. Many of the inquiries I receive today are from senior citizens who want a dog like the ones they had on the farm. The Toy Fox Terrier was developed from the Smooth Fox Terrier. From 1912 to 1936, standard-size and “runt” Fox Terriers were registered with the United Kennel Club, but in 1936 the UKC began registering the Toy Fox Terrier separately. In 1949 the National Toy Terrier Association brought stability to the breed by writing a standard, offering conformation shows and serving as the parent organization for state clubs. Currently, 20 state clubs hold shows, and the National Toy Fox Terrier Association offers a rotating national specialty on the third weekend of August.