Fox Terrier

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Fox Terrier as alert, quick and always "on the tiptoe of expectation," friendly, forthcoming and fearless. That's spot on. A Fox Terrier loves activity, play and human company, and with children who like to run and throw a ball it usually makes a great team. The Wire variety tends to be a bit more outgoing with strangers, while the Smooth barks more often. Both have a strong prey drive: anything small and fast is prey, and they can be merciless toward cats from outside the household and rodents. They can get into scraps with other dogs, because they don't back down. They learn quickly, but typical terrier independence means training takes patience and creativity. A bored Fox Terrier digs, barks and destroys.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Fox Terrier for?

The Fox Terrier suits an active person or family with older children who enjoy daily exercise and have a sense of humor. It works for someone who has had a terrier before or is ready to learn a lot. Don't choose one if you have cats from outside the family, rabbits or hamsters, if you're looking for a calm dog, or if you can't tolerate barking and digging in the yard.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

A Fox Terrier needs at least an hour of exercise a day, ideally with an element of chase: fetch, frisbee, agility or earthdog work. The AKC stresses that it shouldn't be let off leash outside a fenced area, because at the sight of a small animal it forgets everything else. Grooming depends on the variety. The Smooth just needs a weekly once-over with a dense brush or grooming mitt. The Wire needs regular brushing so the coat doesn't mat, plus hand-stripping or clipping every few weeks; stripping is required for the show ring, while pet dogs are often clipped. Both varieties need weekly ear checks, nail trims and frequent tooth brushing. Training should be short and varied. It's worth digging-proofing the yard.

Health and breed-related conditions

Fox Terriers are a long-lived breed: a 2024 UK study found a median of 13.5 years for them, and the AKC gives 12–15 years. American breeders of the Smooth variety screen the parents mainly for luxating patella and heart disease. For the Wire variety, the AKC lists cataracts, primary lens luxation, glaucoma, luxating patella, hip and elbow dysplasia and a neurological disorder known as wobbler syndrome. The British Kennel Club recommends eye exams for both varieties and stresses genetic diversity, because the Smooth Fox Terrier is a vulnerable native breed in the UK. Daily tooth brushing helps prevent periodontal problems.

• eye disease (cataracts, primary lens luxation, glaucoma)The Kennel Club recommends eye exams for the parents in both varieties.
• luxating patellaBreeders of both varieties have the parents' knees checked.
• heart diseaseAmerican Smooth Fox Terrier breeders have the parents' hearts checked.
• hip and elbow dysplasiaListed by the AKC for the Wire variety.
• wobbler syndromeA neurological disorder causing an unsteady gait, recorded in the Wire variety.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the FCI standard, both varieties of Fox Terrier come from Britain and probably descend from the same dogs that produced the Bull Terrier and the Manchester Terrier. Terriers had long been kept with hound packs to get the fox out of its earth; they ran with the hounds or rode in saddlebags. To tell them apart from the fox, breeders aimed for a white coat with small patches. The first Fox Terrier class appeared at the Islington show in 1862, and the first standard was written in 1876. The Smooth variety was once more popular, but in the early 20th century the Wire overtook it.

Fun facts

• The white coat with patches was introduced so that hunters wouldn't mistake the terrier for a fox.
• In the early 20th century, the Fox Terrier was the most popular breed in England.
• The Smooth Fox Terrier is on the UK list of vulnerable native breeds.
• The FCI standard for the Wire Fox Terrier gives an ideal weight of 8.25 kg for a male in show condition.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Small dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI – wzorzec nr 169 Fox Terrier (Wire)fci.be
2. 2FCI – wzorzec nr 12 Fox Terrier (Smooth)fci.be
3. 3AKC – Wire Fox Terrierakc.org
4. 4AKC – Smooth Fox Terrierakc.org
5. 5The Kennel Club – Fox Terrier (Wire)thekennelclub.org.uk
6. 6The Kennel Club – Fox Terrier (Smooth)thekennelclub.org.uk
7. 7McMillan i in. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reportsnature.com

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.