The Toy Fox Terrier was initially a miniature version of the larger Smooth Fox Terrier. It has been employed for several purposes, including ratting on farms and hunting small animals like squirrels. However, their primary goal is to be devoted, committed, and dedicated companions who can amuse and enjoy their families.
Since the 16th century, the Smooth Fox Terrier has been an English breed. However, at the turn of the 20th century, they discovered that the Smooth Fox Terrier breed was more aggressive and self-assured than the larger puppies. So these runts were mated with smaller breeds like the Chihuahua, Italian Greyhound, Miniature Pinscher (MinPin), and Manchester Terrier.
The aim was to create a little dog with Smooth Fox Terrier's tremendous drive and many other toy breeds' milder "lap dog" personalities. The resulting Toy Fox Terrier, often known as the American Toy Terrier or Amertoy, also turned out to be intelligent, athletic, and graceful.
At first, many thought of these little terriers as miniature fox terriers. However, the Toy Fox Terrier was officially recognized as a distinct breed by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1936.
Due to their intelligence, Toy Fox Terriers have been excellent circus dogs and performers. They also do well in manners and agility competitions. A toy fox terrier can also make a great family pet. They can adjust to apartment life as long as you meet the breed's fitness requirements, whether through playtime, training, or walks.
Breed Characteristics
Toy Fox Terriers are very smart. They are tiny enough to utilize a dog litter box or housetraining pad. They excel in canine behaviors like obedience. They performed circus dog stunts in the little dog and pony performances that toured the nation. Today, they compete in conformation shows and perform admirably in rallies, flyball, and obedience competitions.
Toy Fox Terriers are a sturdy dog breed that can survive into their teens and continue to be energetic into old age.
Toy Fox Terriers are fiercely devoted to their families. Their loud bark defies their little stature, making them great guard dogs. But, because of their tenacious defense tactics, cunning burglars choose to target a less noisy target.
This dog forms strong attachments with his owners and insists on participating in all activities. He has a lot of energy and a desire to please others. Still, he has a strong personality and insists on having rights and privileges that belong to other family and friends.
His fierce commitment to his family may cause him to be distant from strangers, but socialization and training to welcome strangers can help your Toy Fox Terrier understand that guests you let into your home pose no threat to him.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) have officially given registration and full show status to the Toy Fox Terrier breed, which was previously exclusively recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC). It will allow the Toy Fox Terrier many more chances to win over followers and lovers with his upbeat personality, devotion, spirit, and intelligence, in addition to his fashionable good looks. Owners of a Toy Fox Terrier believe their families would be incomplete without one.
Personality
The Toy Fox Terrier is a smart, loyal, and loving dog who wants to participate in everything his owners do. He is an excellent watchdog and will warn you when visitors or strangers are nearby and anything unusual is happening in the neighborhood. Different personalities exist, from couch potatoes to excitable creatures.
The Toy Fox Terrier needs early socialization, or exposure to various people, places, sounds, and activities when young, just like any other dog. Socialization is important to guarantee that the Toy Fox Terrier puppy develops into a well-rounded dog.
He should start by being enrolled in a kindergarten class for puppies. Then, regularly hosting guests, taking him to crowded parks and dog-friendly shops, and on leisurely walks to meet neighbors will help him polish his social skills.
Temperament
The Toy Fox Terrier has a temperament that makes him a clever, energetic, affectionate dog with a healthy sense of self-worth.
Everyone knows that one person's "spirited" may be another person's "hyperactive"; therefore, it is wonderful to know that the Toy Fox Terrier has a range of activity levels. Some people have very dynamic personalities, while others are calmer.
However, they all like receiving love from their owners. Therefore, the Toy Fox Terrier will almost certainly improve your life in the cutest ways, no matter what you decide.
The Toy Fox Terrier personifies a feisty tiny canine. He is prone to barking, chasing, and bossing when playing with other dogs. If you're not careful, "little dog syndrome" may strike your Toy Fox Terrier.
The Toy Fox Terrier can concentrate intensely on everything he does during playtime. Additionally, he acts impulsively, running and jumping whenever the mood hits him.
You'll be worn out by the time he's ready to crash at the end of the day. The question "Does the energy run out?" will be on your mind. However, some Toy Fox Terriers possess calmer dispositions and can be wonderful older companions.
How To Help Your Toy Fox Terrier Remain Calm?
Since fear, anxiety, or high arousal are common components of behavioral issues, retraining cannot start until your Toy Fox Terrier can reach a calm, peaceful state on command. Training should concentrate on both the emotional state and the behavioral reaction (sit, down, walk, sit on your mat). It is not feasible to try to teach your pet to calm down in the presence of the stimuli that elicits fear or arousal until you can train them to concentrate and relax on command in the absence of those stimuli.
Once the dog has mastered settling on cue, exposure to progressively more powerful stimuli should be possible. When a dog gets extremely enthusiastic or nervous, such as when meeting family members, strangers, or other animals, dog owners can use the settle command to get a focused response. It can also be applied when dogs get nervous when their humans are ready to leave or when they start to get overexcited when visitors or while getting ready for a walk.
Settle Training
Teaching your Toy Fox Terrier to respond to verbal or visual cues and commands is known as attentional or command-response-reward training. The typical steps are finding a way to guarantee that the pet would quickly and consistently display the desired behavior, reinforcing the behavior, and then adding a signal before the behavior. For pets with behavior issues, in particular, teaching the commands for "sit," "down," "heel," and "go to your bed" can be helpful.
A fresh set of signals you and your Toy Fox Terrier can use to understand the intended behavior is a fantastic place to start. Use a command like "watch," "steady," "concentrate," or "relax" instead of "sit." Similar to how the order "down" might be substituted with the commands "relax" or "settle." For a relaxed, loose leash walk, you might use "follow" or "heel," and "go to your mat" should indicate going to bed.
Make sure your Toy Fox Terrier gets enough exercise and has a fulfilling daily routine before you begin teaching him. Every day, your dog needs to go on walks, have playtimes, eat, spend time alone playing, and sleep. Your dog should also be aware of the actions that result in a reward.
Starting the process of teaching your dog to relax and concentrate should take place in a setting with little to no distractions and a calm dog. Although the steps for training are as follows: (a) give the instruction, (b) get the right response, and (c) give unambiguous and immediate reward, training cannot start until you have a method for reliability and consistently achieving the goal behavior.
The initial reaction can be accomplished via a variety of techniques. Most of the time, luring the dog into the desired behavior can be accomplished via food, a toy, or a physical target connected to favorite food items. Alternatively, you may use a physical tool like a leash to encourage the dog to exhibit the desired behavior. Then, as soon as the dog responds as you want, you can immediately release the tension.
Calming Activities
The Toy Fox Terrier is an energetic, adorable dog that doesn't even realize how small they are, with a bark bigger than its size. They have fiery but loving personalities that are larger than life. Because they are so eager to learn and intelligent, they are simple to teach and may be taught various tricks. This little dog likes to work for their food, so don't spoil them. Even if it's simply going to collect your slippers every night, they'll adore having a job to perform. So how do you maintain them on the straight and narrow and in your good graces? You achieve this by keeping them as busy as a bee.
Making A Bed
You can train your dog to enjoy changing their bed. Give your dog the pillowcases and sheets as you remove them so the dog can put them in the hamper. They'll be engaged and challenged by the sheets. They can be buried in the bed, allowed to escape, to play growl at you, and then asked to repeat the act. They will learn that making the bed is enjoyable. Play pillow battles, but don't be too rough.
Walking Excursion
The finest exercise your dog can receive is always a walk. It makes your puppy want to go outside and visit new places. Who cares if it is wet? Dogs can endure a little dampness unless it is pouring rain. A rainy day walk is very different from a sunny day walk. The day has a palpable softer, subdued quality. It doesn't matter if it's a little damp, chilly, hot, or warm to your spunky Toy Fox Terrier. They only wish to venture outside and discover. Do not be discouraged by the weather. Make your walks more varied so they continue to be fun activities. This exercise benefits your dog's socialization and training.
Treadmill
It's a gloomy day outside and pouring rain, and you'll have to skip bringing your Toy Fox Terrier for a walk for the third or fourth time this week. You have an excitable dog on your hands, and you know what it means. However, a treadmill will resolve all of your issues! If you have a treadmill, teach your dog to walk on it by starting slowly. Until they gain confidence, go with caution alongside them. Before picking up the speed, maintain a slow and easy pace. Thanks to this exercise, your dog can always go for a daily walk. Organize a training session. After five minutes of walking, halt, give a treat, and then continue. Once they feel secure, you can quicken the speed, but never beyond their capacity. And just in case, remain and keep watch. You both gain from it if you alternate running on the treadmill.
Dog Calming Products
Since many employees are returning to their offices, they are coping with new canine-related problems, such as separation anxiety or aggressive behavior. In addition, they expect such a continual presence because they have spent a lot of time at home over the past year. Being alone for eight or more hours might be unfamiliar and unsettling for a new dog.
However, dog owners can use several things to reduce their pet's anxiousness and help them remain calm.
Calming Cuddle Bed Plus
The Calming Cuddle Bed Plus is vet recommended bed for a high level of anxiety in dogs. It is available in 9 colors and five different sizes, perfect for breeds from small to medium and large dogs.
Dog psychologists have observed that, like humans, dogs connect sense with emotion. So it makes sense that we are similar to them as a species. For example, when young, they equate the smell of fur and the pleasant, cozy feeling of being with their littermates with security.
This idea explains how calming dog beds can mimic that comforting sensation and reduce anxiety. The dog beds have high rims covered in cozy synthetic fur that they can curl up against. Your dog's haven is their comfortable dog bed.
Snuffle Mats
Snuffle mats give dogs mental stimulation and pleasure when their owners are occupied or away at work by simulating their natural scavenging and hunting habits. Several companies, including Awoof, produce this specific training toy. In addition, pet owners can conceal treats or tiny toys for their dogs inside the folds of fabric (most of which resemble salad plates or a picnic spread). Paw5 and Stellaire Chern are two different companies that sell comparable goods.
Puzzle Toys
Many puzzle toys are available for dogs, ranging from simple to difficult. These stimulate the mind, alleviate boredom, and reduce destructive behavior. Experts prefer The Game from Fable because it allows dogs to seek their feed for a half-hour while providing physical and cerebral stimulation. The Game can store up to 1.5 cups of dry food.
Dog Anxiety Prevention
Knowing what will make your dog uneasy and figuring out whether their anxiety will turn into a more severe problem can be challenging. There are, however, ways to support a dog or puppy in avoiding issues brought on by anxiety.
Body Language
Learning to interpret your dog's body language is one of the nicest options you can do. Knowing when your dog is uneasy or fearful might help you avoid unpleasant situations or turn them into a teaching opportunity. Additionally, body language can indicate when a dog is feeling anxious, which is helpful if the dog has a history of biting or related anxiety.
Socialization
Proper socializing can stop the onset of anxiety. Your dog will become a more well-adjusted canine citizen. You may help prevent future extreme responses by exposing your dog to different people, creatures, dog parks, and experiences.
Obedience Training
The key to preventing and controlling dog anxiety is obedience training. It creates trust and builds the groundwork for a strong connection. An obedience class is a fantastic setting for dogs to meet new dogs in a controlled context, and a well-trained dog is quicker to socialize than a dog lacking training.
The Bottom Line
Many dogs will go through periods of anxiety throughout their life, just like humans. Even though not all dogs may experience anxiety that results in a diagnosable anxiety illness, it's still crucial to understand the origins, symptoms, and available treatments for canine anxiety. Knowing these crucial elements will help you, as a dog owner, determine the best ways to support your dog in anxiety-provoking circumstances and assist you in creating a plan of care customized to your dog's needs and lifestyle.