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Toy Fox Terrier
Official Breed Standard
Approved by the American Kennel Club July 11, 2000

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HISTORY
The Toy Fox Terrier is a true American Breed developed by breeding small
Smooth Fox Terriers with several toy breeds including the Chihuahua and
Manchester Terrier. Today, the Toy Fox Terrier is a well-balanced toy dog of
athletic appearance displaying grace and agility in equal measure with strength
and stamina. From the hunt to the show ring, the Toy Fox Terrier has become a
cherished companion dog and excellent show piece. The Toy Fox Terrier has
shown that he is at home in conformation, obedience and agility trials, his favorite
spotlight is the center stage of his owner's life. The Toy Fox Terrier is a toy and a
terrier, and both have influenced his personality and character. While retaining the
terrier gameness, courage and animation. The cross-breeding with various toy
breeds mentioned created a milder disposition. Although easier to live with than
many terriers, the Toy Fox Terrier is still a working terrier, and many of them
delight in hunting and going to ground. Given the opportunity, the Toy Fox Terrier
will pursue the quarry of the backyard or barnyard with diligence. Known to tree
squirrels and flush out rodents, the hunt is always welcome. Flyball or fetch are
easily learned and perfected for endless hours of activity. However, if you enjoy a
lap dog, this little companion appears to know the latest in television
entertainment of his household. Children especially enjoy the unending energy
and zeal for play throughout this dog's life.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Toy Fox Terrier is truly a Toy and a Terrier and both have influenced his
personality and character. As a Terrier, the TFT possesses keen intelligence,
courage and animation. As a Toy he is diminutive, and devoted with an endless
abiding love for his master. The Toy Fox Terrier is a well-balanced Toy dog of
athletic appearance displaying grace and agility in equal measure with strength
and stamina. His lithe muscular body has a smooth elegant outline, which
conveys the impression of effortless movement and endless endurance. He is
naturally well groomed, proud, animated and alert. Characteristic traits are his
elegant head; his short, glossy and predominantly white coat coupled with
predominantly solid head and his short high-set tail.
SIZE, PROPORTION AND SUBSTANCE
Size: 8.5 - 11.5 inches, 9-11 inches preferred, 8.5 - 11.5 acceptable. Proportion:
The Toy Fox Terrier is square in proportion, with height being approximately equal
to length. with height measured from withers to ground and length measured
from point of shoulder to buttocks. Slightly longer in bitches acceptable.
Substance: Bone must be strong, but not excessive and always in proportion to
size. Overall balance is important. Disqualification: Any dog under 8.5 inches or
over 11.5 inches.

HEAD
The head is elegant, balanced and expressive with no indication of coarseness.
Expression is intelligent, alert, eager and full of interest. Eyes: Clear, bright and
dark, including eye rims, with the exception of chocolates whose eye rims should
be self-colored. The eyes are full, round and somewhat prominent, yet never
bulging with a soft intelligent expression. They are set well apart, not slanted, and
fit well together into the sockets. Ears: The ears are erect, pointed, inverted
V-shaped, set high and close together, but never touching. The size is in
proportion to the head and body. Disqualification: Ears not erect on any dog over
six months of age. Skull: is moderate in width, slightly rounded and softly wedge
shaped. Medium stop, somewhat sloping. When viewed from the front, the head
widens gradually from the nose to the base of the ears. The distance from the
nose to the stop is equal to the distance from the stop to the occipital. The cheeks
are flat and muscular, with the area below the eyes well filled in. Faults. Apple
head. Muzzle: Strong rather than fine, in proportion to the head as a whole and
parallel to the top of the skull. Nose: Black only with the exception of self-colored
in chocolate dogs. Disqualification: Dudley nose. Lips: are small and tight fitting.
Bite: A full complement of strong white teeth meeting in a scissors bite is
preferred. Loss of teeth should not be faulted as long as the bite can be
determined as correct. Disqualification: Undershot, wry mouth, overshot more
than 1/8 inch.

NECK, TOPLINE AND BODY
The neck is carried proudly erect, well set on, slightly arched, gracefully curved,
clean, muscular and free from throatiness. It is proportioned to the head and body
and widens gradually blending smoothly into the shoulders. The length of the
neck is approximately the same as that of the head. The topline is level when
standing and gaiting. The body is balanced and tapers slightly from the ribs to
flank with length approximately equal to height, females may be slightly longer.
The chest is deep and muscular with well-sprung ribs. Depth of chest extends to
the point of elbow. The back is straight, level and muscular. Short and strong in
loin with moderate tuck-up to denote grace and elegance. The croup is level with
the topline and well rounded. The tail is set high, held erect and in proportion to
the size of the dog. Docked with to the 3rd or 4th joint.

FOREQUARTERS
Forequarters are well angulated. The shoulder is firmly set and has adequate
muscle, but is not overdeveloped. The shoulders are sloping and well laid back,
blending smoothly from neck to back. The forechest is well developed. The
elbows are close and perpendicular to the body. The legs are parallel and
straight to the pasterns, which are strong and straight while remaining flexible.
Feet are small and oval, pointing forward turning neither in nor out. Toes are
strong, well arched and closely knit with deep pads.

HINDQUARTERS
Hindquarters are well angulated, strong, muscular and free from droop or crouch.
The upper and lower thighs are strong, well muscled and of good length. The
stifles are clearly defined and well angulated. Hock joints are well let down and
firm. The rear pasterns are straight. The legs are parallel from the rear and turn
neither in nor out.

COAT
The coat is short, satiny, shiny, fine in texture and smooth to the touch. It is slightly
longer at the ruff, uniformly covering the body.

COLOR
Tri-color: Predominantly black head with sharply defined tan markings on cheeks,
lips and eye dots. Body is over fifty percent white with or without black body spots.
White, Chocolate and Tan: Predominantly chocolate head with sharply defined
tan markings on cheeks, lips and eye dots. Body is over fifty percent white with or
without chocolate body spots. White and Tan: Predominantly tan head. Body is
over fifty percent white with or without tan body spots. White and Black:
Predominantly black head. Body is over fifty percent white with or without black
body spots. Color should be rich and clear. Blazes are acceptable, but may not
touch the eyes or the ears. Clear white is preferred but a small amount of ticking
is not to be penalized. Body spots on black headed tri-colors must be black; body
spots on chocolate headed tri-colors must be chocolate; both with or without a
slight fringe of tan alongside any body spots near the chest and under the tail as
seen in normal bi-color patterning. Faults: Color, other than ticking, that extends
below the elbow or the hock. Disqualifications: A blaze extending into the eyes or
ears. Any color combination not stated above. Any dog whose head is more that
fifty percent white. Any dog whose body is not more than fifty percent white. Any
dog whose head and Body Spots are a different color.

GAIT
Movement is smooth and flowing, with the legs moving nearly parallel and in a
line at a walk or slow trot. The topline should remain straight and head and tail
carriage erect while gaiting. Movement is balanced and coordinated with good
reach and strong drive. Fault: Hackney gait.

TEMPERAMENT
The Toy Fox Terrier is intelligent, alert and friendly, and completely loyal to their
owners and protective of them. He learns new tasks quickly, is eager to please,
and adapts to almost any situation. The Toy Fox Terrier, like other terriers, is
self-possessed, spirited, determined and not easily intimidated. He is highly
animated toy dog that is comical, entertaining and playful all his life. Any
individuals lacking good terrier attitude and personality are to be faulted.

DISQUALIFICATIONS:
Any dog under 8.5 inches or over 11.5 inches.
Ears not erect on any dog over six months of age.
Dudley nose.
Undershot, wry mouth overshot more than 1/8 inch.
A blaze extending into the eye or ears.
Any color combination not stated above.
Any dog whose head is more than fifty-percent white.
Any dog whose body is not more than fifty percent white.
Any dog whose head and body are of different colors.
Approved: July 11, 2000
Effective: April 1, 2001