Last Updated: 07/05/2025

Fox Terrier Complete Breed Guide

Wondering whether a Fox Terrier would make a good addition to your family? Take a look at our comprehensive Foxie Breed guide for facts and care tips.

Author: Dr Maree Monaghan BVSc (Hons)

Reading Time: 40 minutes - long read

Fox Terriers are divided into two separate breeds - Smooth Fox Terriers and Wire Fox Terriers. Virtually identical apart from their coats, Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers are playful, self confident, cheeky and independent little dogs that love to entertain their humans.

Contents

Facts about the Fox Terrier

Facts about the Fox Terrier

Breed size:	Place of origin:	Other names:
Small	England	Foxie
Breed group:	Energy level:	Weight range:
Terrier	High	7 - 8kg
Life expectancy:	Tendency to bark:	Height range:
13 - 15 years	High	36 - 39cm
Drool factor:	Coat length:	Colours:
Low	Smooth - Short, Wiry - Medium	All white, white with tan, black and tan or black markings.
Shedding factor:	Overall grooming needs:	Activity needs:
Moderate	Moderate	High

Do Fox Terriers shed?

Neither the Smooth nor the Wire Fox Terrier shed much hair. Smooth Fox Terriers have a short coat that should be groomed weekly with a brush or a glove. Wire Fox Terriers require regular brushing to avoid matting and many owners prefer to have them professionally clipped.

How much do Fox Terriers cost?

The cost of a Fox Terrier will vary widely based on where the puppy comes from and pedigree of the parents. For a pedigree puppy, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $3,000.

Are Fox Terriers good pets?

Foxies are lively, friendly dogs with loads of personality and are very affectionate towards people. Like all Terriers, they are independent, bold and adventurous and need a very secure enclosure that they can't dig or climb out of. Because of their intelligence and stamina, Foxies need a lot of mental and physical exercise to keep them from developing undesirable behaviours such as chewing, digging and excessive barking.

Are Fox Terriers hypoallergenic?

Fox Terriers are a low shedding breed, however they are not considered to be hypoallergenic.

How long do Fox Terriers live?

The average life expectancy of Fox Terriers is 12 to 15 years

Do Fox Terriers bark?

Foxies are always on the alert and will sound the alarm if they think their territory or humans are under threat. Foxies can bark excessively if they are bored or lonely so, if you need to leave your Foxie alone for long periods of time, it is best to provide them with some interactive toys to keep them amused. For more tips, take a read through Boredom Busters for Dogs.

How much do Fox Terriers weigh?

The average weight for a Foxie ranges from 7 - 8 kg.

How do I know which Foxie breeder to choose?

The golden rule when purchasing a puppy or dog is to do your research. Never purchase a puppy without inspecting the breeder's premises and asking them the 10 Breeder Checklist Questions. Responsible breeders are proud to show prospective parents their kennels and will have tested their breeding stock for inheritable diseases. If you are looking for an adult Foxie, you may be able to adopt one through a shelter or rescue organisation.

Fox Terrier History

Fox Terriers originated in England in the 1700's and were bred from a variety of English Terriers including the Old English and Black and Tan Terriers. As their name suggests, they were developed to accompany Foxhounds on the hunt and flush foxes from their dens to enable hounds and riders to pursue them over open country.

Like many Terrier breeds, Fox Terriers with mainly white coats and no red markings were selected to distinguish them from foxes in the field. The Wire Fox Terrier was favoured in areas where the vegetation was thick and thorny as their thick coats afforded them some protection. Although considered one breed for many years, crossbreeding of the two coat types ceased in the early 1900's and the Smooth and Wire Fox Terrier are now considered as two separate breeds.

Fox Terrier Personality

Fox Terriers are outgoing, alert, active dogs that love to be the centre of attention and are often seen in films, TV shows and commercials. Despite their independent and bold natures, Foxies are affectionate and companionable. They will run and play all day then happily curl up next to you on the couch or in bed.

Foxies can make ideal pets for active families with young children who can give them the mental and physical stimulation they need to remain happy and healthy. Consistent, positive training and plenty of long walks or games every day are essential from an early age to ensure your Foxie does not develop undesirable behaviours. Like most Terriers, Foxies can be expert escape artists and need a secure yard that they can't dig, jump or climb out of.

Fox Terrier Diet and Nutrition

Fox Terrier Puppies

Like all small breed puppies, Foxie pups require a premium, complete and balanced diet. They mature early and have a short, intense growth period when compared to medium and large breed pups.

Best Food for Fox Terrier Puppies

Our Vet Squad recommends the following premium diets for Foxie puppies as they provide all the essential nutrients to ensure your pup will thrive. Premium diets contain consistent, highly digestible ingredients and often contain additional beneficial ingredients such as omega fatty acids and antioxidants for skin, coat and immune health.

Want to know more? Check out our article: What is the Best Puppy Food?

This super premium, Australian made, dry puppy food is complete and balanced and is also able to be rehydrated with warm water to make it easier for very young puppies to eat.

Royal Canin Mini Puppy has an optimal energy content to support your small breed puppy through their growth period, as well as balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus to promote healthy bone and joint development.

Hill's Science Diet Small Paws Puppy dry food is tailored nutrition for the developmental needs of Small & Mini puppies, so they get the best start in life & grow to their full potential

Bringing your new Fox Terrier puppy home

The arrival of a new puppy in the home is an exciting time although it can be a little overwhelming for your new pup. Socialisation in the first 12 weeks of a puppy's life is crucial to ensure they become a confident and well-behaved adult. Exposing them in a positive way to new people, animals, environments, sounds and situations will help to prevent fear and anxiety in later life. We recommend puppy preschools as a great way to introduce these new things in a safe way.

These first few weeks will also involve organising your puppy's vaccinations, parasite control, toilet training and crate training. For detailed tips and advice in these areas and more, take a look through our New Puppy Guide. Our Puppy Training Guide will give you the information you need to combat any undesirable behaviours like digging and chewing.

For more information, check out our 10 Frequently Asked Puppy Questions and Common Mistakes Puppy Owners Make.

Best foods for Adult Fox Terriers

It is very important to feed your adult Foxie a premium die t in order for them to maintain their high energy lifestyle. Their diet needs to be age appropriate and meet all of their daily nutritional and energy demands.

Advance, Royal Canin and Hills Science Diet Small Breed Adult Diets are suitable for Fox Terriers. These scientifically-formulated diets also contain balanced levels of protein, fat and carbohydrate plus vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for health and wellbeing.

For more information, take a read through our guide to the Best Food for Small Dogs.

Made with fish as the protein source, this super premium, Australian made, dry dog food is complete and balanced to support the unique nutritional requirements of small Terrier breeds.

This premium dry food contains an exclusive blend of omega 6 fatty acids, vitamin E and other nutrients to support healthy skin and a shiny coat as well as optimal levels of calcium and high quality proteins to support bone and muscle strength.

This premium dry dog food is made from highly digestible ingredients to deliver optimally balanced nutrition that keeps your adult small breed dog in peak condition.

Fox Terrier Health Problems

Foxies are a generally hardy breed however, they can suffer from some inherited conditions and other diseases.

Luxating Patella

A luxating patella is a knee cap which dislocates or 'luxates' out of place from the groove in the bottom of the femur bone that it normally sits in. It can occur medially (moves to the midline of the body or towards the other leg - which is the most common) or laterally (moves towards the outside/away from the other leg). This condition is common in small breed dogs and is successfully treated surgically.

Find out more about Luxating Patellas in Dogs.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

This mouthful of a name refers to a disease of small breed dogs involving deformity of the ball of the hip joint due to a lack of normal blood supply.The affected bone and cartilage does not develop properly and becomes weakened and can fracture or collapse even during normal activities. Ultimately, this leads to pain and arthritis in the affected hip joint.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease can be repaired with surgery and the prognosis is usually good with the help of rehabilitation therapy.

Myasthenia Gravis

This is a disease that is caused by a breakdown of the transmission of impulses from the nerves to the muscles. This keeps the muscles from contracting, causing affected dogs to become weak - the number one symptom of this neuromuscular disease.

Though rare, myasthenia gravis can be an inherited congenital defect in Fox Terriers. The most common symptom is muscle weakness that worsens with exercise but improves with rest. Often the oesophagus is affected and dogs have trouble swallowing and drinking. They may also regurgitate food. In some situations, affected dogs aspirate food and water, which can result in pneumonia. Unfortunately, there is no prevention or cure for this disease. Treatment and vigilant at-home care can help dogs with this disease maintain a quality life for a long time.

Lens Luxation

This eye disease is heritable in many Terrier breeds including the Fox Terrier and causes the lens in the eye to become partially (Lens Subluxation) or fully (Lens Luxation) dislocated from its normal position within the eyeball. The lens dislocates due to a weakness in the ligaments that hold it in place and this problem usually occurs when dogs are between 3 and 6 years of age.

Lens Luxation can lead to inflammation (Uveitis) and increased pressure within the eye (Glaucoma). This can result in painful, teary, red eyes that may look hazy or cloudy. Both Uveitis and Glaucoma are painful and potentially blinding diseases if not identified and treated early. If detected early, surgical removal of the lens can be beneficial. Medical treatment of inflammation and glaucoma in the form of topical and oral medications can relieve much of the discomfort associated with this disease.

Related Breeds

Jagd Terrier

The Jagd or German Hunting Terrier was developed in Germany in the 1920's when a group of hunters separated from the German Fox Terrier Club in order to create a dog solely for hunting. They selected four black and tan Terriers from purebred Fox Terrier lines to develop what has now become the Jagd Terrier. This relatively small, compact, and well-proportioned Terrier is particularly suited to hunting under the ground and as a flushing dog. They have a dense coat, either hard and rough or coarse and smooth that is usually black and tan, but can be dark brown or greyish-black as well.

Tenterfield Terrier

The ancestors of the Tenterfield Terrier arrived in Australia on board the ships that brought the first European settlers where they were used to kill rats and other vermin. They became known as "Mini Foxies", however, because they are not small versions of Fox Terriers, a group of breeders held a ballot in 1992 and decided to name these dogs Tenterfield Terriers after a district in NSW. On 1st January 2002 the Tenterfield Terrier received recognition as a new breed by the Australian National Kennel Council. These delightful little dogs usually weigh between 3 and 4.5 kg and have a short, easy care coat in shades of white, black, and tan. They are one of the few breeds in which naturally short or "bob" tails can occur.

Jack Russell Terrier

The Jack Russell Terrier takes its name from the Reverend John Russell who bred one of the finest strains of terriers for working fox in Devonshire, England in the mid-to-late 1800's.John Russell maintained his strain of Terriers bred strictly for working and the terrier we know of today as the Jack Russell is much the same as the pre-1900 Fox Terrier. Jack Russells' coats may be smooth, broken or rough and must be mainly white with black and/or tan markings.

Fox Terrier Complete Breed Guide