Mary Allen
In contrast to the wire-haired fox terrier, the smooth-haired fox terrier is not too demanding when it comes to grooming. He should be brushed regularly to keep his coat healthy. The coat change is not very pronounced, which is why the dog does not lose much coat.
Diet is relatively uncomplicated. When it comes to food, you should pay attention to high-quality ingredients. The diet should provide the dog with plenty of energy and contain plenty of meat and vegetables to meet the needs of the athletic dog. BARF is possible, but pay attention to the right composition.
An under- or oversupply of nutrients can lead to health problems. Fox Terriers love to eat, so care should be taken not to overfeed them.
At the same time, he is also very agile and always on the go, which is why he tends not to be overweight. With increasing age, however, the urge to move also decreases, so that the amount of food should be kept in mind.
Fox Terriers are a very healthy and hardy breed of dog that, with good care, has an average life expectancy of around 13 years. However, dogs are prone to certain neurological diseases, such as ataxia and myelopathy, which in the worst cases can lead to damage to the spinal cord. In addition, epilepsy and heart disease are predisposed.
Tip: The risks of illness can be reduced with sufficient exercise, a healthy diet, and responsible breeding.
Activities with the Smooth Fox Terrier
Fox Terriers need a lot of work and are enthusiastic about almost everything. Her heart beats especially for the following activities:
- play with ball and frisbee;
- agility;
- obedience;
- fly ball;
- trial games;
- intelligence games;
- fetch.
Agility not only challenges the dog athletically and mentally but also promotes trust and cooperation between humans and dogs. It combines play, sport, and fun and is suitable because of the fox terrier’s willingness to work and docility.
They can also be trained to be rescue and therapy dogs. In addition, the breed is still well suited as a hunting dog.
Traveling with the fox terrier is quite possible. Due to its small size, it is easy to carry. Due to the great urge to move, long journeys can also be very tiring for humans and animals.
Apartment living is doable for this breed, though only with long walks and active outings. In the city, a garden is almost a must.