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Dog Articles
Past and Present: Fox Terrier
Among the
best known of all dogs is that buoyant, irrepressible, and violently
affectionate creature known as a Fox Terrier. Somehow he is always
associated in many minds with sunshine and dancing, and when
properly cared for and kindly treated he is a joyous thing.
Like other
dogs, when ill treated or badly cared for, he can degenerate into
anything. Often, from overfeeding and insufficient exercise, he
becomes fat, and a fat, wheezy dog, except an aged and decrepit one,
is a disgusting object to any real dog lover.
There are
two varieties of Fox Terrier - smooth-coated and wire-haired - and
which is the better is a matter of taste. It is true the
smooth-coated dog has always been the more popular, but apparently
for the sole reason that his coat is smooth; in other respects the
dogs are almost identical.
When
properly reared and trained they are as courageous as they are
cheerful, which leaves little to be said for their courage.
The smooth
Fox Terrier is a sprightly, clean-cut little dog of from 12
to 20 pounds weight, with a short compact body and straight, strong
legs that never tire or even show signs of fatigue. His keen, rather
pointed nose should taper smoothly to the head, with just a little
‘stop’, and a slight break in the line of the nose and forehead. The
alert expression is due partly to the bright, rather deep-set eyes
and partly to the pointed, semi-erect ears, which turn inquisitively
forward. The jaws, while fine and fox-like, are deep enough to be of
good service, and as a vermin dog the Fox Terrier has no superiors
in courage and willingness to face the music. In color he should be
chiefly white, with black markings on head and body. These are to be
left largely to the taste of the judge; a little tan is usually seen
if the head is largely marked, occurring on the chops and in a small
spot over the eye and where the ‘bristle’ grows on the cheek; brown,
red, or brindle body markings are decidedly objectionable.
The
wire-haired Fox Terrier should conform to the standard for the
smooth dog in every respect except in coat. In place of the close,
smooth, hard coat, he should have a hard, wiry, harsh coat of broken
surface. Silky or woolly hair is very faulty.
Source:
National Geographic 1919
Recommended Reading
Dog Training
Mastery - An Owners' Manual
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