Breeds / Small
Miniature Fox Terrier puppies
Fearless, bold and playful, the Mini Foxie is loyal to their owners and eager to learn. They are an alert little watchdog with a terrier's prey drive and a habit of barking at strangers.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin Australia
- Adult weight Up to 6 kg
- Adult weight in pounds Up to 13 lb
- Adult height 24 to 30 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Not published
- Coat type Short, dense, glossy and fine single coat
- Typical lifespan 10 to 14 years
- Good with children Not published
- Good with other dogs Not published
About the Miniature Fox Terrier
The Miniature Fox Terrier, or Mini Foxie, was first bred in Australia in the mid to late 19th century from small Fox Terriers and Manchester Terriers brought by English settlers, later crossed with the English Toy Terrier and Italian Greyhound, to make a light, fast hunter of rabbits and rodents. They are a sleek, smooth coated terrier with a mostly white body, a black and/or tan head and erect or softly folded ears. The Mini Foxie Club of Australia standard gives a height of 24 to 30.5 cm, and Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance gives 24 to 30 cm and up to 6 kg. Dogs Australia does not list the breed, and registration runs through the breed club. The club gives a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years and Bow Wow Meow 12 to 14.
For their size Mini Foxies need a lot of exercise, a daily walk plus play, or they can be restless at night. The short coat is easy to care for but sheds, and their nails grow fast, so plan on a trim about once a month. They suit families with slightly older children, and pet rats, guinea pigs and reptiles should never be left with them. Early training heads off the barking and bossiness small dogs can slip into, and it is worth asking whether both parents have been DNA tested for primary lens luxation, as Mini Foxie Club breeders do.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Miniature Fox Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of place, which can show as limping or skipping steps from as young as six months
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, where reduced blood supply damages the hip, showing as limping or staggering
- Von Willebrand's disease, a clotting disorder that can cause heavy bleeding after a cut, surgery or injury
- Demodectic mange, from a mite passed from mother to puppies, showing as red, scaly, bald patches on the head, neck and forelegs
- Primary lens luxation (PLL), which Mini Foxie Club breeders DNA test for
Your Miniature Fox Terrier puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Miniature Fox Terrier.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the Up to 6 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 6 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
Previous: Miniature Bull Terrier · Next: Miniature Pinscher
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- bowwowinsurance.com.au for adult weight and height, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, country of origin and health notes
- minifoxie.org for life expectancy and coat type
- Health notes from Miniature Fox Terrier breed information at https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/dogs/dog-breeds/miniature-fox-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for grooming, the good with children rating and the good with other dogs rating, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
Photo: Mruserbox1, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.