Toy Fox Terrier Development and History
related link - Comparison of UKC and AKC Breed Standards

Most breed books start out with "the origin of the ____ is not known."  There should be no genetic mystery here but read on, AKC breeders have invented one!  While the Toy Fox Terrier's ancestors didn't exactly come over on the Mayflower, two of them did come from England.  The breed then received a genetic infusion from old Mexico.  So it is that three primary breeds contributed to one of the most unique breeds ever created in America. 

Smooth Fox Terrier dominance is obvious in the short back, high tail carriage, stallion-like structure, ticking, and predominantly white body as well as its tight feet, low-set hocks, and terrier attitude.  The Toy Fox is the result of inbreeding on the occasional Smooth Fox Terrier runt.   That inbreeding would have produced deformities and other genetic problems but leave it to terrier people to figure out a solution.

The world's smallest breed has reduced size in many developing breeds.  The Chihuahua's influence in the Toy Fox Terrier is undeniable and probably more recent than breed purists would care to admit.  The ancient little dog survived in primitive society due to an uncanny ability to understand and relate to humans.  In that regard, the Chichi is unique even among toy dogs. Early Mexican, Central and North American Indians believed the Chihuahua leaves this world to cross the Great River and guide his master to the Other Side.  The Toy Fox Terrier would do no less.

The Chihuahua rapidly stabilized size and corrected any bone deformities encountered by inbreeding runt Toy Fox Terriers.  It also passed on the trademark oversized, low-set ears, head type, and non-terrier body length.  Something had to be done about that!  Plus the farmers didn't want to lose the terrier attributes.  The high-set, small, naturally pricked ears and short back of the Manchester Terrier solved the domed head problem, cemented terrier keeness, and re-arranged the ears into a finer, thinner, top-of-the-head prick ear which the Smooth Fox Terrier's larger, heavier, folded ear couldn't do. 

Manchester Terriers are renowned ratters, believed by many Brits to be the best in the world.  Recognized in the U.S. in 1923 and subsequently divided in two varieties, Standard and Toy, the toy version once weighed in at under three pounds due to inbreeding.  The old "black and tan terrier" breeders recognized the danger and it is said that the diminutive Italian Greyhound, the Whippet, and even small Greyhounds were used to stabilize size and increase speed.  The coursing dogs also account for the roached back, so untypical of terriers.

Smooth Fox Terrier and Chihuahua contributed the black and tan face markings minus the distinctive "thumbprints" of the Manchester.  The Manchester passed on the keenness and determination that made it a legendary "ratter" among terriers. Ideally, the uniquely lean, perfectly proportioned terrier head with moderate stop offsets the stubborn high-domed apple head of the Chihuahua.  The Smooth Fox Terrier's body overrides the Toy Manchester 's curved back, rear quarters and lower tail-set.  How cool!

The piercing, hard terrier expression was softened by the huge eyes of the Chihuahua. We kept the statuesque outline, balance, and courage of the Smooth Fox Terrier but appreciate the calmer, adoring personality of the Toy Fox Terrier.  To this day, the Toy Fox Terrier Breed Standard faults any hint of Chihuahua head type and body proportions or Manchester profile.  We do however demand the varminity terrier attitude and the toy dog devotion, the combination of which makes the Toy Fox Terrier an intensely attentive pet and show dog!

Missing Rat Terrier?  The Rat Terrier Club and all registry affiliations affirm it interbred with the developing Toy Fox Terrier but the Toy Fox Terrier Club totally ignores fact!  Seeking AKC recognition, it steadfastly ignored the genes of any non-AKC breed.  It's as simple as that.  The Smooth Fox and Manchester terrier are politically correct because they are AKC breeds.  The Rat Terrier is not.  One must understand the contentious relationship between the two oldest and largest registries in the U.S. in order to grasp the significance.  The competitiveness became outright animosity when Wayne Cavanaugh left his position as an AKC V.P. and went on to become the owner of the United Kennel Club.  (insert smile)

Now you know why the Rat Terrier was totally (and wisely) ignored by new club seeking AKC recognition.

An "All American" Toy Fox Terrier, AKC Ch. Hugely Handsome O'BJ

Mystery Color? When a small group of AKC breeders sought to popularize the "rare" chocolate color, the Toy Fox Terrier Club Of America revised a breed standard less than three years old!  That AKC allowed the hasty revision is in itself remarkable but escalating strife between AKC and UKC may explain it.  Some may have reasoned that it lent more "AKC" authenticity since the Min Pin and IG are strictly AKC breeds.  Or did it have to do with a "new" color?  Perhaps it to authenticate AKC having put the Toy Fox Terrier into the Toy Group instead of the Terrier Group as in UKC?

We know only that the standard was "tweaked" to add more emphasis on the toy breeds and leaving many breeders puzzled or offended by the sudden addition of the Miniature Pinscher and Italian Greyhound as named ancestors! 

The UKC history is clear and makes no mention of either breed.  Many "old time" breeders refute the Min Pin and IG background but we who breed and show in AKC are forced to accept it.  While accidents are in the genes of every "purebred" dog, most breed historians avoid reaching conclusions that are best left as speculation.

New "History."  Well, having been presented with new and implausible "history" I can't help speculating.  How recent was the infusion of Min Pin genes and for what purpose?  To improve toplines, rears, or showmanship in someone's bloodline?  It's done all the time.  Next we are left to wonder, did the chocolate gene come from the Min Pin or the Italian Greyhound?  Or both?  And more to the point, who would be willing to admit it???

Geneticists would classify chocolate as a color foreign to the Smooth Fox or Manchester.  A good example of new genetic infusion is in fact, the Chihuahua.  When in early 2000, a few breeders tried to capitalize on the "rare"merle gene, by 2007major registries throughout the world had revised their standards to disallow the color due to associated genetic deformities.  Chocolate might have filtered through from the Chihuahua which prior to 2007 allowed "all colors" so why does the revised Toy Fox Terrier standard even mention the Miniature Pinscher?  And why suddenly specify two breeds that are at best only incidental to development of the Toy Fox Terrier?  If I can dig out a credible answer with substantiating background, I will happily report it.  Since none of us were around "back then," such breed histories are only false or faulty memories unless documented by public record and photographs.

He was nearly named the American Toy Terrier which would have been totally accurate except early breeders wanted the authenticity of the "fox terrier" name.  Another decade and that piece of history will be buried and forgotten in the annals of AKC history.  Well, except for websites like this...

Seeking registration and show recognition as purebreds, breeders preferred to limit background to the runt or "toy" Fox Terrier.  Remember now, the Smooth Fox Terrier wasn't accepted by the United Kennel Club until 1912.  Knowing genetics (and breeders), it is only logical to assume that even after UKC accepted the Toy Fox Terrier in 1936, people experimented with other breeds.

UKC didn't close the Toy Fox Terrier Stud Book until 1960, so other breeds and cross-breeds continued to creep into the official records.  Finally, UKC literally "closed the book" to the infusion of any dog's genes that had not already been recorded in the official stud book.  Whew!  So we're stuck with a historically inaccurate misnomer. 

American Toy Terrier or Ameri-Toy was a correct and popular name for the breed but when UKC granted separate breed status, it was as a toy version of the Smooth Fox Terrier.  How sad that the only American Toy and Terrier breed had to gain breed recognition and show status only just a runt! 

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related link - Comparison of UKC and AKC Breed Standards