Fox Terrier Breed Information

Fox Terriers are a member of the ‘Terrier’ breed group. Dogs in the Terrier group were originally bred for hunting vermin. They are hardy, brave dogs bred to pursue the likes of foxes, badgers and rats (to name a few) above and below ground.

Fox Terriers are energetic dogs that love to play and explore. They are known to have quite a mischievous streak! They generally get on well with other pets in the household providing they’re given adequate socialisation and training as a puppy. For more information on how to socialise your Fox Terrier and training using reward-based techniques, take a look at our dog behaviour page.

Fox Terriers will need grooming once or twice a week to keep their coat in tip-top condition. They may also need shaping every few months.

Breed-related health problems:

Owners are, understandably, upset when their dog develops a health problem linked to its breed. Often they wish they’d known what problems the breed was prone to have. The potential health problems that Fox Terriers are prone to include:

• Lens luxation – dislocation of the lens of the eye.
• Legg-Perthes disease (Legg-Calvé-Perthes) – blood supply to the femoral head is depleted, causing destruction of the femoral head.
• Cataracts – opacity of the lens of the eye – giving a ‘cloudy’ appearance.
• Atopy – hypersensitivity to certain allergens, causing itching and skin trauma.
• Luxating patellas – the kneecaps slipping temporarily out of place.
• Glaucoma – increased pressure within the eye.

For some conditions, there are screening programmes available through the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Kennel Club. The Canine Health Schemes allow breeders to screen for a range of inherited diseases, so it’s a good idea to check the parents of any puppy you’re looking to rehome have been screened under these schemes. We’d also recommend discussing the medical history of your potential puppy’s parents and grandparents, and think very carefully before taking on a dog with any of the health conditions listed above evident in the family line.

You can find out more about the Canine Health Schemes on the BVA's website.

Exercise requirements:

Fox Terriers need around an hour’s exercise daily and will happily play games that are on offer too. For this reason, they make excellent family pets.

Estimated lifetime cost:

The likely lifetime costs for a Fox Terrier are based on estimates calculated using current market prices and include:

• Initial costs of the purchase of the pet
• Neutering
• First vaccinations and booster vaccinations
• Microchipping
• Accessories
• Food
• Pet insurance
• Toys
• Grooming
• Worming
• Flea treatments

The list above does not include veterinary costs if your pet becomes sick or injured, so these average lifetime costs could be even higher.

Insure your Fox Terrier with PDSA:

1 in 3 pets need vet treatment each year and vet bills can come to hundreds of pounds. PDSA Pet Insurance can give you peace of mind when your pet is poorly, especially for breeds like Fox Terriers that are prone to certain conditions. PDSA Pet Insurance offers:

1. Dog and cat insurance policies from 8 weeks of age.
2. 24/7 veterinary advice online or over the phone with Petcall.
3. Manage your policy online with the PDSA Insure Hub.
4. Monthly payment at no extra cost.

By insuring your Fox Terrier with PDSA Pet Insurance you’ll also be helping to provide vet care to some of the UK’s neediest pets.

For more information on taking care of your dog please visit our puppies and dogs section. 

Rehoming from a reputable source:

Where you get a dog from can have a big effect on how healthy and happy it is for the rest of its life. Find out where our PDSA vet experts recommend you get your dog from.

Not sure if the Fox Terrier is the right pet for you?