Smooth Fox Terrier Breed Guide: Temperament, Care and Health

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20264 min read

The Smooth Fox Terrier is a sleek, mostly white dog with the stamina of a hunter and the sparkle of a showman. It shares its heritage with the Wire Fox Terrier but has a short, flat coat.

Origins and appearance

The breed was developed in England, as a working terrier for fox hunting. The Smooth and Wire varieties were long considered one breed. Smooths are square and athletic, with a long, flat head, V-shaped folded ears and a dense, flat, smooth white coat marked with black or tan.

Temperament

Smooth Fox Terriers are bold, lively and playful. They bond with family and are often clownish. They are independent and tenacious, with strong chase and dig drives. They may be bossy with other dogs. They bark and need a lot of exercise.

Exercise

They need an hour or more of vigorous exercise daily. They enjoy running, agility, flyball and earthdog trials. Provide a secure yard. Use a leash outdoors. See recall training guide.

Training

They are intelligent and fast but easily distracted. Keep training short, varied and rewarding. Early socialization is important. House training is usually straightforward.

Coat and grooming

The smooth coat needs weekly brushing and occasional baths. See short coat dog grooming guide. They shed moderately. Trim nails and check ears. Provide a coat in cold weather.

Health considerations

Topics include:

• Deafness
• Primary lens luxation
• Luxating patella. See luxating patella in dogs
• Allergies and skin conditions. See dog skin allergies
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
• Epilepsy and megaesophagus. See megaesophagus in dogs

Living with a Smooth Fox Terrier

Smooth Fox Terriers are bright, busy and bold. They suit active owners who like training games, long walks and a clean, easy coat. A secure garden is important, because a Fox Terrier will dig, jump or squeeze under a fence after a scent.

Behavior and daily management

A Smooth Fox Terrier needs outlets. Provide brisk runs, games and training, and puzzle toys. Teach an off switch and calm greetings. Keep the yard secure.

Puppies and the first year

Puppies are bouncy and mouthy. Teach bite inhibition, offer plenty of chew toys and provide safe digging. Short training sessions work better than long ones, and early socialization with other dogs reduces scrappiness. See puppy socialization checklist.

Costs and commitment

Smooth coats need little grooming, so costs are mainly food, training, fencing, toys and routine vet care. A bored terrier can be destructive, so budget for enrichment. See dog vet cost guide.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes include underexercising, skipping training and letting barking become habit.

Questions to ask a breeder or rescue

Ask about hearing and eye tests, patella checks and the parents' temperaments.

Is it the right breed for you?

A Smooth Fox Terrier suits active owners who want a bold, low-grooming terrier. It may not suit a quiet home. For the wire-coated version, see the Wire Fox Terrier.

Training notes

Smooth Fox Terriers are quick and playful, but easily bored. Keep sessions short, vary the activities and reward promptly. Teach leave-it, a reliable recall and a settle cue early. Quiet cues help manage barking, which is common in the breed.

What the breed is like indoors

Indoors, the Smooth Fox Terrier is lively and affectionate, following people from room to room. With enough exercise it settles well, though it will announce visitors. Provide a warm bed, since the short coat offers little insulation.

Grooming and shedding

The smooth coat sheds year-round, and a hound glove or rubber brush removes loose hair quickly. Check the skin for ticks and burrs after countryside walks, and keep nails short.

A note on history

Smooth Fox Terriers appeared in the earliest dog shows in nineteenth-century Britain and helped shape other terrier breeds, including the Toy Fox Terrier and Rat Terrier. Their clean lines and white coat made them stylish show dogs, while the working versions kept the stamina needed to follow a hunt across country.

A typical day

A Smooth Fox Terrier might start with a brisk walk, then play ball, investigate the garden, nap and finish with a training game. Many are lively right up to bedtime.

Seasons and travel

The thin coat gives little protection in winter, so a jacket helps. They travel well and enjoy new places, though they should be on a lead near wildlife.

Daily care checklist

• A vigorous walk and play session.
• A quick brush with a rubber mitt.
• Training or puzzle toys.
• A check of fences and gates.
• A warm bed and fresh water.

The takeaway

Smooth Fox Terriers are sleek, bold and busy, and they need exercise, training and secure fencing.