Smooth Fox Terrier
The short-coated fox terrier, bred for the same underground work as the Wire. Almost no grooming, but the short white hairs weave into fabric, and the energy level is near the top for a small dog.
- Weight
- 6.8–8.2 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
Weight and lifespan are reference ranges from the breed guide. They vary by sex, lineage and individual dog and do not predict your dog’s ideal weight or lifespan. Read the care descriptions alongside the individual dog’s history.
Background and characteristics
The Smooth Fox Terrier did the same job as its wire-coated relative: follow the hounds and push the fox out of its earth. The two were registered as coat varieties of one breed for a long time and are now managed separately, but apart from the jacket they are close to identical. Expect a fearless, fast-reacting dog that spends its day watching for something worth chasing.
Smooths are expressive and openly affectionate with their people, and they are a bad match for anyone shopping for a quiet indoor companion.
Exercise and play
Plan on an hour to ninety minutes of exercise daily, and make some of it fast. Walking alone will not satisfy this dog; running, fetch and flirt-pole work will. Add a short daily training session, because Smooths are clever without being especially obedient and respond far better to brief, well-paid sessions than to repetition.
The chase reflex is exceptionally fast, so keep the dog on lead outside a fence and assume it will try to dig under a garden boundary. Same-sex friction with other dogs is common, so structured introductions beat busy dog parks.
Coat and everyday care
Grooming is the breed's great convenience. There is no styling, no stripping and no groomer bill; a rubber curry once a week is enough. What surprises people is the shedding.
Short, stiff white hairs come out steadily all year and drive themselves into upholstery and clothing like tiny needles, and they resist lint rollers. A damp rubber glove pulls them off fabric far better than tape.
Health considerations
On health, ask about primary lens luxation first, since it runs in fox terrier lines, causes real pain and can progress to glaucoma; a DNA test lets a breeder show you the parents' status. Congenital myasthenia gravis has also been reported in Smooths, so a young dog that tires abnormally fast, buckles in the hind legs after light play or struggles to swallow needs prompt investigation rather than rest. Congenital deafness and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease are also on the list.
Home environment and care planning
The thin coat cuts both ways with weather. There is almost no undercoat, so a Smooth genuinely feels the cold and a winter coat is practical rather than decorative. In summer, thin white hair over pink skin sunburns easily on the belly and muzzle, so favour shade and avoid the hottest part of the day.