Let’s Talk About Toy Fox Terrier Colors

Let’s Talk About Toy Fox Terrier

There are many things to consider when breeding, exhibiting, and judging Toy Fox Terriers. Shoulder and rear angulation, squareness of the dog, proportions, coat texture, ear placement, headpieces, and so forth. But by far and away the two questions I get most involve color and size. I am going to address color today.

Toy Fox Terrier color is an important part of their breed type. The Breed Standard is very specific about the allowed colors and where the colors should be. Heads are always primarily solid and bodies are always primarily white. In fact, it is a disqualification if a Toy Fox Terrier’s body is not at least 51 percent white, and conversely, if their head is more than 50 percent white.

The Toy Fox Terrier has four accepted colors. First, and the most common in the breed, is Tricolor: this color has a predominately black head with sharply defined tan markings on cheeks, lips, and eye dots. I was asked about the lips by a person studying to judge our breed because the Standard states the tan markings are on the lips. The lips themselves are black, but the lip section of the muzzle must have tan. The body is over 50 percent white, with or without black body spots.

The second most common color found in the breed is the White and Tan. White and Tan dogs have black eye rims and black noses, and dark eyes. The tan color should be rich and clear, free from black hairs interspersed in the tan, which, in fact, would be considered sable. Less frequently encountered are the White, Chocolate and Tan Toy Fox Terriers. These have a chocolate head with sharply defined tan markings. Chocolate and tan dogs’ eye rims and noses should be self-colored. Please note that there is not a color of solid chocolate without the tan mentioned in the Standard. Once again, the body is mostly white, and if there are spots they are chocolate.

Occasionally seen in the ring, and with some representatives who have really stood out in the past, is the White and Black. As it sounds, they have black heads, and if there are any spots they must be black with no tan fringe.

No matter what the accompanying color is, the Toy Fox Terrier body is over 50 percent white, with or without spots. The body includes the underside. Not too long ago there was quite a stir when a judge disqualified a lovely Toy Fox Terrier for not having enough white, but refused to look at the underside. Judges need to take the entirety of the dog’s body into consideration when determining if the dog is more than 50 percent white, including the underside and belly of the dog. Please note, however, that there is not a preference for a completely white dog with no spots. This mistaken belief is occasionally encountered. When judging the dog, do not reward a dog simply for having more white or solid white, as the Standard clearly says with or without body spots.

A question that occasionally gets asked is about the color of the body spots. The spots follow the head color. If it is a White with Black and Tan (Tri-color) then the spots must be black; body spots on chocolate-headed tri-colors must be chocolate; dogs with a tan head can only have tan spots, and Toy Fox Terriers with solid black heads can only have black spots. Both colors that have tan points, the black with tan and the chocolate with tan, can have a slight fringe of tan alongside any body spot near the chest and under the tail as seen in normal bi-color patterning. Bi-color patterning refers to the black and tan typically seen in breeds like the Doberman Pinscher, Manchester Terrier, and Black and Tan Coonhound.

While heads must be predominately colored, it is not uncommon to see markings of white or blazes on the head. These are acceptable, but blazes may not touch the eyes or ears.

Another question frequently asked is about ticking. Clear white is preferred, but a small amount of ticking is not to be penalized. A personal observation I have had is that many veterans get ticking or increased ticking as they age. Also, many lines of Toy Fox Terriers begin graying early and there is no fault for this. Many senior Toy Fox Terriers have their color nearly white by the time they attain their teen years.

Another frequent cause of confusion is color, other than ticking, that extends below the elbow or the hock. This is a fault and not a disqualification.

There are, as mentioned above, disqualifications in the Breed Standard specific to color. They are:

• A blaze extending into the eyes or ears.
• Any color combination not stated above.
• Any dog whose head is more than 50 percent white.
• Any dog whose body is not more than 50 percent white.
• Any dog whose head and body spots are of different colors.

The Toy Fox Terrier is a beautiful dog and its coloration makes it easy to find in the Toy Group. Their colors, combined with their balance, athletic appearance, glossy short coat, grace, agility, and that spirited and animated attitude, make them a joy to watch in the ring.

If you have questions regarding the colors of a Toy Fox Terrier, the link for the ATFTC Illustrated Standard can be found on the bottom of the ATFTC website’s Breed Standard page.