Toy Fox Pinscher

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Toy Fox Pinscher is a result of the cross between the Toy Fox Terrier and the Miniature Pinscher. A vigorous and active dog, the Toy Fox Pinscher is not for a sedentary or inexperienced owner. It may be small, but the Toy Fox Pinscher behaves like a larger dog and carries itself proudly.

The Toy Fox Terrier is an American breed, favored by hunters for its size and its quickness and gameness in the hunt. It is a result of crossing the Smooth Fox Terrier with other, smaller breeds, and it is popular both as a hunting companion and a pet.

The Miniature Pinscher, or Min Pin, is a German breed often confused as being a "Miniature Doberman Pinscher." It is a toy dog, once described as looking like a Doberman in miniature, but is a separate breed altogether. Despite being one of the smallest breeds, the Min Pin is an outgoing, independent-minded dog that can be a handful for an inexperienced owner expecting a soft, docile lapdog.

Color

Coat colors for the Toy Fox Pinscher can come in a good variety, as the parent breeds do. The Toy Fox Terrier commonly comes in classic black tri-color, or other tri- and bi-color combinations with white. The Miniature Pinscher, on the other hand, mostly comes in shades of stag red and black, with tan points. Other colors for this breed are blue, brown and fawn.

Coat

The Toy Fox Pinscher has a single coat that is glossy and smooth to the touch.

Personality

The Toy Fox Pinscher is a small dog with a big personality. It is a take-charge type, and will often times have a mind of its own, especially when investigating new territory. But it is an affectionate, people-oriented dog and will bond with its owner, to the point of being very protective around strangers. The Toy Fox Pinscher is happiest being active and stimulated, and will be a great playmate with its stores of energy. Small children need to be watched with this small dog, however, as it can get injured in rough play. Other animals or pets in the house are not usually be a problem. The Toy Fox Pinscher will rarely be the kind of dog that sleeps half the day and gets up only for trips to the food dish. An owner with little time for his Toy Fox Pinscher will find that he has an unhappy, energetic and clever little dog that will find ways to express his boredom, usually in the form of destroyed furniture or fixtures.

Care

Grooming requirements for the Toy Fox Pinscher, as with short-haired, single-coated dogs, are minimal. Once or twice-weekly brushing will keep the coat shiny, and a bath is not strictly needed every month. Regular cleaning and dental check-ups will help prevent teeth and gum diseases common in small breeds.

Training

The Toy Fox Pinscher will require socialization and training as soon as possible, as this is a clever and strong-willed dog that can be a handful if not broken of bad habits. Stops and starts during training should be handled firmly, and the trainer/owner at all times should assert himself as dominant; otherwise, the Toy Fox Pinscher will constantly be testing him and asserting itself, instead. Other dogs in the house will do well if raised with the Toy Fox Pinscher.

Activity

The Toy Fox Pinscher will require daily activity to exhaust its energy stores and keep it happy. A yard should be secure, though, as this athletic little dog can find ways to escape and explore the outdoors on its own. A half hour to an hour of brisk walking, jogging or running will be perfect for the Toy Fox Pinscher.