The long-familiar picture of the dog, Nipper, sitting in front of an old Victrola, cocking his head to the sound of "his master's voice" coming from the speaker, probably sold almost as many smooth (short-haired) fox terriers as it did records for RCA.
These tough, spirited little dogs were originally bred to "bolt" foxes that fox hounds ran to earth. The terrier rode with the hunt master, tucked inside a pouch in his saddle, until called upon to enter the fox's burrow and either force it out or keep it there until the hunt master could.
At least two of the terrier's jobs required a tail shortened to the width of a man's hand. Hunt masters could pull the dog from the burrow by this short, sturdy tail without harming it (pulling a long tail can break it), and dock workers found this type of tail useful when fishing the dog from harbor waters after it retrieved the incoming ships' mooring lines. If the longshoremen had pulled the dog up from the water by its collar, they might have injured the animal's neck.
The fox terrier has been around since the early 1800s, but no one kept accurate records of pedigrees until the 1870s. According to Linda Reece, owner of the Village Groomer, who breeds and shows smooth fox terriers, the dog has almost no genetic defects.
"Occasionally a dog with hip dysplasia or one that is prone to epileptic seizures will show up in the breed, but those are exceptions to the rule," Reece says.
The wire-haired fox terrier and the smooth were once frequently cross-bred, but eventually AKC seperated the two types for show purposes, giving each its own classification, and now breeders who show their dogs never cross the two.
The smooth fox terrier comes in white; black or tan and white; and black, tan and white. Its head is long and lean, the nose always jet black. The dog's jaws are muscular and powerful (a common trait in all terriers). The small, alert ears tip forward into a triangle. Its neck is arched, its chest, deep, and its back, short. When the dog walks, its front legs swing straight forward like a clock's pendulum, and the back legs are equipped with "second" thighs. This means that when the dog is walking away from you, you can see a bulging thigh muscle on both the outside and inside of the upper back legs. This extra muscle gives the dog's hindquarters powerful drive. The short tail is carried straight up.
It is important for a terrier to have a proper build; otherwise it won't move well because its body is so straight in front. The dog's hind legs shouldn't "hock in" (try to imagine a dog standing duck-toed in its hindquarters); it should stand with hind feet well apart. Fox terriers love jogging with their masters. They adapt easily to city or country living, and they are excellent ratters.
The male fox terrier is about 15 inches at the shoulder and weighs around 22 pounds (females are smaller). Reece describes the terrier's temperament as cheerful, intelligent and fun-loving, and she says they make excellent family pets.
"I don't like to sell my dogs to families with children under 6 years old, though, because these dogs are very active and may knock down a small child in play," she says.
Neither is this demanding breed a good choice for the elderly or for shrinking-violet types.
"You must be firm with this breed without abusing it," says Reece, "but if you have the right personality, your terrier can make a good obedience dog. Take the pup from its litter mates when it is about 8 to 12 weeks old."
Because smooth fox terriers are very intelligent, they get bored easily. During training you must be consistent and know exactly what you want from your dog. Once a fox terrier learns something, it never forgets, and this can work for you as well as as against you.
Brush your smooth fox terrier once a week, keep its toenails trimmed, and bathe it once a month, if necessary. Wiping it off with a damp towel will keep it clean between bathings.
Schadlich, a Newport News pet fancier, uses local experts in preparing this column. If you have any questions you can write her in care of Features Department, MP1203, Daily Press, 7505 Warwick Blvd., Newport News 23607.