Walking is good for you; any exercise is, within reason! Sometimes it brings unexpected fun....and here is a classic example of that.
The Derbyshire Peak District offers hundreds of miles of trails, and rough paths, and I went around a corner on one..and there he was. A woozle...panting as he guarded his ball. There is something about a Fox Terrier, Smooth or Wire-haired, that radiates energy, even when the dog is at rest! I gently approached this fine example of the breed, and got within 3 or 4 feet, when he suddenly snatched up his ball and ran away to where his family was sitting. I approached them, and found out that his name was Bertie (short for Bertie Wooster!) and he was 4 years old.
As the name suggests this breed was developed to tackle foxes and flush them from their 'earth' when they had gone to ground in front of a pack of hounds. As such they were referred to as a 'terrars'. The Fox Terrier was descended from an ancient breed of white terrier in the early part of the 18th century. A Fox Terrier Club was formed, and developed a 'Standards of Points' for the breed as early as 1876, the Kennel Club having recognized them the year before. Their small ears are V-shaped, and drooping forwards, with the 'fold' coming slightly above the top of the head. The points of the ears should be relatively close to the cheeks. The coat should be dense in nature, short, and very smooth. As to color, white should still predominate, with patches of black and or tan (although red is seen, sometimes). Bertie has a lovely 'tri-color' mask, with tan eyebrows and cheeks! The tail used to be docked in this breed so that it was carried swept slightly forward, and ended just higher than the head. The AKC recognized the breed in 1885. At first, the Wire Haired and the Smooth Fox Terriers were just regarded as variations of the same breed; the AKC did not judge them separately until 1985. Recent opinion, driven by genetics, is now tending to regard them as always having been two breeds (rather like the Cardigan and Pembroke Corgis).
Health is generally good, although the Fox Terrier does seem to suffer from a lot of eye complaints including cataracts, and some joint stiffness. Grooming the coat well will minimize shedding, and your Fox Terrier will grow to enjoy it! The temperament is lively and they CAN become bored, so regular walks, toys and interaction will keep your friend happy - and also minimize their natural desire to dig! All in all they are very well-behaved towards children and are an excellent guard dog. The breed can live 14 or 15 years with good care.
I asked about the harness Bertie wore; apparently, the whole body harness had an attachment for a standard leash, which was also used to secure him to a safety belt in the car; and the handle? It was explained to me that this was for lifting him in and out of the car!!
I watched Bertie retrieve his ball a few times, after it was thrown a LONG way away, then left this happy family group to their fun. Two parents, three children and one very superior woozle!
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