Wolfdog vs Miniature Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison

Known as Mini Foxies or Toy Fox Terriers, these dogs hail from Australia, having been bred there since the 1800s already.

They are descendants of fox terrier types which were bred in England and then brought to Australia by early settlers.

It is believed the small Smooth Fox Terriers were crossed with Manchester Terriers and then the puppies further bred and crossed with other small breeds. The idea was to have a small, light, quick dog. The Miniature Fox Terrier is exactly like this, developed as a hunting dog.

The Wolfdog was brought about when domestic dogs were mated with a variety of wolves so as to produce a hybrid.

People who want to own these hybrids have to be careful because they find that the unpredictable behavior of their pets makes it difficult for them to care for them.

Then they want to get rid of it. Every year, heaps of these hybrids are abandoned due to humans interfering with nature.

The wolfdog has been bred with a number of dogs but we think about it more in terms of wolf and German shepherd.

With longevity on his side, the Miniature Fox Terrier can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age or live to be even older - up to 18 years of age.

He stands at between 24 – 30cm and weighs anything between 3 and 6kg. His coat is short but he sheds quite a bit so regular brushing will become necessary.

The coat is smooth and is mostly white and tan or white and black but it can be tri-colored too – white, black and tan.

The ears are semi-erect, semi floppy and he has a bright, expectant look about him. The tail has always been traditionally docked, giving him a distinctive look, but now it tends to be undocked.

Temperament:

Your Miniature Fox Terrier is a bold little dog, and is protective and loyal towards his human family. He is lively and courageous and has lots of energy so he will be wanting lots of games indoors and out. He will love to go on a walk every day.

They make great family pets, getting on well with children and other pets in the home. They’re adaptable and can do well in the city or the countryside.

People mesmerized by the wolf long to bring some of that wildness home, and the wolfdog is supposed to do this.

Their looks differ a lot, even those that come from the same litter. You can’t have a predictable looking wolf dog because it could be any domestic dog bred with a wolf so they display a large variety of appearances.

Most Wolfdogs seem to have smaller heads than pure wolves. The ears seem to be bigger and more pointy.

A popular wolfdog mix is a German Shepherd mixed with the wolf. These dogs can be between 70 to 76cm in height and weigh between 40 and 45kg.

Their coat is thick and can be in colors of grey, cream, red, white, dark brown and black.

Temperament:

While the wolfdog can be trained to become quite a friendly kind of dog, it is not suitable for the first time dog owner. It can show bouts of aggressiveness around strangers and be highly protective of its family.

However, this can be helped with early socialization and training. It is illegal to own the wolfdog in some states. You don’t want to leave a wolfdog alone with your children even though the dog is capable of love and loyalty towards his human family.

Miniature Fox Terriers aren’t going to disappoint you one bit in terms of making an excellent pet.They make great family pets. They are loyal companions and they also make great watchdogs, being able to adapt to life in the city as well as the countryside.

They can yap quite loudly so you need to be careful of this if you live in a small property in the city.

This is such a jaunty little dog, full of fun and high spirits. You won’t know a dull moment with such a friendly, entertaining little pet. In exchange for all he offers you in terms of friendship, he also wants your love and attention.

Provide him with good food, a good deal of exercise, a dry, warm place to sleep and your ongoing attention and he is going to shower you with his love and loyalty.

When you add the genes of a wild animal to the pool, you get a crossbreed and when its an animal from the wild, its nature is unpredictable.

Many people don’t think about the consequences of what they do when they interfere with nature and the wolfdog gets put down when it behaves like a wild animal and attacks or bites out of defense.

Yes, they can be loyal, loving pets but always you will have the shadow of the dog or wolf’s unpredictable behavior.

There is a reason why these dogs are banned in a number of states. This dog-type-wolf breed is not recommended as a pet at all – take a look at animal shelters and the number of wolf dogs there and ask yourself why.

Your Miniature Fox Terrier can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age when looked after well, but there are one or two common dog illness that can plague any dog, and Paella Luxation is one.

Patella luxation is fairly common with small dogs, occuring when the dog’s kneecap becomes dislocated from its thigh bone.Your dog will skip and hop along. Treatment for patella luxation can range from non-invasive treatments such as massage to surgery.

Dental health is important too, and seriously bad breath can be indicative of dental decay. Dental plaque can cause bad breath and lead to other health problems that aren’t directly related to teeth. The heart and kidneys can be put at risk. There are dental products such as canine toothbrush and toothpaste which can be used to clean your dog’s teeth. Don’t ever use human toothpaste as this can be toxic for your pet.

These dogs are generally healthy and aren’t prone to genetic related issues.

They will also be susceptible to common dog ailments such as parasites and hip dysplasia.

Like any other dog, these Wolf dogs will also possibly develop tumors. He will also need to be vaccinated against harmful diseases and you will need to have a reliable local vet who is interested in your wolf dog.

Feed your terrier a quality commercially manufactured dog food twice a day. They are small dogs, but highly energetic so choose dog foods which are geared towards small, energetic dogs.

His age and his activity levels will also give you an idea as to what to feed him. Apart from dry kibble, give him simple, tasty, nutritious home-made food too.Every now and again, add in boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as potato, carrots and spinach. A little bit of raw meat occasionally can also do wonders.

Keep meals plain and simple like this to avoid stomach upsets.

Ensure your pet has constant access to fresh, cool water.

Brush him twice a week to keep the coat free of loose hair. Try and avoid bathing your pet as it causes dry skin and itchiness. Rather wipe him down with a rubber grooming mitt to keep him groomed.

Check his eyes and ears for infection. Check for fleas and ticks and any unusual lumps. Trim his nails too.

Take him to the vet when he appears to be ill and keep his vaccines up to date.

If you own a wolfdog the same care procedures would need to be followed as you would with a regular dog.

A wolfdog, however, can’t be vaccinated against rabies. It seems that the reason for this is that it is due to current legislation, and vaccine manufacturers don’t want to support wolf dogs as pets because they are considered to be dangerous.

Provide your wolfdog with highly nutritional, protein-based food. You don’t want to feed your wolfdog any of the low quality, traditional store-bought food high in carbs and artificial additives. Instead, look for a diet rich in proteins and be sure to give this dog some raw meat occasionally.

Groom the thick coat to ensure it stays shiny and healthy.

The dog is active and you will need to provide heaps of exercise for him, both mental and physical activities.

The wolfdog will require training but it will require dedication, though it can be done as the dog is very intelligent.

Even with training, the wolfdog isn’t suited to life in the city but should be kept in the countryside.