Kimberly J Egan

Welcome, Mister Mystery!

WELCOME, MR. MYSTERY! He might not look like much yet, but this adorable little puppy is a purebred Toy Fox Terrier (TFT) puppy. For those of you unfamiliar with the breed, it has its origins in early fox terrier litters, from even before the “fox terrier” was divided into the wire fox terrier and smooth fox terrier breeds. The TFT was developed from the smallest puppies from the larger breed litters. If breed historian accounts are true, they were recognized for their ability to maneuver easily underground, flushing foxes from their dens. Other small breeds were used to “fix” the small size and make it a consistent breed feature. Eventually, TFTs were no longer used for fox hunting and moved on to being vermin control agents on farms, performing as circus dogs, and simply living as family pets. In 1938, they were recognized as their own breed for the first time.