Foxton
Hybrid Breed Description
The Foxton is a cross between the Boston Terrier and the Toy Fox Terrier. Because each hybrid inherits a unique combination of traits from both parents, we recommend thoroughly researching both breeds before choosing a Foxton. Pay special attention to temperament, health issues, and care requirements, as your dog may express characteristics from either parent breed.
Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier presents a compact, muscular, and well-balanced physique that earned this breed the distinguished nickname "American Gentleman" due to their refined appearance and tuxedo-like markings. Males typically stand around seventeen inches tall at the shoulder while females measure approximately sixteen inches, with the breed categorized into three weight classes: under fifteen pounds, fifteen to nineteen pounds, and twenty to twenty-five pounds, allowing for size variation while maintaining consistent type. Their square body proportions create a sturdy, athletic silhouette with a broad chest, well-sprung ribs, and a slightly arched neckline that conveys both strength and elegance. The breed features a characteristic short, straight back with a level topline leading to a naturally short tail that may be straight or corkscrew-shaped, never docked, and set low on the rump. As a brachycephalic breed, Boston Terriers possess a distinctive flat-faced appearance with a short, square, broad muzzle that measures approximately one-third the length of the skull. Their large, round, dark eyes set wide apart create an alert, intelligent, and kind expression that epitomizes the breed's gentle nature, while prominent features include small, erect ears that stand like bat ears, sometimes naturally and sometimes cropped, positioned near the corners of the square, flat-topped skull. The breed's most recognizable feature remains their short, smooth, fine-textured coat that lies flat against the body in striking color patterns. The classic Boston sports a predominantly white body with a black, brindle, or seal-colored head and back, creating the famous tuxedo appearance with white markings forming a blaze between the eyes, a white muzzle band, and white chest, resembling formal evening wear. Required markings include the white chest, white muzzle band, and white blaze between the eyes, while desired markings extend to include a white collar and white on the forelegs and hind legs up to the hocks, with symmetrical patterns preferred in show dogs. The seal color appears black with a reddish cast when viewed in proper lighting, adding another dimension to the breed's color palette. Their compact size, combined with their refined features and minimal grooming requirements, makes Boston Terriers ideally suited for various living situations from apartments to larger homes, though their flat faces create special considerations for temperature regulation and breathing that owners must carefully monitor throughout the dog's life to ensure their comfort and safety.
Key Characteristics
Boston Terriers embody a delightful blend of friendliness, intelligence, and playful exuberance wrapped in a gentle, well-mannered package that lives up to their "American Gentleman" reputation. These highly social dogs thrive on human companionship and form incredibly strong bonds with their families, preferring to remain constantly at their owner's side whether participating in active play or relaxing on the couch. Their affectionate, devoted nature makes them excellent companions for individuals, couples, families with children, and seniors alike, as they adapt their energy levels remarkably well to match their household environment. Boston Terriers generally display a friendly, welcoming attitude toward strangers, other pets, and children when properly socialized from puppyhood, though their occasionally stubborn streak requires patient, consistent training approaches. Intelligent and eager to please, Boston Terriers learn quickly through positive reinforcement training methods utilizing treats, praise, and play rewards to motivate desired behaviors. Their moderate energy levels require daily exercise including walks, play sessions, and mental stimulation through training activities, puzzle toys, and interactive games, though their brachycephalic structure necessitates careful management during hot weather or strenuous activity to prevent breathing difficulties and overheating. These alert, lively dogs make excellent watchdogs who will bark to announce visitors or unusual activities, though their small size and friendly disposition limit their effectiveness as guard dogs since most Bostons readily welcome anyone into their home once the initial alert has been sounded. While generally calm and even-tempered, Boston Terriers possess enough terrier spirit to display occasional stubbornness, mischievousness, and a propensity for getting into entertaining trouble that showcases their playful, sometimes clownish personality. Their sensitivity to their owner's moods creates dogs who adjust their behavior accordingly, offering comfort during difficult times or matching their family's enthusiasm during happy occasions. Some individuals may exhibit separation anxiety when left alone for extended periods, making them better suited for households where someone is frequently home or where they can accompany their owners on daily activities. These adaptable dogs succeed in various living environments from small city apartments to suburban homes with yards, provided their moderate exercise needs, temperature sensitivity, and companionship requirements receive consistent attention throughout their eleven to thirteen year lifespan as beloved family members.
Boston Terriers face several breed-specific health challenges primarily related to their brachycephalic facial structure, though with proper care and monitoring, many individuals enjoy relatively healthy lives spanning eleven to thirteen years on average. Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome represents the most significant health concern for the breed, encompassing a collection of anatomical abnormalities including narrowed nostrils, elongated soft palate, and narrowed trachea that collectively restrict airflow and make breathing difficult, especially during exercise, excitement, or exposure to heat and humidity. Affected dogs may display noisy breathing, snoring, excessive panting, exercise intolerance, and potentially life-threatening respiratory distress requiring immediate veterinary intervention. Management focuses on maintaining optimal body weight, avoiding overexertion and temperature extremes, and in severe cases, surgical correction to improve airway function and quality of life. Ocular issues plague Boston Terriers due to their prominent, protruding eyes that lack adequate bony socket protection, making them vulnerable to corneal ulcers, dry eye syndrome, cataracts, and cherry eye. Corneal ulcers occur when the eye surface becomes scratched or damaged, causing pain, discharge, and potential vision loss without prompt treatment. Juvenile cataracts appear as early as eight to twelve weeks of age in some bloodlines, causing cloudiness and progressive vision impairment that may require surgical intervention. Regular eye examinations, daily cleaning to remove discharge, and protective measures to prevent trauma help maintain ocular health throughout the dog's life. Orthopedic problems including patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of position causing lameness and pain, affect Boston Terriers at higher rates than many breeds, requiring management through weight control, restricted activity, or surgical correction depending on severity. Hip dysplasia, though less common in smaller breeds, can still develop and cause mobility issues and arthritis over time. Additional health concerns include congenital deafness affecting predominantly white individuals, various allergies causing skin irritation and digestive upset, heart disease such as mitral valve disease, and epilepsy with seizures typically beginning between six months and three years of age requiring lifelong medication for control. Boston Terriers' large heads relative to their pelvic size create significant birthing difficulties, with over eighty percent of litters requiring cesarean section delivery to protect both mother and puppies from complications. Dental disease develops rapidly in the breed due to crowding of teeth in their shortened jaws, making daily teeth brushing and regular professional cleanings essential for preventing periodontal problems that can affect overall health. Responsible breeding practices, maintaining healthy body weight, providing appropriate exercise while respecting temperature and breathing limitations, scheduling regular veterinary checkups, and staying alert for signs of respiratory distress, eye problems, or lameness all contribute significantly to maximizing the health and longevity of these charming, affectionate companions who bring joy to countless households.
Toy Fox Terrier
The Toy Fox Terrier presents an elegant, athletic appearance in miniature form, standing just eight and a half to eleven and a half inches tall at the shoulder and weighing a mere three and a half to nine pounds, making them one of the smallest terrier breeds while maintaining the sturdy, muscular build characteristic of their larger terrier cousins. Their square body proportions, with height approximately equal to length from shoulder to buttock, create a balanced, well-proportioned silhouette that conveys both grace and strength. The breed features a wedge-shaped head with a moderate skull that shows slight rounding, clean-cut features without excess skin or wrinkles, and a muzzle that tapers gradually from the skull base to the nose, maintaining proper proportion to the overall head size. Their most striking features include large, dark, round eyes that convey intelligence and alertness, and prominent pointed V-shaped ears that stand erect when alert, set well up on the sides of the head close together but never touching. The Toy Fox Terrier's short, satiny, smooth coat feels fine and silky to the touch with a distinctive glossy sheen, lying close to the body while appearing slightly longer at the ruff around the neck and shoulders. The breed's characteristic color pattern requires a predominantly white body comprising over fifty percent of the coat, with a predominantly colored head featuring bold, well-defined markings. Common color combinations include tricolor with a black head, tan markings on the cheeks, lips, and eye dots with or without black body spots; white and tan with a tan head; white and black with a black head; and white, chocolate, and tan with a chocolate head and tan points. The naturally short tail sets high on the rump and may be straight or slightly curved, carried with characteristic confidence and animation during movement. Their lithe, muscular body demonstrates remarkable athleticism despite their diminutive size, with well-angulated shoulders and hindquarters providing the structure necessary for impressive speed, agility, and jumping ability. The breed moves with smooth, flowing gaits showing good reach in front and strong drive from behind, maintaining a level topline and erect head and tail carriage that projects self-assurance and purpose. This combination of refined elegance and athletic capability makes the Toy Fox Terrier equally suited for competitive dog sports like agility, flyball, and obedience, as well as their traditional role as both devoted companion and fearless vermin hunter despite their toy-sized stature.
Key Characteristics
Toy Fox Terriers pack tremendous personality, courage, and intelligence into their tiny frames, displaying the quintessential terrier temperament of fearlessness, determination, and spirited confidence that belies their diminutive size. These highly intelligent, alert dogs bond strongly with their families and show fierce loyalty and devotion to their owners, often becoming particularly attached to one person while still maintaining affection for other household members. Their naturally independent and somewhat stubborn nature requires patient, consistent training with positive reinforcement methods from early puppyhood to establish appropriate boundaries and behaviors, as these clever dogs will quickly take charge if allowed. Despite their small size, Toy Fox Terriers possess strong watchdog instincts and will bark enthusiastically to alert their families to strangers or unusual activities, making early training essential to manage their vocal tendencies and prevent nuisance barking. Highly energetic and athletic, these miniature terriers require regular daily exercise including walks, play sessions, and mentally stimulating activities to channel their boundless energy appropriately and prevent the development of destructive behaviors born from boredom or insufficient outlets. Their terrier heritage contributes to a significant prey drive that can lead them to chase cats, squirrels, birds, and other small animals with single-minded determination, necessitating secure fencing and leash usage during outdoor activities to ensure their safety. Toy Fox Terriers excel at various canine sports and activities including agility, flyball, obedience trials, and tracking, where their speed, intelligence, and eagerness to work shine through, providing excellent opportunities for bonding and mental stimulation. While friendly and playful with their families, Toy Fox Terriers can display aloofness or wariness toward strangers and may show unpredictable behavior around other dogs without proper early socialization exposing them to various people, animals, and situations during their critical developmental period. Their small size combined with their sometimes feisty attitude makes them less suitable for households with very young children who may inadvertently handle them roughly or provoke defensive reactions, though they generally do well with older children who understand how to interact gently and respectfully with small dogs. These loyal, entertaining companions thrive on attention and involvement in family activities, preferring to remain close to their owners throughout the day while also maintaining enough independence to entertain themselves when necessary. Their adaptable nature allows successful living in various environments from apartments to houses with yards, provided their exercise, mental stimulation, and companionship needs receive consistent attention throughout their thirteen to fifteen year lifespan as devoted, spirited family members.
Toy Fox Terriers generally enjoy good health with an average lifespan of thirteen to fifteen years, though their small size and specific genetic heritage predispose them to certain health conditions requiring monitoring and preventive care throughout their lives. Primary Lens Luxation represents one of the most serious inherited conditions affecting the breed, occurring when the fibers suspending the eye lens weaken and allow the lens to displace from its normal position between ages three and eight years. This painful emergency condition can rapidly lead to increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, inflammation, and permanent blindness without immediate veterinary intervention, making it essential for owners to watch for signs including tearing, squinting, eye redness, or changes in eye appearance warranting urgent evaluation and treatment through medication or surgical lens removal. Orthopedic problems occur commonly in Toy Fox Terriers, with patellar luxation affecting many individuals when the kneecap slips out of its normal groove, causing intermittent lameness, abnormal gait, and progressive joint damage that may require surgical correction in severe cases. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, typical of small breeds, involves degeneration of the femoral head due to inadequate blood supply, resulting in hip pain, limping, muscle atrophy, and reduced range of motion usually appearing in dogs under one year of age. Treatment typically involves surgical removal of the affected femoral head followed by rehabilitation to restore function and comfort. Hip dysplasia, though less common in toy breeds, can still develop and cause similar mobility limitations and arthritis requiring management through weight control, joint supplements, and anti-inflammatory medications. Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter represents a rare but serious genetic condition in Toy Fox Terriers, affecting puppies who fail to thrive, show delayed development, develop enlarged thyroid glands visible as neck swelling, and rarely survive beyond three weeks despite treatment attempts. Carriers of the gene show no symptoms themselves but can pass the condition to offspring, making genetic testing important for breeding decisions. Additional health concerns include von Willebrand Disease affecting blood clotting ability and potentially causing excessive bleeding during injuries or surgeries, demodectic mange resulting from mite overgrowth in immunocompromised individuals, and various allergies to foods or environmental triggers causing skin irritation and digestive problems. Dental care deserves particular attention in Toy Fox Terriers as their small jaws crowd teeth together, accelerating tartar buildup and periodontal disease that can affect overall health through bacterial spread to internal organs. Daily teeth brushing, dental chews, and regular professional cleanings help maintain oral health and prevent tooth loss. Their short, smooth coats require minimal grooming but provide little insulation, making these house dogs sensitive to cold weather and requiring protective clothing during winter outdoor activities. Maintaining appropriate body weight through measured feeding and regular exercise, scheduling routine veterinary examinations with genetic screening when available, purchasing from responsible breeders who test breeding stock for hereditary conditions, and providing appropriate environmental protection from temperature extremes all contribute significantly to maximizing the health and longevity of these spirited, devoted companions.
Important to Remember
Each hybrid dog is unique and may inherit any combination of traits from either parent breed. The information above represents the characteristics of the purebred parent breeds. Your Foxton may favor one parent over the other or display a blend of both. We strongly encourage you to read the complete breed profiles for both the Boston Terrier and Toy Fox Terrier to fully understand the range of possible temperaments, health concerns, and care requirements.