Homegrown

What do you get

when you  {deliberately} mix

this

 {Smooth-coated Fox Terrier}

this

 {Miniature Doberman Pinscher}

this

 {Italian Greyhound}

this

{Chihuahua}

and this???

{Manchester Terrier}

You get...

THIS

 Toy Fox Terrier

The Toy Fox Terrier

{also known as the AmerToy}

is one of only 12 true

American breeds.

The others include:

Alaskan Malamute

American Eskimo Dog

American Foxhound

American Staffordshire Terrier

American Water Spaniel

Australian Shepherd

Black and Tan Coonhound

Boston Terrier

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Cocker Spaniel

Plott {A type of Coonhound}

According to the American Kennel Club,

The Toy Fox Terrier is a big dog

in a small package that possesses intelligence,

courage and a take-charge attitude.

Both a Toy and a Terrier, they are a true working dog,

delighting in hunting tree squirrels and flushing out rodents.

The breed’s colors are white, chocolate and tan;

white and tan; white and black; or tri-color.

 First Christmas  with Gracie ~ 2004

Our six year old TFT,

dubbed Gracie Marie by my

{then}fourth-grader, is on the

 larger size for the breed.

She’s seven pounds…..

of big dog attitude

of terrier scrappiness

of best friend

of love.

 Gracie ~ Queen of the Castle... and our hearts!

Although comical and playful,

Toy Fox Terriers also love

to be held in your arms

or on your lap!

Summer 2006

 Some famous owners

of TFTs include Olympic skater

Kristi Yamaguchi and Twilight

Actress Ashely Greene.

Ashley and TFT Marlow arrive at JFK Airport

When our friends from

New Zealand were in

the States visiting

four years ago, they fell

in love with Gracie and

were determined

to have a TFT of their own!

But back in NZ, they couldn’t

find one.  Eventually they

landed on the Austral-Asian

Toy Fox Terrier Club’s waiting list….

And Miss Abby joined them

a few months later, from

Australia : )

Like Gracie, she likes nothing

better than to play,

cuddle or nap in the

sunshine!

A white and tan ~ also called fawn-colored ~ Toy Fox Terrier

 It’s fun to imagine

this made-in-the-USA breed

tearing it up on the

other side of the globe.

I sooo wish Abby and Gracie

could meet, but due to

quarantine rules, it cannot be.

 So, from this American dog

to that little pup 

far far away....

Good night, Abby.

Good night, Gracie!

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet. 

~Edith Wharton

[images:

1 flickr ~ click for attribution

2-7, 11-12 Google images

8, 9, 10, 13 Privet and Holly]