Smooth Fox Beagle -- Fox Terrier Smooth X Beagle

		Smooth Fox Beagle
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Great Britain -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Smooth Fox Beagle

The Smooth Fox Beagle is an unusual hybrid, the result of a deliberate cross between two small hunting dogs native to England, the Fox Terrier Smooth, a dog used to chase foxes from their dens and burrows, and the Beagle, a small rabbit-tracking dog. This combination is generally more active than most dogs of this size, and requires more exercise and activity to keep it happy and healthy. While they generally do well with adults or families with older children, they may not be as tolerant with young children or toddlers, and they are not well suited to apartment buildings due to their high exercise requirements and tendency to over-shout.

History of the Smooth Fox Beagle

The Smooth Fox Beagle is a designer dog, the intentional blend of two breeds, the Fox Terrier Smooth, a Terrier used to chase foxes from their dens and mineholes by English hunters, and the Beagle, an exceptional rabbit-stalking dog, also developed in England.

	A little of the Fox Terrier Smooth
	Although Fox Terrier Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers have been registered and shown together in the U.S. for over a century, most experts agree that the two breeds are descended from very different ancestors. The prevailing theories indicate that the Wire Fox Terrier descended from the wire-haired or broken-haired Black and Tan Terriers of Derbyshire, Durham and Wales, but that the Fox Terrier Smooth was a mixture of several dogs, including perhaps Beagles, Bull Terriers, Greyhounds and Smooth Black and Tan Terriers. It's worth noting, however, that since their creation in the 1700s, these two dogs have often been crossed. This means that you'll find Smooth Fox Terriers in the ancestry of most Wire Fox Terriers, and that you'll also find Wire Fox Terriers in the ancestry of most Smooth Fox Terriers.

	Standard of the Fox Terrier Smooth


	A little of the Beagle
	The Beagle was also an English hunting dog, specializing in tracking rabbits, although it has undergone several changes in size and structure since its inception in the 1400s, with some breeders even popularizing a small variety of Beagle called the "Pocket Beagle" for a time. It was in the late 1800s that definitive breed standards were established for the Beagle, and England and the USA created national Beagle clubs. Today, the Beagle is the fifth most popular breed in the United States and has maintained this status for many years.

	Standard of the Beagle

Appearance of the Smooth Fox Beagle

Although bred for similar purposes, the two parent breeds are quite different in structure. Hybrid dogs can inherit any characteristic from their parents, in this case the Beagle, a stocky dog slightly longer than it is tall, with a broad, flat head and a deep, square muzzle, and the Fox Terrier Smooth, a well-muscled but supple dog, with a narrower, triangular head and a long muzzle that tapers somewhat at the tip. Their eyes are generally round and brown, although some inherit the hazel eyes sometimes found in Beagles. They can have triangular ears set high on the head and folded down like the Fox Terrier Smooth, or longer, floppy ears with rounded tips like the Beagle. Its tail is usually straight and carried vertically when alert or at attention, although some dogs have their tail curled slightly over their back.

Temperament of the Smooth Fox Beagle

The Smooth Fox Terrier is a curious, impulsive breed with a peppery nature, and while the introduction of the Beagle is unlikely to reduce the Smooth Fox Beagle's curiosity or energy, in most cases it will produce a friendlier animal, both towards humans and other dogs. Those who take after the Beagle will be more tolerant of young children, but this particular dog will probably be better suited to a home with older children and adults. Like most hounds, these dogs tend to follow their noses, have a strong propensity for hunting and are known for their selective deafness, especially when in pursuit of something that has caught their attention. The Smooth Fox Beagle should be kept on a leash when outdoors, and should never be left alone in a yard, even a fenced one, unsupervised, due to its ability to escape.

Needs and activities of the Smooth Fox Beagle

The Smooth Fox Beagle is a mix of two very active small hounds, and tends to need more exercise than most dogs of its size. Sixty minutes of vigorous activity a day is usually enough, although most dogs are happy with a little more. In addition to brisk walks and backyard ball games, these dogs are likely to be adept at other activities, such as tracking exercises or agility training. Although these dogs are smaller, they generally don't make very good apartment dogs due to their need for exercise and tendency to bark excessively.

Maintenance of the Smooth Fox Beagle

These dogs are extremely easy to care for in terms of grooming requirements. They only need to be bathed a few times a year, and weekly brushing with a long-haired brush or grooming glove removes dead or loose hair and keeps the coat soft and shiny. Smooth Fox Beagles that have inherited the Fox Terrier Smooth coat will have a rougher, coarser coat than those that have inherited the Beagle's softer coat, but both shed at roughly the same rate. Dogs with hanging ears like the Beagle also need to be kept clean and dry to avoid ear infections.