The Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier mix is an intelligent, athletic, affectionate mixed-breed dog created by breeding a Toy Fox Terrier with a Chihuahua.
The “Taco Terrier” as they are otherwise known hasn’t been around that long, but both parent breeds have! The Toy Fox Terrier & Chihuahua mix is sure to keep you on your toes while bringing you plenty of love and affection. Both parents are active breeds, perfect for a family with a house and yard or an active elderly couple. We’ll explore the Taco Terrier’s history, suitability, temperament, exercise requirements and more to give you a better inkling as to whether the Taco Terrier could be your next family pet.
Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix – At a Glance
| Weight: | 3 – 6 pounds |
| Height: | 6 – 9 inches |
| Lifespan: | 12 – 15 years |
| Coat Colors: | White, tan, black, blue, red, speckled |
| Temperament: | Athletic, friendly, courageous, energetic |
| Most Suitable For: | Active families, active single individuals and active elderly singles or couples |
What Does a Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Look Like?
As with most designer dog breeds, the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier mix inherits different parts of it’s physical appearance from each parent breed – the Mexican Chihuahua and the American Toy Fox Terrier. As both are small dog breeds, the Chihuahua Terrier is one of the smallest Chihuahua mixes you’ll find! Standing at just under 10 inches tall, the Taco Terrier epitomises the “small, yappy-type dog” moniker.
It’s likely that your Chihuahua Fox Terrier mix will inherit the upright ears of the Taco Terrier, along with the longer snout and mixed coat colors. Many Taco Terrier’s inherit a brindle coat, or a black and tan coat color pattern, blending the primary colors of the Chihuahua and the Fox Terrier.
The Taco Terrier and Chihuahua mix has a single coat type, with a wiry coat that’s one of the most low-maintenance coats out there. Your Taco Terrier Chihuahua is likely to inherit the rounded eyes of the Chihuahua and may also have a smaller, rounded tail.
As with most designer dogs, the physical appearance of the Taco Terrier is difficult to predict as it depends on which predominant gene they inherit.
Are you looking for a way to treat your furry friend? Sign up for our newsletter for a chance to win a free month of Barkbox!
The History of the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix
Unfortunately, the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier doesn’t have much of a history, as it’s a relatively new crossbreed that was likely developed sometime during the last thirty years.
Luckily, the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier has two parent breeds that have an extensive history. The Mexican Chihuahua and the American Toy Fox Terrier both found their way into the United States in the late 19th century, but the latter wasn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club until 2003.
To learn more about where the Taco Terrier came from, we’ll go through the histories of each parent breed.
The History of the Toy Fox Terrier
The Toy Fox Terrier was first developed in the United Syates in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by breeding the Smooth Fox Terrier with smaller Fox Terrier breeds, without crossbreeding the smaller Fox Terriers with other toy breeds resulted in the Toy Fox Terrier of today.
The larger Fox Terrier – some might say the O.G Fox Terrier – was first developed in the mid-19th century and is most famous for it’s wiry coat and white, black and tan double coat. The larger Fox Terrier looks similar to a Lakeland Terrier. During the 19th century, the British were obsessed with hunting and finding appropriate dogs that had a strong prey drive that could kill foxes in their burrows, or cause them to bolt from the burrows to be shot by the hunter. This hunting mania in the UK lead to the development of many different Terrier breeds, some were developed in England, others in the United States.
The Toy Fox Terrier was bred from several different terriers and hounds, including the Italian Greyhound, Manchester Terriers and Miniature Pinschers. Toy Fox Terriers of today are renowned as small-sized dogs with a muscular body and an abundance of energy.
How Popular Are Toy Fox Terriers in the United States?
Toy Fox Terriers were first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2003, although the breed had been around in the United States for at least a century by that point.
In 2021, the AKC ranked the Toy Fox Terrier as the 110th most-popular dog in the United States.
Who Are Toy Fox Terriers a Good Dog For?
Toy Fox Terriers are most suited for those with a house & yard, or plenty of land to allow them their daily exercise. Farms are a great fit for a Toy Fox Terrier, or a family home.
Due to their propensity to suffer from separation anxiety and exhibit destructive behavior, the Toy Fox Terrier isn’t a good fit for on-the-go apartment dwellers. Their energy levels are also prohibitive for many elderly couples or single individuals.
How Did Toy Fox Terriers Come About?
The Toy Fox Terriers was first developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States, by crossbreeding the original Fox Terrier – a wiry-coated breed with several smooth coat terriers like the Italian Greyhound, Manchester Terrier and Miniature Pinscher – large parts of the Mini Pinscher’s physical appearance are present in the Toy Fox Terrier.
When Did We First Cross-Breed The Toy Fox Terrier?
As a miniature version of the Fox Terrier, crossbreeding the Toy Fox Terrier is all about harnessing that innate prey drive and superior speed and agility of the Fox Terrier and injecting it into a mixed-breed.
Despite their late development of just over a century ago, recent crossbreeding history of the Toy Fox Terrier began in the 1990s and early 2000s, as the breed became more popular among those looking for a smaller version of a Rat Terrier.
Several popular Taco Terrier crosses created during this time include:
- Toy Fox Terrier Rat Terrier Mix (Toy Foxy Rat Terrier)
- Toy Fox Terrier Beagle Mix (Toy Fox Beagle)
- Toy Fox Terrier Boston Terrier Mix (Foxton Terrier)
- Toy Fox Terrier Jack Russell Terrier Mix (Foxy Russell)
The History of the Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is a breed with an ancient lineage and a large historical gap in their breed-life timeline. It is thought that the Chihuahua’s history stretches back to the 9th century, when Aztec tribes roamed Mexico and South America writ-large. During this time, the Toltec Peoples kept a small, mute dog known as the Techichi – this dog bears striking physical resemblance to the modern-day Chihuahua.
Unfortunately, much of the Chihuahuas’ history is unknown and lost to the sands of time, only to be picked up again in the mid-19th century in the Mexican state of the same name, when Chihuahuas were first noted. At the end of the 19th century, American tourists began to visit Mexico en-mass and either purchased or were traded Chihuahuas for their wares.
This popularized the Chihuahua in the United States and the breed was soon recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1904.
How Popular Are Chihuahuas in the United States?
The Chihuahua is fast becoming one of the most popular dogs in the United States. Their small size makes them an excellent family companion or a companion for a single individual. They’re also well-suited as apartment pets.
In 2021, the Chihuahua ranked as the 37th most popular dog in the United States.
Who Are Chihuahuas a Good Dog For?
The small size, high-energy nature of Chihuahuas often make them a good fit for those families seeking a smaller, but active pet. Chihuahuas are a popular breed among the elderly population because of their small size and ease of portability. They also inadvertently make great guard dogs because of their shrill bark.
How Did Chihuahuas Come About?
Chihuahuas’ precise history is hard to come by – although it is though that their ancestry stretches back to the 9th century, when an Aztec tribe known as the Toltec Peoples kept a small, mute dog called a Techichi as a pet. The Techichi was first discovered on Aztec hieroglyphs and bears striking physical resemblance to the Chihuahua.
Modern Chihuahuas were first noted in the mid-19th century in the Mexican state of the same name and first arrived in the United States in the late 19th century, after they were sold and traded to American tourists. The breed was first recognized by the AKC in 1904.
When Did We First Cross-Breed The Chihuahua?
One of the earliest of Chihuahua crossbreeding outside of the United States and it’s native Mexico was in Britain following the conclusion of the Second World War. The Chihuahua was originally crossbred with the Jack Russell Terrier, as a way to preserve the popularity of the Jack Russell Terrier in England.
Since their cross with the Jack Russell Terrier, the Chihuahua gained popularity as a cross in the United States during the 1990s and early 2000s. This spawned several popular Chihuahua hybrid breeds, including:
- Chihuahua Rat Terrier Mix (Rat Chi)
- Chihuahua Yorkshire Terrier Mix (Chorkie)
- Chihuahua Pit Bull Terrier Mix (Pitahuahua)
- Corgi Chihuahua Mix (Chigi)
- Chihuahua Border Collie Mix (Border Chi)
How Important Is a Dog’s Temperament to Your Family?
A dog’s temperament generally comes from a combination of their genetics and lived experiences. Finding a dog that’s well-suited for your family’s temperament will mean extensive researching of various dogs’ based on the type of temperament that you’re looking for.
Are you searching for an active adventure companion, or a stay-at-home pup that’s happy with one daily walk? Are you looking for a dog that’s going to be part lap-dog, or are you instead searching for one that’s happy to cuddle up with you?
Doing research on the temperament of your prospective new pup will allow you to find the perfect breed for your family without having to put in extra time or money to training your new dog.
What is the Temperament of the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix?
The Chihuahua Fox Terrier mix inherits the temperament of each parent breed – the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier is sure to be an active breed with a friendly, warm demeanor. The Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier is incredibly athletic and has high prey drive.
Is The Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Friendly?
In general, you can expect your Taco Terrier mix to be very friendly! In sharp contrast to the usual Chihuahua temperament, the Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua mix is unusually friendly with strangers.
Is The Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Easy to Train?
You may encounter some difficulties when it comes to training the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier mix. Usually, Chihuahua mixes tend to be independent and stubborn and that’s the case here, too. Positive reinforcement training is a fantastic option, but sometimes you’ll have to settle for persistence and reward-based training methods to get your Taco Terrier to listen.
How Much Can A Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Weigh?
The average weight of a Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier mix is between 3 and 6 pounds.
How Tall Can A Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Get?
The average height of a Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier mix is between 6 and 9 inches tall.
Similar-Sized Breeds
There are a few similar-sized breeds to the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier mix. These include:
- Rat Terrier
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Bichon Frise
- Fox Terrier
Does the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Shed?
The Taco Terrier is a low-shedding dog, though not hypoallergenic. You’ll still need to brush your Taco Terrier regularly, but they’re a relatively low-maintenance breed otherwise.
How Much Exercise Does A Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Require?
Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier mixes are hyper-athletic and hyperactive dogs with a playful nature and a need for at least 45 minutes of exercise each day. This includes an off-leash run to burn off excess energy, as well as mental stimulation as part of their regular exercise routine.
Mental stimulation can include games like fetch or the use of toys like KONG toys, if they’re going to be left alone for an extended period of time.
How Long Can a Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Live?
The average lifespan of a Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier is between 12 and 15 years.
What Health Conditions Could the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Have?
- Patellar Luxation (Kneecap Dislocation)
- Pyometra (Uterine Infections)
- Periodontal Disease (Dental Issues)
- Glaucoma (Eye Issues)
- Legg-Calve Perthes Disease (Hip Joint Issues)
How Can You Find a Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Puppy For Sale?
Before you start searching for Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua mixes for sale, you may consider searching for Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua mixes to adopt! Adoptions for Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua mixes are slowly increasing, so it shouldn’t be difficult to locate one up for adoption. Check into your local vet clinic or animal shelter.
However, if you’re unsuccessful there, be sure to look online at AdoptAPet.com.
How Much Does a Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Puppy Cost?
The average cost of a Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua mix is between $300 and $900. While not overly expensive, it’s still more than your average adoption, which generally range around $200.00.
If you’re considering purchasing a Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua mix, you must make sure you do so through a reputable breeder. To help sort the wheat from the chaff and to help you avoid puppy mills, we’ve created this definitive guide to help you work with a reputable breeder!
Is the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix the Right Breed For You?
If you’ve been searching for a loving, loyal and affectionate breed that’ll keep you on your toes, but also is no problem to have around friends, then the spry Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier mix might be exactly what you’ve been searching for!
However, if you’re certain that the Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier isn’t the right breed for you, consider reading our other breed guides to learn more about mixed-breed dogs that might be better suited.
Nick Meagher
I'm Nick Meagher, a lifelong dog enthusiast and the voice behind this blog. Having grown up with dogs, I've developed a deep understanding and an unbreakable bond with these amazing companions. Through MyK9Life, I aim to share insights, tips, and heartwarming stories, celebrating the joy and journey of life with our four-legged friends.
