Smooth Foodle -- Fox Terrier Smooth X Poodle

		Smooth Foodle
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


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

A brief presentation of the Smooth Foodle

The Smooth Foodle is a hybrid of the Poodle and the Smooth Fox Terrier. Both parent breeds were developed for hunting waterfowl, small vermin and foxes, their sizes and coats enabling them to fulfill these functions in their respective countries, France, Germany and the UK. Although they are not used today for the hunting and tracking tasks for which they were bred as they were in centuries past, their current function makes them wonderful companions and family pets, and they are the ones not at all averse to warming your lap at the slightest opportunity or invitation.

History of the Smooth Foodle

The Smooth Foodle is a hybrid of the Poodle (Toy, Miniature or Standard) and the Smooth Fox Terrier. Since it's a recent hybrid, there's very little information available about it, so we'll be relying on the history of its parent breeds. Since no place or approximate date of origin is available on the hybrid, we can probably assume that it was developed in the USA in the late 1900s or early 2000s, when interest in mixing purebreds for various reasons became more popular. The Smooth Foodle hybrid is itself recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club, the Dog Breed Registry, the Designer Dog Kennel Club, the Dog Registry of America and the International Designer Canine Registry.

	A little of the Fox Terrier Smooth
	The Fox Terrier Smooth is a breed that was developed in England in the 17th century and has changed very little in appearance since it first appeared on the dog scene. The Fox Terrier Smooth was bred for the hunting and sporting activities of flushing foxes and other vermin from their dens. It is thought to have been developed from English hunting dogs, Dachshunds, Beagles and Fox Hounds. The Fox Terrier Smooth's courageous personality, size and endurance made it perfect for these activities. Today, the Fox Terrier Smooth, an excellent combination of Toy and Terrier, is mainly used as a family pet, companion, watchdog and for agility and obedience competitions. The Fox Terrier Smooth was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885, where it is the 124th most popular breed in its registry.

	Standard of the Fox Terrier Smooth


	A little of the Poodle
	The Poodle, although its current appearance suggests otherwise, is a breed that was developed primarily to hunt waterfowl. Its heritage can be traced back to the first century BC, when images resembling the Poodle were found in tombs and various forms of artwork in Egypt, Rome and Greece, where it was depicted in various hunting and herding tasks. Although not all historians agree on the origin of the Poodle breed, most agree that its heritage includes a number of breeds: European Water Dogs from Spain, Portugal, Germany, Hungary and Russia, as well as the North African Barbet, which was imported from the Iberian Peninsula. The Standard Poodle was well established by the 1400s, when interest in reducing the size of this talented canine became popular, and the Miniature Poodle and Toy Poodle entered the scene. The Poodle is thought to have taken root in Germany and France, before being recognized by the Kennel Club (England) in 1876 and by the American Kennel Club in 1886, where it is the 7th most popular breed in the AKC register.

	Standard of the Poodle

Appearance of the Smooth Foodle

The Smooth Foodle is a hybrid mix of the Poodle (Toy, Miniature or Standard) and the Smooth Fox Terrier, and can take on the appearance characteristics of either or both of its parent breeds. It can measure from 25.5 to 53 centimetres and weigh from 5 to 29.5 kilos, a considerable variation depending on the size of the parent Poodle. Its coat can be thick, curly and wiry or short and smooth, with the most common colors black, blue-gray, silver, white, brown, café-au-lait, apricot or white with black or brown markings. Its muzzle is long and tapered, its ears may be long and held close to the head or V-shaped, folded forward, its eyes are dark and its nose is black with scissor-like teeth. They can be square-shaped or smaller, but either way, they are strong and well-muscled, with a tail of varying length.

Temperament of the Smooth Foodle

Your Smooth Foodle is a hybrid mix of Poodle (Toy, Miniature or Standard) and Smooth Fox Terrier, and may inherit temperament and personality traits from one or both parent breeds. They can be alert, affectionate, gentle, friendly, energetic, cheerful, intelligent, lively, playful, reactive, loyal and territorial. Socialization as early as possible will help ensure that he gets along with children, the family cat, other dogs and even the guinea pig, and will probably get along with strangers too, although you should expect him to be wary of them until he feels there is no danger to his human family. He has a moderate tendency to hunt and roam, which is why it's important to keep him on a leash when he's away from the house, a fenced garden or other safe place. He's quite intelligent, which makes him easy to train using positive training and encouragement techniques. He really doesn't like to be left alone for long periods, as he suffers from boredom and separation anxiety. He's an active dog who will need at least 90 minutes of moderate exercise a day. He falls into the moderate category for barking.

Needs and activities of the Smooth Foodle

Your Smooth Foodle hybrid is an active member of the canine family. He needs 1 to 2 hours of exercise a day to manage his energy levels. This exercise can take the form of several daily walks or jogs, play in a dog park or fenced yard, interactive games like fetch, frisbee, flyball, earth dog activities, agility and obedience training. He adapts well to apartment or condominium living, but don't forget that he can be a moderate barker, which is important for those who live in noise-restricted areas. He also adapts well to life in a family home with or without a fenced yard, and can live in an urban or rural environment in temperate climates. It will need extra protection and precautions in extreme temperatures. It's important to remember that they have a moderate tendency to hunt and roam. For this reason, it's strongly recommended to keep him on a leash when he's outside the house, fenced garden or other safe enclosure, to avoid the inevitable chase down the street, around the block or into the pond, as he pursues that small animal or unusual scent that has caught his eye.

Maintenance of the Smooth Foodle

Your Smooth Foodle hybrid falls into the moderate maintenance and minimal to moderate shedding categories, and its coat can be hypoallergenic, as only the Poodle parent provides this characteristic. He should be brushed at least once a week to remove loose hair, debris and matting, and bathed only if necessary to preserve the vital oils that help keep his coat water-resistant. His ears should be checked weekly and cleaned if necessary using a cotton ball and an approved canine ear cleaner. Be sure to check his nails at least once a month and trim them if necessary, unless he manages to remove them with his normal physical activities. Brush his teeth two or three times a week to prevent the development of periodontal disease, which leads to tooth loss.