All About the Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua Mix aka Taco Terrier

Taco TerrierThe small Taco Terrier dog is a cross between the Toy Fox Terrier and the Chihuahua. Despite its Chihuahua parentage, this is a very well-behaved dog that is also bold and brave.

It is a loving dog and shows loyal tendencies, and due to its innate alertness and penchant to bark, it makes a great little watchdog.

This dog likes a lot of contact with its human masters. The Taco Terrier is a lap dog, and it is great happy to remain sitting on its master’s lap for hours on end.

The Taco Terrier’s coat is very short, and it does not have an undercoat making it easy to look after. Its coat colors vary slightly and can be brown, white, black, or tan, which is usually with the typical Fox Terrier markings.

Fox Terrier Chihuahua Mix History

This mixed breed has not been around for long. It is relatively new, and many people do not know when first created it or when.

To learn more about the history of the mix, we will learn about the history of the parent breeds that make up the mix.

Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is a descendant of one of the oldest dog breeds in Mexico called the Techichi dog. The Chihuahua was seen during the time of the Aztecs. These Aztec people worshiped the dogs and thought they were good luck.

They also thought the Chihuahua would bring good health to them. When an owner of one of the dogs passed away, the people would sacrifice the dog that way, it would help the owner in the afterlife.

The breed stayed in Mexico for a very long time until the 1800s, when it finally was seen in the United States. The American Kennel Club finally accepted the breed in the 1900s.

Toy Fox Terrier

The Toy Fox Terrier is actually a dog breed that was developed right here in the United States. This breed was created by breeding many different breeds together that eventually created what we know today as the Toy Fox Terrier.

Toy Fox Terriers were used to have hunt and chase small prey and vermin. You may have seen a Fox Terrier perform in a circus or an entertainment show.

It is a very intelligent smart dog breed that can easily perform tricks and learn commands.

This breed was recently accepted into the American Kennel Club in 2003. 

Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua Mix

Fox Terrier Chihuahua Mix Appearance

With both the Taco Terrier’s parents being small breeds, the Taco Terrier is also small. But despite its small and deceptive appearance, it is a muscular dog that is relatively athletic.

In appearance, the Taco Terrier typically takes after the Chihuahua more. They have a small frame, but are very muscular with strong muscular front legs.

The Taco Terrier’s large pointed ears are very similar to those of the Chihuahua and are largely disproportionate compared to the rest of its small body.

Their eyes are dark, usually of a dark brown or hazel color, and its muzzle is elongated and pointed.

Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua Mix Coat

The Taco Terrier’s coat is very short, and it does not have an undercoat making it easy to look after.

The texture of the coat will be quite wiry. The coat won’t be very thick, so it will be very easy to brush through.

Its coat colors vary slightly and can be brown, white, black, or tan, which is usually with the typical Fox Terrier markings.

What Colors Do They Come In?

There are so many colors that your Taco Terrier may possibly come in, the possibilities include:

  • Sable
  • Brown
  • Black
  • Fawn
  • Cream
  • White
  • Red
  • Blue
  • Brindle
  • Pied

Taco Terrier Sizes

The Taco Terrier is a very small breed of dog and a fully grown Taco Terrier adult weighs between 3 to 8 pounds only and measures approximately 6 to 11 inches in height.

A male can weigh between 5 to 8 pounds and span 8 to 11 inches. A female can span 3 to 6 pounds and span 6 to 9 inches.

Taco Terrier

Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua Mix Health Issues

The Taco Terrier mixed breed dog is a relatively healthy dog depending on the health of its parents. It will enjoy a long life if it does not experience inherited health problems.

Typical inherited health problems that the Taco Terrier may suffer from are usually size-related, which includes collapsing trachea, rheumatism, patellar, and Legg-Calve-Perthes.

Collapsing Trachea – This is a very serious condition when the rings or circles in the windpipe start to disintegrate themselves, and this could cause a total collapse. This is something your veterinarian can help you with to prevent this for happening and see if your dog is developing this disease.

Rheumatism – This is a category of a number of illnesses that can cause extreme pain in the joints and severe arthritis. Other underlying conditions usually trigger these conditions.

Luxating Patella – This is when the kneecap on the dog actually slides in and out of place, causing pain. This also means the bone are not properly formed. There isn’t any real way to fix this issue besides having your dog get a surgery done.

Legg-Calve-Perthes – This is another hereditary condition where your dog’s thigh bones don’t correctly join together with the hips. This will cause pain in the joint and arthritis for your dog. You can fix it, but it it will require surgery.

Sometimes they have dental and gum problems due to the size of their small mouths and overcrowding of the teeth.

Always ask a breeder about the health of their dogs to ensure your getting a healthy puppy. All breeders should be able to provide you with some sort of health papers on their dogs.

Life Expectancy of a Taco Terrier

The average Taco Terrier will live between 12-15 years if it does not have health complications along the way.

Always remember to feed your dog a good balanced diet with a high quality small breed food to ensure your dog is getting optimal nutrition.

HR Chihuahua Dog Silhouettes

Taco Terrier Temperament

The Taco Terrier is a well-behaved dog when in the company of its human family. It is eager to please and extremely loyal making this a great family pet.

The Taco Terrier is a protective dog by nature and is very alert, often barking at suspicious people or objects, which is why the Taco Terrier makes a good watchdog.

But it is a friendly dog, and once it understands there is no threat, it is very playful and affectionate. It shows no sign of aggressive tendencies like the Chihuahua, and it is usually an even-tempered dog.

Fox Terrier Chihuahua Mix Grooming

The Taco Terrier has a very short single-layered coat, which makes it easy to maintain. It needs brushing every few days to maintain the coat’s shine.

Their coat is not completely hypoallergenic, but it comes very close. Many allergy sufferers choose this mixed dog breed since it does not shed very much at all.

These dogs do not like water, and it may be difficult to bathe them. Bathe the Taco Terrier only when necessary, and be careful to use mild dog shampoo on its sensitive skin.

Its ears are large and upright, making them more susceptible to wax and debris buildup.

Check them often and clean with a damp clean cloth when necessary to avoid health complications and infection.

Chihuahua Toy Fox Terrier Mix Exercise

Taco TerrierThis is a small dog, but it is also athletic meaning that it still needs a good walk every day to burn off its energy.

This may surprise you, but the Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua mix needs sixty minutes of exercise each day. I know what you must be thinking, how does this small dog breed need so much exercise.

This is a very high-energy dog. To get that energy out, it needs an adequate amount of exercise each day.

You don’t have to do all of that exercise at once; it can be broken into two or even three smaller sessions per day.

There are so many activities and fun things you can do with your dog to help relieve your dog of all that energy.

Once your dog has gotten its daily exercise requirement, it will want to sit and longe with you on the couch.

Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua Mix Feeding

Depending on your Toy Fox Terrier Chihuahua mix’s weight will ultimately depend on how much food it needs to eat.

If your dog is smaller, it will likely only need 1/2 a cup of high-quality small breed dog food. If your Taco Terrier is slightly bigger, it can eat one cup of quality dog food each day.

Here are some awesome dog food brands that would work well for your Taco Terrier to give a balanced nutrition.

This mixed breed has a very small mouth, so it is imperative to get a dog food with a small kibble size.

Also, remember not to overfeed your dog as small dog breeds do have a tendency to gain weight quicker than larger breeds. Most small dog breeds get fed too much, causing them to be overweight.

Taco Terrier Training

The Taco Terrier is an intelligent hybrid dog that makes training easier. They do like to get their own way, especially when they are not the center of attention; this is when they can display a stubborn streak.

They do not respond well to aggression; therefore the Taco Terrier needs to be rewarded with positive reinforcement such as praise and dog treats.

You may know from the history of the Toy Fox Terrier that it used to perform in circus shows and even other entertaining shows, so you know this breed can be very intelligent, and it can retain a lot of information.

Take each training day by day, and do not overwhelm your dog with too much information. Give your dog lots of praise especially when it performs a trick or command correctly.

Taco Terrier Puppy

Chihuahua Fox Terrier Mix Puppies

Since this is considered a designer dog breed it can be quite hard to find a breeder that breeds Fox Terrier Chihuahua mix puppies.

Regardless of that, if you find a breeder, make sure you can trust the person who will give you your future puppy.

You probably won’t have to pay very much for a Taco Terrier puppy because they cost between $400 to $950.

Don’t forget that the cost does not stop there as your puppy grows older, it will have additional expenses such as shots, toys, and of course, dog food.

Fox Terrier Chihuahua Mix Litter Size

A female Toy Fox Terries can have between 2 and 6 puppies in a litter. A female Chihuahua can also have a wide range in litter size between 5 to 10 puppies in a litter.

Based on the parent breeds’ litter size, you can expect your Taco Terrier to have between 4 to 6 puppies in a litter. Some females may have fewer or even more puppies.

This depends on the size of the female.

Taco Terrier Suitability and Living Conditions

The Taco Terrier’s small size means that it is suitable for apartment dwelling. It is great with children and people in general, which is why it makes for a great family dog.

They are not a demanding dog, therefore these dogs are also suitable for elderly people.

They are only to be kept indoors and do not do well in extreme temperatures.

Close relatives of the Taco Terrier

Here are some breeds that are most like the Taco Terrier:

  • Toy Fox Terrier
  • Chihuahua
  • Rat Terrier
  • Chorkie

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