Chilean Fox Terrier

The Chilean Fox Terrier is believed to be the first dog breed native to Chile. The breed is made up of the base of the Fox Terrier (brought to South America by European settlers) and unspecified Native American dog breeds. The Chilean Fox Terrier was the breed that resulted after a number of years of this breeding pattern, and is believed to have come in to existence around 1870.

In Chile, the dog breed became increasingly popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and moved in to urban areas with the Chileans that migrated from the country to the cities. There, these dogs took on the role of helping exterminate rats in urbanized areas. As a result, the Chilean Fox Terrier goes by some other names, including Ratonero (which means rat hunter) and the Chilean Rat Terrier.

Though the breed has been around since 1870, it was only recently standardized in the early 1990s in order to gain international recognition. As a result, the Chilean Fox Terrier is not a breed recognized by any of the major kennel clubs as of yet.

Despite the lack of recognition, Chilean Fox Terriers can still make fine canine companions.

These dogs possess a kind and lively demeanor, and are easy to train. They are active, and in turn are considered to be one of the healthiest dog breeds.

In terms of appearance, the Chilean Fox Terrier is a medium-sized dog with a coat of short white (or mostly white) hair. The Chilean Fox Terrier is notable for the contrast that exists between the all-white (or mostly white) coat that covers its body and the black and tan zones that cover the dog's head.

The coat of short white hair makes the Chilean Fox Terrier relatively easy to groom and care for, and in turn makes this breed an excellent family pet.