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Fox Terrier Dogs for Adoption in Chesapeake, VA

Your guide to finding and caring for a Fox Terrier in Chesapeake

A Fox Terrier suits Chesapeake best with a fenced yard and a leash for everything else. In Deep Creek or Western Branch, where quiet residential streets give way to woods and water, a squirrel or a rabbit is never far away, and a Fox Terrier will notice it first. At 15 to 19 pounds, this terrier is easy to carry and hard to tire out. Plan on a daily walk along the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail or a game of fetch in the yard.

158 Fox Terriers available in Chesapeake and nationwide

Bring home a Fox Terrier

While we don't have enough dogs near Chesapeake, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.

Fox Terriers Available for Adoption Near Chesapeake

About the Fox Terrier breed

Fox Terrier usually means the Smooth Fox Terrier or the Wire Fox Terrier, two related breeds that share a build and a personality but differ in coat. Both came from Britain, where they rode along on foxhunts and bolted foxes from their dens. That's why they're mostly white: hounds and riders could tell them from the fox. The Toy Fox Terrier is a separate, much smaller breed.

Fox Terriers tend to be bold, quick and funny, with a strong prey drive and a mind of their own. Patient, varied training works better than repetition. The Smooth's short coat is easy to keep, while the Wire's dense coat sheds little but needs clipping or hand-stripping, so grooming costs depend on the coat. Shelter listings in Chesapeake may also include terrier mixes, so look closely at each dog's coat, size and energy.

Weight
15–19 lbs
Height
13–16 in
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Temperament
Bold, Lively, Independent
Group
Terrier
Shedding
Low to Moderate

Owning a Fox Terrier in Chesapeake

Having a Fox Terrier in Chesapeake

Fox Terriers pack a lot of energy into a small frame. Prey drive, independence and a need for steady mental work shape daily life more than size does, and the Smooth and Wire coats ask for different amounts of upkeep. Dogs vary, so treat these as tendencies, not promises.

Temperament

Fox Terriers are usually confident, playful and affectionate with their people, and plenty are born entertainers. They're also independent thinkers with a strong prey drive, so cats, rabbits and other small pets may get chased. Some are scrappy with other dogs. Early socialization and consistent training matter, and each dog's own history shapes how easygoing it is.

Exercise Needs

Plan on vigorous daily activity: brisk walks, fetch and play in a securely fenced space, plus puzzle toys or scent games to keep the mind busy. Chesapeake's fenced dog parks give a Fox Terrier a place to run off leash. Everywhere else, keep a leash on, since a squirrel can override even good training.

Health Considerations

Fox Terriers are generally hardy, but patellar luxation, eye problems such as primary lens luxation, heart disease and inherited ataxia turn up in the breeds, and deafness can occur with mostly white coats. A veterinarian can check knees, eyes and hearing at wellness visits. Keep flea, tick and heartworm prevention going through Chesapeake's warm, humid months.

Living Space

At 15 to 19 pounds, a Fox Terrier can live happily in a Chesapeake house or apartment as long as exercise is reliable. A fenced yard is a real plus, but many Fox Terriers dig and jump, so check fence height and gaps. Their alert barking can matter when neighbors share a wall.

What it costs to own a Fox Terrier in Chesapeake

ExpenseTypical costPer year
Food$20 to $45 per month$240 to $540
Pet insurance$35 to $70 per month$420 to $840
Routine vet care$200 to $400 per year$200 to $400
Other*$382 to $1,960 per year$382 to $1,960
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,242 to $3,740

Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* The $7 to $10 Chesapeake dog license, flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning, toys and bedding, and grooming that runs from minimal for a Smooth to professional clipping or stripping for a Wire.

Adopt a Fox Terrier in Chesapeake.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have Fox Terriers available.

Rescues in Chesapeake with Fox Terriers Available

Chesapeake's rescue community includes a city animal shelter and a nonprofit humane society, both working to place dogs in homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Chesapeake area where you can find Fox Terriers and other dogs available for adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. No breed-specific rule applies to Fox Terriers, and Virginia law bars calling a dog dangerous solely because of its breed. City rules focus on care and behavior: a dog outdoors without you must wear identification, and you must clean up after it. Virginia also requires shelter and rescue dogs to be sterilized, or the adopter to agree to it, before release.

Start with a city dog park such as Deep Creek Park, where a Fox Terrier can run off leash. Entry requires a membership ($10 per dog a year, or a $5 day pass) plus proof of rabies, DHPP and Bordetella vaccines, and male dogs over a year old must be neutered. For leashed walks, Northwest River Park's hiking trails and the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail work well.

Often yes, for adopters who can give daily exercise and keep a leash on every walk. The swamp edge brings wildlife that a prey-driven terrier will chase, and black bears have been seen in neighborhoods such as Hickory and Greenbrier, so keep pet food indoors. Dogs vary, so judge each dog's energy and temperament rather than the breed alone.

Yes, with sensible planning. A Fox Terrier's small size and short or clipped coat help, but muggy afternoons still build heat quickly. Keep midday outings short, offer shade and fresh water, and rest the dog in air conditioning. Pale skin under a white coat can sunburn, so limit long stretches in open sun.

It depends on the coat. A Smooth needs a weekly brushing and a bath when dirty, while a Wire needs regular brushing plus clipping or hand-stripping about every 6 to 8 weeks. Humid summers and swampy trails mean frequent paw wipes and tick checks. Grooming sits inside the Other yearly range on this page, so a Smooth costs little and a Wire costs the most.

Usually not, unless the dog is a service animal. Hampton Roads Transit buses serve Chesapeake, and pets are allowed only in small cages that don't need a separate seat. A Fox Terrier at 15 to 19 pounds will often be too big for that. There's no rail in Chesapeake, so most outings with a Fox Terrier happen by car.

Sometimes, on patios only. Virginia lets restaurants admit dogs to outdoor areas with a separate entrance and posted signs, but it's each restaurant's choice. Dogs must stay leashed or in a carrier and can't sit on chairs or tables. Pet dogs aren't allowed in indoor dining rooms. Bring a mat and water bowl, since a busy patio tests a terrier's manners.

A Fox Terrier is a small, square, athletic dog with a long, flat skull, dark round eyes, small V-shaped ears folded forward and a tail carried upright. The coat is mostly white with black, tan or black-and-tan markings. Smooth Fox Terriers have a short, flat coat, while Wire Fox Terriers have a dense, wiry coat with a bearded face.

We have 1 rescue with Fox Terriers available: Chesapeake Animal Services. You can see every rescue with Fox Terriers available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Fox Terriers near Chesapeake.

Plan on about $20 to $45 a month for food, $35 to $70 a month for pet insurance, and $200 to $400 a year for routine vet care. Other yearly costs run about $382 to $1,960, depending largely on coat and grooming. That puts a typical year at roughly $1,240 to $3,740, with emergencies extra.

Explore Other Breeds in Chesapeake

Looking for a different breed? Browse other dogs available for adoption in Chesapeake.