English Toy Terrier

Size Small Height 9.5-12 inches (25-30 cm) Weight 6-8 lb. (3-4 kg) Energy Low Tendency To Bark Low Coat Short/Smooth Shedding Moderate Life Expectancy 10 to 15 years Food Cost Moderate Average Puppy Price Moderate ($500 to $850) Suitability for Personal Protection Low Suitability as a Guard Dog Low Suitability for Children Medium Ease of Transportation High Level of Distress caused if left alone Medium Level of aggression Low Other animal compatibility Medium Suitable Breed for Allergy Sufferers No Grooming Once a week Trimming required None

The English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) is a small terrier breed of in the toy dog group.

Appearance
The English Toy Terrier is 25-30 cm in height and 2.7-3.6 kg in weight. The only permitted color is black with defined tan markings on the legs, chest and face. The movement is described as being like the extended trot of a horse.

History
The English Toy Terrier developed from the Old English Black and Tan Terrier and is closely related to the larger Manchester Terrier. Extremely fast and agile, the origins of this alert terrier are in the world of rat baiting, a sport popular in the cities of Victorian England where terriers were placed in a circle or pit with a number of rats and bets were taken as to which dog would kill its quota of rats in the fastest time. Small dogs were highly prized with the ideal being to produce the smallest dog still capable of killing its quota of rats in as short a time as possible. In 1848, a black and tan terrier weighing just 5½lb (2.5kg) named Tiny is recorded to have killed 300 rats in less than an hour.

The outlawing of this sport coincided with the formation of the Kennel Club. With its elegant appearance, the Black and Tan Terrier moved effortlessly into the conformation show ring. At the first ever all breeds dog show there was a very respectable entry of Black and Tan Terriers divided by weight. This weight division continued with two varieties of Black and Tan Terrier until the 1920's when they were split into two breeds, the larger Manchester Terrier and the smaller Black and Tan Terrier (Miniature). The name English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) was adopted in 1962. In the USA and Canada, the Toy Manchester Terrier was bred down in size from the Manchester Terrier, and recognised as a separate breed in 1938. Declining numbers of the Toy Manchester Terrier caused the American Kennel Club to re-defined it as a size variety of the Manchester Terrier in 1958.

Concerns of extinction
The ETT is on the UK Kennel Club's list of vulnerable native breeds and great effort is being made to boost the popularity of the breed and develop a viable gene pool. The Kennel Club (UK) has opened the stud book, allowing the North American Toy Manchester Terrier to be re-registered as English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) provided it is certified to be a Toy and is not of the Standard variety. Some owners in Great Britain are against this decision; others see it as a positive way to preserve the breed.

Description: The English toy Terrier, also known as the toy Manchester Terrier, weighs less than three kilograms and as far as the rest is concerned it is similar to its older cousin. The ears of this dog are raised up naturally, which are more separate around the base and narrow at the top. In general this dog is slightly longer than it is in height and has good bones and is pretty muscular giving it agility and resistance. Without variations this dog's coat is short, and it has a black and fire color to it. The expression of this dog is very smart and alert and it has small eyes that have an almond shape and are oblique and shiny. The head of this dog is long and narrow and the cheekbones are not visible. The muzzle and the skull are the same in length. The neck is long and slightly arched and the chest is narrow but long; its ribs are also pretty ample, its abdomen is retracted, and the tail is thicker at the base and things at the ends of it. The front legs of this dog are straight with closed elbows and it has compact and well-arched feet. The hind legs are angled and the hocks are low. Ideal owner: The English toy Terrier is one of the authentic English breeds and has kept its popularity in England for years. It's a small dog but it isn't fragile and its shiny black and fiery coat makes it a very attractive dog. The English toy Terrier is a very affectionate dog and it needs a very caring owner that will teach it and share to its life with. Keep in mind that this dog can become aggressive and too excited if it is spoiled or treated incorrectly. As is the case of most toy dogs, this dog needs correct management and must be socialized so that it can develop its lovable and charming personality. Growth: At birth this dog weighs around 140 to 170 grams. Puppies are generally born all black however you might be able to notice some fire colored spots on it at this age. At around four weeks of age you should be able to notice the spots of fire on its coat. The way the ears are is very important since this is one of the most important characteristics of this breed. The ears must never be cropped; the dog should be able to lift them upwards at around a month to six months of age. General health: The English toy Terrier is a small companion dog that is easy to care for. The amount of care it needs is actually quite minimal. In general it needs to be brushed and groomed every two days and the owner must check its eyes, ears and pads. It is susceptible to tarsus dislocation, however this problem can be surgically resolved. The skin of this dog is sensitive so it will be necessary to avoid it from getting cold and humid. Skin infections have been seen in this breed but these can be limited up to certain point with the right care. A rare skin problem that has been seen in the big Manchester has also been seen in this breed and it's called coetaneous asthenia; the symptoms of this disease are soft, delicate and humid skin and paleness of the skin. Epilepsy and Von Willebrand has also been seen but they are not frequent. The English toy Terrier needs more physical exercise than toy Terriers. It does have some background abnormalities in the blood such as gingivitis and to other teeth and gum problems.

Group Toy Dogs (KC)

Origin / History The English Toy Terrier is a small terrier belonging to the toy dog group. It is also known as the Black and Tan Terrier, and is often mistaken for a Toy Manchester Terrier. English Toy Terriers are descendants of the Black and Tan Terriers which were already existing during the 16th century. In the 1800s, these dogs were used in England as vermin hunters since the population of rats were increasing there because of the industrial revolution's advancement.

Throughout the Victorian era, tiny dogs were held in high regard. Thus, English Toy Terriers were bred to be small dogs because people wanted their dogs to be fashionable. However, doing this made the dogs susceptible to some health problems. Luckily, this practice was reversed and the dogs were no longer bred to be miniature, and there were some breeders who devoted themselves to making these dogs healthier and stronger. Today, these dogs make great family companions. Appearance These dogs have flat skulls and long heads that are wedge-shaped. Their feet are small, compact, and neat, and their back feet are similar to that of cat feet. They sport thick, shiny, and short coats. Their ears are erect, pointed, and placed close to each other on top of their heads. They have long, elegant necks that arch slightly, and their eyes are small, almond-shaped, and are black or dark-colored.

Colors The coats of these dogs are strictly black and tan only. The colors are clearly separated from each other and these colors follow a pattern.

TemperamentThese dogs are affectionate and loyal. They love human companionship and will bond well with their family members, although they may form a stronger bond with just one person. Even though these dogs have been branded as toy dogs, they are courageous and are great for hunting mice. Although they are affectionate with people that they know well, they don't take to strangers immediately. They can also be great watchdogs, as they will let their owners know when somebody unfamiliar is approaching their property or territory. These dogs get along well with children, although older and more considerate children are preferable, since these dogs might get injured through rough handling. They can also get along well with other dogs, but other household pets such as rabbits or hamsters are discouraged from being put in the vicinity of these dogs since their natural ratting instincts may come into play.

Common Health ProblemsThese dogs can have Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disorder), Legg-Perthe-Calve's disease, and hypothyroidism. They can also develop cataracts, lens luxation, and progressive retinal atrophy.

Living Conditions These dogs can live inside apartments just as long as they are given enough exercise. They can do well in both country or city environments. These dogs don't do too well on extremely hot or cold climates. When the weather is cold, it will be good to put the dogs in coats, and when it's too hot, owners must be careful not to expose their dogs to too much sun since they are susceptible to getting sunburnt.

Exercise Requirements It is important to make sure that these dogs get enough exercise so that they will stay physically and mentally fit. Owners should take their dogs out for walks daily. These dogs can also participate in exercises that will enhance their agility.

Training Requirements These dogs are easy to train, although they have a tendency to get distracted sometimes. Basic obedience training should be done while the dogs are still young. When trained properly, these dogs can do greatly in competitive obedience. Methods of positive reinforcement should be used, as harsh methods will only bring about negative effects. Proper socialization is also essential for the well-being of these dogs.

Grooming Coats of these dogs do not require much grooming. Owners just need to groom their dogs' coats using a polishing cloth and a grooming mitt regularly.

DESCRIPTION

They are small, smooth coated black and tan dogs with pointed erect ears. They are slightly longer than tall.

Color The English Toy Terrier is black and tan in color.

Weight/Height Range Ideally the English Toy Terrier should measure between 9.5-12 inches at the withers and weigh between 6-8 lbs. Dogs are generally larger than females.

Ailments The English Toy Terrier did suffer from a number of health problems when it was first introduced over 100 years ago. Breeders have improved on these problems since the 1950's.

Common Ailments Bones (Developmental) - Patellar luxation, Joints - Subluxion, Skin Problems

PERSONALITY

This little dog does possess a trace of the terrier temperament. On the whole they are affectionate, friendly and totally devoted to their family. They will quite happily live in either the town or country and as a breed get on well with older children.

Intelligence Training of this little dog should be consistent; they can be quite independent and are naturally inquisitive. They should be socialized with other household animals and children from an early age. Remember that this dog was originally used as a ratter and for hunting rabbits, so they must be supervised with small animal pets.

Overall Exercise Requirement The English Toy Terrier does not require a lot of exercise. Although they may appear dainty and frail they do enjoy long walks and can walk for many miles.

BREEDING & OWNERSHIP

The ETT is an undemanding dog to feed with no special dietary requirements; they generally have a good appetite.

GROOMING & SHOWING

This dog has a short, dense coat that requires little attention; a grooming mitt and a polishing cloth are all that is really needed.

Show characteristics The English Toy Terrier should have a long, wedge shaped head with a flat skull. The eyes should be small; almond shaped and dark or black in color. The ears should be erect with pointed tips and placed high on the back of the head close together. The mouth should have a complete scissor bite. The neck should be long, elegant and slightly arched. The chest should be narrow and deep with well-sprung ribs. The front legs should be straight and the back legs well rounded with well let down hocks. The feet should be small, neat, compact and well-arched. The two middle toes of the front feet should be longer than the rest. The back feet should be cat-like in appearance. The tail should be set low. The coat should be short, thick and shiny. This dog is only seen in black and tan. These colors should not run into each other but form clear, clean lines of separation. The front legs should be tan at the front to the knees and continue inside the back of the legs to just below the elbows. The back legs are tan at the front and inside. The muzzle should be tan with black along the top of the muzzle and a black nose. There should be a spot of tan above each eye and on the cheeks. The throat, inside of the ears, and underside of the jaw and tail should be tan. They should have no white hairs on them at all.

Breed classification The English Toy Terrier is a member of the Toy group. They were originally used for ratting and hunting rabbits; today they are companions.

ORIGIN

The English Toy Terrier of today, was known as the Miniature Black & Tan Terrier up to the 1960's, and can be traced back to the black & tan terriers recorded in the 16th century. In England during the 1800's these terriers were very much in demand as ratters due to the increasing rat population brought about by the advancement of the industrial revolution. They were carried by gentlemen in their pockets on hunts and sent to ground as necessary to flush out foxes etc. Contests between terriers and betting on how long it would take the dogs to kill a number of rats became popular. As the terrier became ever more popular, and people wanted smaller dogs, a lot of interbreeding took place with the smallest of the litters being used for breeding. The offspring from these litters were very small and suffered from many health problems. As a result of their problems they declined in popularity and almost disappeared altogether. However, some breeders were dedicated to making the dog stronger and healthier. In the late 1870's they were seen in other colors such as, blue & tan, brindle & white etc. These colors probably came about due to crosses with the Italian Greyhound.