| ABOUT ENGLISH TOY TERRIERS |
| Appearance |
According to the Kennel Club (UK) - the English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) (ETT) should be 25–30 cm (10–12 in) in height and 2.7–3.6 kg (6–8 lb) in weight. The only permitted colour 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. The ETT has beautiful, almond-shaped eyes and breed hallmark 'candle-flame' ears. English Toy Terriers are lovable, friendly, intelligent and although some dogs do love to bark - they make a faithful and loyal companion. They enjoy exercise like all dogs but they also like plenty of cuddles. With their small size & short, easy care, glossy and low shedding coat, they make a fabulous family pet and are quite suited to living in the home with their 'people'. So - if you are looking for a dog that is a little bit different, quite rare, very historic & fascinating yet hassle free pet - why not consider an English Toy Terrier?
| History |
The origin of the English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) - to give it its correct Kennel Club (UK) registered name. 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 the rat pit, 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 5 1⁄2 pounds (2.5 kg) 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 (UK). 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. Black and Tan Terriers of all sizes were exported to Canada and the USA, founding a population which was largely isolated from the European one until very recently. In North America the two sizes were also split into two breeds until 1958 when declining numbers of the Standard Manchester Terrier prompted the American Kennel Club to re-defined them as a single breed with two varieties; Standard and Toy.
| Vulnerable Native breed |
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 now 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 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.
