Small
15 Years
3.6 Kg
Toy Dogs
Alert, Intelligent, Playful, Stubborn
The English Toy Terrier (ETT) is a small terrier-type dog typically weighing 3.6kg and is classified under the Toy group by the Kennel Club. It is also known as the miniature Black and Tan Terrier and in the United States, it is called the Manchester Terrier. At first glance, the ETT seems to resemble a small Doberman Pinscher, but they are entirely different breeds. It was originally bred to hunt and kill rats from the 1760s up to the 1840s. This dog is often described as alert, always on the lookout for vermin. It has a long head (used to catch prey in burrows), long narrow flat skull and wedge-shaped with tightly held jaws and compressed lips typical of a rat-hunting breed. It has dark almond-shaped eyes, slightly pointed tip ears (“candle-flame”) set high on the head and facing forward made of thin leather. The head is supported by a long neck, finely boned forequarters, a compact body and well-balanced hindquarters. The tail of the is thick at the root and tapers to a point, set low but not reaching below the hock. The coat is thick, close and shiny and comes in black and tan colour, with the tan markings being on the legs, chest, and face The ideal weight of an English Toy Terrier is 2.7 – 3.6kgs while the ideal height is between 25 – 30cms at withers.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The English Toy Terrier has its origins traced back to the Industrial Revolution when rat-infested towns were a common sight in England. These black ratting terriers were also found on farms and sailing ships during those periods. During those times, these dogs were often pitted against each other in specially made “rat pits” in the taverns to see which dog can kill the most numbers of rats in the shortest time possible. The smaller the dog, the better and more favoured it is. The winners were recorded during those times, and one dog, named “Billy” was said to have killed 100 rats in only 5.5 minutes. In 1848, a black and tan terrier named “Tiny” (who only weighs 2.5kg) was recorded to have dispatched 300 rats in less than one hour. When this “gambling” sport was made illegal, the popularity of these dogs continued albeit in a different arena – the dog show arena, that is. During the first ever all-breeds dog show, Black and Tan Terriers were displayed according to their weight until the 1920s, when the breed was divided into two, namely the Manchester Terrier and the smaller Miniature Black and Tan Terrier. In 1962 the named English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) was adopted. Today, the English Toy Terrier is on the Kennel Club’s list of vulnerable native breeds because of low yearly registration numbers. A program is currently being undertaken to bring back the breed to a healthy population by allowing the North American Toy Manchester Terrier to be re-registered in the UK as English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan).
Most English Toy Terriers are affectionate, alert, cheerful, friendly, gentle, intelligent, outgoing, and social. This dog will alert its owner if a stranger is nearby which makes it a good watchdog. Although it is an alert canine, it is not known to bark unnecessarily unlike other breeds. It is also generally a non-aggressive dog. This breed is not prone to chewing, unlike any other adult canines. However, as a puppy, it may have a tendency to chew on objects particularly when it is teething, so make sure it as enough teething toys to chew on.
The English Toy Terrier is an intelligent breed and generally responds to training well. However, like most other breeds, different dogs have different level of intelligence and temperament. Some ETTs are fairly easy to train while others may have a bit of stubbornness in their attitude. Training should be firm, consistent but gentle as it can be quite independent but it is naturally inquisitive. Socialisation with other house pets and other children should start at an early age.
Grooming requirement is on the lighter side of the scale. The short dense coat requires minimum attention and is quite easy to groom using a grooming mitt and a polishing cloth. The English Toy Terrier is a low-maintenance, clean little dog, so an occasional bath using a mild dog shampoo is all that is necessary. The forward-facing ears should be inspected and cleaned of any foreign debris or wax when necessary.
The English Toy Terrier is generally a very healthy breed with an average lifespan of 12 – 13 years. It is prone to a disease known as the von Willebrands disease, a hereditary blood-clotting disorder. It is recommended to submit the puppy for DNA tests to make sure that it does not carry the genes that cause this genetic disorder or ask the breeder about the medical history of the parents before buying one. It is also prone to patellar luxation (dislocated kneecap), deafness, demodectic mange (demodicosis) caused by mites, Legg-Calve-Perthes syndrome (LCPS) which affects the hip, heat stress and certain eye diseases.
Exercise is on the minimal side. Daily walks are recommended for the English Toy Terrier. It is a very charming and adaptable breed. It is typically inactive indoors and will do perfectly well even in a small apartment setting in the city but it will do best in a home with a secured yard where it can run and play on a daily basis. The English Toy Terrier is an undemanding breed when it comes to feeding. It has no special dietary requirements and it generally has a very good appetite so make sure to give the dog its daily dose of exercise to prevent obesity.
It is generally good with children, especially those who knows how to handle a small breed properly. However, it may not be a suitable playmate with younger kids, particularly toddlers as this breed will not tolerate rough handling or treatment. Make sure to teach small children how to properly treat the dog or supervise them when they are with each other to avoid any unnecessary behaviour. Its natural prey drive towards rats means that it must be supervised when it is around other smaller animals particularly those that closely resembles the rat, including mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc.
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