The official name for an English Toy Terrier is “English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)” often shortened, in writing and in conversation, to ‘English Toy Terrier’ or just ‘ETT’. The ‘Black & Tan’ in the official name may be appended in brackets but it serves as an important marker to differentiate the breed from other types of terriers of English origin that are also classified in the Toy group by the Royal Kennel Club.
One of the smaller terrier breeds, standing at around 10-12″ at shoulder, with candle-flame shaped ears and smooth, black and tan coats marked with distinctive tan coloured spots above their eyes and on their cheeks, along with tan chests and essential black thumbprints on their tan forelegs. English Toy Terriers are intelligent, active and loyal little dogs – small in size but big in personality.
Originally bred as working dogs to catch and kill small vermin, English Toy Terriers are cousins to the larger Manchester Terrier and known in the USA and Canada as ‘Toy Manchester Terriers’.
Whilst English Toy Terriers make brilliant companion dogs, they are now considered a vulnerable native breed by the Royal Kennel Club, with an average of only 100 dogs registered with the Kennel Club each year. An old breed, a rare breed, and a breed we are proud to promote and protect.
Find out more about English Toy Terriers in our comprehensive guides: