THE ENGLISH TOY TERRIER (BLACK & TAN) CLUB

English Toy Terriers can be very good with children if they are well-socialised with children, and the children must be well socialised in terms of their behaviour around small dogs. find out more about English Toy Terriers.

English Toy Terriers thrive with human company and should not be left alone for long-periods of time on their own. This means that they need to be integrated into your everyday life, and you will need to make time to walk them daily and interact with them throughout the day. Not doing so can lead to undesirable behavioural issues. See our guide to “Is an ETT right for you?“

English Toy Terriers are not specifically a barky breed, although many will bark as an alert call if alarmed e.g. when someone approaches the front door. Excessive barking in almost all dogs is usually rooted in a behavioural issue. Identifying the trigger for barking and doing some appropriate conditioning training with your dog can reduce their barking. Find out more about the principles behind conditioning training.

English Toy Terriers are affectionate and loyal dogs who thrive with human company and should not be left alone for long periods of time. As social animals they can become bored and develop anxiety or depression if left alone for extended periods, and this can lead to undesirable behavioural problems such as chewing, wetting, or continual barking. See our page on Exercise and Enrichment for more information on ensuring your dog’s physical and psychological needs are met.

For most intents and purposes, the English Toy Terrier and the Toy Manchester Terrier are the same breed of dog with the main difference being the name. The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) is the official name of the breed in most countries around the world, but Cananda and the USA call the breed ‘Toy Manchester Terriers’. There has been some genetic divergence which results in a size difference with Toy Manchester weighing up to 12lbs compared to the smaller English Toy Terrier at around 6-8lb. Ear shape and the topline (outline of the back) can vary slightly too. However, as the differences are very small the Royal Kennel Club does register all imported Toy Manchester Terriers as ETT’s.  Find out more about how English Toy Terriers came to be named in the history of English Toy Terriers.

English Toy Terriers and Manchester Terriers share common ancestry, both descending from old English Black and Tan Terriers, and there are several differences, but the most obvious one is size. Manchester Terriers are larger and heavier, standing at up 16” at shoulder whereas English Toy Terriers stand usually at around 10-12” at shoulder and are compact and sleek. English Toy Terriers also have distinctive candle-flame shaped ears whereas Manchester Terrier ears are soft and fold forwards. The ETT is classified by the Royal Kennel Club in the Toy Group and Manchester Terriers in the Terrier group. Find out more about the history of how the English Toy Terrier and the Manchester Terrier came to be in our History of Breed.

A healthy English toy Terrier has an average life expectancy of around 12-15 years, although many live longer with appropriate care through their lives.

Although English Toy Terriers are small dogs, they need a daily of walk of at least 30 minutes but with their working terrier ancestry, they have great stamina and resilience, so lengthy walks in all terrains and weather conditions are no problem for an English Toy Terrier.  More information about the physical exercise and psychological exercise that an English Toy Terrier needs in Exercise and Enrichment.

Yes, English Toy Terriers do shed, but they are considered a low-shedding breed. Their coat is short, fine, and smooth, which means they don’t shed as heavily as some other breeds. However, they still lose some hair, especially during seasonal changes (often during the winter months), when shedding can be more noticeable.

To keep shedding under control, regular grooming is recommended. A gentle brushing once a week can help remove loose hairs and keep their coat healthy. See our guide to Coat Care & Bathing.

English Toy Terriers should be fed a good quality, complete and balanced dog food. Adult ETTs require two meals each day. Types of food include dry foods including air-dried, freeze-dried and kibble, wet food supplied in tins, pouches or trays and raw food. Whichever you choose, make sure you choose the best quality food possible as a good diet is the foundation for good health in your English Toy Terrier. See our guide to Food and Nutrition.

Yes, English Toy Terriers must have their teeth brushed at least twice a week. Dental and periodontal (gum) diseases are the most reported health issues in English Toy Terriers, so a good oral hygiene routine is critical. Brushing an English Toy Terrier’s teeth regularly is an essential part of this routine. Use a soft toothbrush – a child size brush or a special finger brush for dogs – and a specially formulated canine toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste as fluoride is toxic for dogs. We cover training your dog to feel comfortable having their teeth brushed and how to brush your dog’s teeth on our Dental Care page.

English Toy Terriers do not need to be bathed often – their short-coats are relatively easy to keep clean by wiping the dog over with a damp cloth or wet wipes as required. Bathing too frequently can strip their skin and coat of natural oils. If you do need to bathe your English Toy Terrier, use a gentle shampoo formulated for dogs. Find out more on Coat are & Bathing.

English Toy Terriers shed their coats very lightly throughout the year, however some will go quite thin coated in the winter months around the neck and chest areas. This is nothing to be alarmed about. However, if your dog has noticeable and distinct thin or bald patches then it might be a sign of a skin problem or other underlying health issue, and you should seek advice from your vet. Please also see our pages on Coat Care, parasite prevention, and Demodectic Mange.

As with all dogs, healthy adult English Toy Terriers should visit their vet at least once a year for a full check-up with a veterinary professional even if they show no outward signs of poor health. If you have a new puppy, you should take your puppy to the vet as soon as possible to register the puppy, for socialisation and to have an initial health check. We also recommend that ETT owners carry out a regular home health check.

Training can start at any age and should always be fun and based in positive reinforcement. Puppies develop many of their habits and behaviours at a very early age and the earlier you start the better. See our page on Training for more info on different types of training.

English Toy Terriers must have their nails trimmed regularly to prevent discomfort, pain and potential musculoskeletal problems. The characteristic walk of an ETT means that they do not grind the nails down when they walk on hard surfaces. Nails are usually trimmed weekly, and never less than fortnightly. Nails can be trimmed with clippers or filed down with a Dremel. See our guide to Nail Trimming.

Common signs that an English toy Terrier may have a health issue include physical changes and behavioural changes. We recommend that you home health check your dog regularly – this is a physical examination that you carry out at home regularly and knowing what’s normal for your dog can help you spot any changes as they happen. Behavioural changes that may indicate illness include vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, scratching, lethargy, loss of appetite, a reluctance to run, aggression, hiding away. If ever in doubt, consult your vet.

Flea and tick prevention is easily dealt with in a parasite prevention regime. There are a wide range of flea and tick treatments available including preventatives such as spot-on treatments, tablets, and medicated collars. Keep your dog’s environment clean by washing their beds and blankets regularly, and examine your dog regularly, going over their coat and skin to look for signs of parasites. See our guide to Parasite Prevention.

English Toy Terriers are very intelligent, quick to learn, and respond well to positive reinforcement training techniques. Never use harsh or punitive training methods on an English Toy Terrier – they can be sensitive and harsh training methods can cause anxiety, stress and fear which can lead to behavioural issues. Find out more about Training an English Toy Terrier.

English Toy Terriers are not a particularly difficult breed to house-train if the owner puts consistent effort into the effort the training. Accidents are unavoidable with young puppies, and you should never shot at your dog or express anger or frustration if they have an accident inside as it can cause behavioural problems such as hiding from you to toilet indoors. Find out more and watch a video in our house-training section. An effective approach is basically to try to avoid your puppy ever toileting indoors.

1. Take your puppy outside every time after they:
   • Wake up
   • Eat
   • Drink
   • Have a play session
   • Anything exciting happens (e.g. a visitor arrives at your house)
   • Something scares them
   • And an hour after their last pee/poop if none of the above have happened
2. When they toilet outside, introduce cue words e.g. “pee pee” and “poopy” and give them positive verbal praise. Don’t give them treats – it can lead to some dogs toileting indoors in the hope they’ll get a treat.
3. When they have learned an association with the cue words, when you take them out, use the cue words to encourage them to toilet.

For more detailed information see our section on house-training an English Toy Terrier.

Well socialised English Toy Terriers who are having their physical and psychological needs met are rarely destructive. Young puppies may go through a chewing phase as they learnt to explore the world, but that phase usually passes quickly. More info on our Exercise and Enrichment page. If your ETT is destructive you may need to seek help from a professional canine behaviourist.

As with any dog, appropriate socialisation is crucial for the well-being of an English Toy Terrier. ETTs need to be introduced to new sights, sounds, smells, people, dogs, situations and environments as early in their lives as possible in a controlled and appropriate way. See our Training page for more information on socialising an English Toy Terrier.

English Toy Terriers are considered relatively rare compared to many other dog breeds, they are classed as a vulnerable native breed in the UK by the Royal Kennel Club. On average there are around 100 puppies registered with the Riyal Kennel Club every year; this makes acquiring an English Toy Terrier puppy slightly more challenging. Please see our information on Finding an ETT.

The price of an English Toy Terrier can vary depending on factors such as the breeder’s reputation, the dog’s pedigree, location, age, and whether the dog has had vaccinations. On average, an English Toy Terrier typically costs anywhere between £1,500 to £2,500. We have advice on Finding an ETT, and a listing of breeders who are Club members in our Breeder Directory.