English Toy Terriers can be the most amazing companion dogs, but they must be right for you, and you must be right for them.
If you’re researching the breed and thinking about bringing an English Toy Terrier into your life, definitely meet some English Toy Terriers and speak to existing ETT owners to find out what it’s really like to live with these little dogs. Here are some things to think about when deciding whether an English Toy Terrier is right for you:
- Lifelong commitment
- Affordability
- Your lifestyle
- Your home set-up
- Puppies are hard work
- Daily exercise – physical and mental
- Weekly grooming time
1. Lifelong commitment
A dog is for life and their life is literally in your hands. English Toy Terriers can live to around 15 years of age, some even longer. Puppies are cute as a button, adult dogs are a joy, elderly dogs are precious and require much greater time and care. Are you sure that sure you can commit to care for the dog for a lifetime?
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2. Affordability – an average of £2,000 a year for the next 15 years?
In 2023, Battersea Dogs Home calculated the average cost of keeping a dog to be around £2,000 per year. So that would be in the region of £24,000 – £30,000 for an English Toy Terrier.
Food, bowls, treats, bedding, collars, leads, coats, toys, poop bags, vaccinations, parasite prevention treatments, ongoing vaccination costs, an annual health check with the vet, pet insurance, vet fees not covered by insurance, day care, dog walkers, holiday care … it all adds up.
A note on pet insurance: while pet insurance for puppies is relatively inexpensive at around £30 per month, insurance for a dog over the age of eight can be several hundred pounds each month. Some owners choose not to buy insurance when the premiums hit these levels but bear in mind that an overnight stay at an emergency vet can cost £400 – £800 per night before any specialist care or treatment has been factored in: £4,000 for a five-night stay at a vet hospital before any treatment has been added on. All of this needs to be considered.
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3. Your lifestyle
Are you (or other members of your household) able to spend large parts of the day with your English Toy Terrier? That means you might work from home, be able to take your dog to work with you, or you don’t work at all and spend a lot of time at home, or the social activities you enjoy can easily accommodate taking your dog along with you.
If you’re not able to spend this time with your dog, do you have the support and resources to arrange for them to have company e.g. going to doggy daycare, hiring a dog walker, or family members who can help? English Toy Terriers are intelligent and lively, affectionate and loyal and thrive with human company. They do not do well if left alone for long periods of time and if they are, can develop behavioural issues.
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4. Your home Set-up
Can you “ETT proof” your home? Do you have a staircase with stair spindles that an ETT could fall through – if so, you will need to think about stopping your dog from going up the stairs. Have you assessed what furniture might pose a risk to an English Toy Terrier who can jump surprisingly high and might not remember that they can’t fly? Is your garden fully secure? English Terriers can fit through tiny gaps so you will need to check for gaps and take remedial action.
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5. Puppies are hard work and require time and effort
Do you have the time to settle your puppy when they come home to you (e.g. taking a couple of weeks off work if you work), and to house-train, socialise and train your puppy in the crucial first year that they are with you? Have you thought through the logistics of bringing a puppy into your home – do you have space for a puppy pen to keep them safely confined and out of harm’s way if you need to leave them unsupervised even for a short time? Have you considered how you’re going to cope with the toileting accidents that are bound to happen with a puppy, especially if your home is carpeted? Puppies are quite disruptive – do you think you can cope with the chaos?
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6. Daily Exercise – Physical and Mental
Whilst English Toy Terriers need a minimum of a 30 minute walk each day, they appreciate longer and are more than happy to keep you company on a big hike. Daily walks are essential not just for physical exercise, but also for psychological exercise to ensure the ongoing well-being of your dog. English Toy Terriers also need psychological stimulation in the home (canine enrichment). Do you have quality time to devote to the physical and psychological exercise (enrichment) that an ETT needs to live a content and happy life?
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7. Weekly Grooming Time
With their short coats and minimal shedding, English Toy Terriers are relatively low maintenance dogs, but they do need to have their teeth brushed at least twice a week, and their nails trimmed each week. We also recommend that owners do a regular home health check. Do you have the time to groom you dog every week?