English Toy Terrier
A tiny, elegant black-and-tan terrier with upright ears that is alert, affectionate and much hardier than it looks.
At a glance
- Size
- Toy
- Height at the withers
- 25–30 cm
- Weight
- 2.7–3.6 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 30–60 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Black and tan
- Bred for
- Companionship, Terrier work
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 3, no. 13 · Terriers
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 5/5 – Very high |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 1/5 – Very low |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- live in a flat or small home
- want a small but lively companion
- spend much of your time at home
Think twice if you …
- have very young children
- live somewhere very cold and don't want to use a coat
- dislike barking
Care
Temperament
Alert, intelligent and affectionate, often attaching closely to one person. Reserved with strangers and quick to bark at sounds.
Exercise
Short daily walks and play indoors are enough, though it enjoys longer outings and games such as scent work.
Grooming
The fine, glossy coat needs only a weekly wipe or brush and sheds lightly.
Training
Quick to learn with positive methods; patience is needed with house training, as with many small breeds.
Health
Patellar luxation, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and some eye conditions are seen in the breed. Ask the breeder for knee, eye and heart results on both parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Eye examination
- Kneecaps (patella)
- Heart
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The English Toy Terrier descends from the black-and-tan terriers kept in nineteenth-century English towns, where small, quick dogs were prized for catching rats. Selection for a smaller size created a toy version of the Manchester Terrier, which later became its own breed.
Today it is a devoted companion that suits small homes and enjoys being close to its owner. It is lively, curious and still has the reflexes of a ratter. Its fine coat and small size make it sensitive to cold, and it does best with gentle handling and a family that includes it in daily life.
Did you know?
The UK Kennel Club lists the English Toy Terrier as a vulnerable native breed because so few puppies are registered each year.