English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) facts for kids

English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)

English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)
Origin	England
Classification / standards FCI standard
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) is a small dog breed that belongs to the terrier family. These dogs are part of the toy dog group, which means they are quite small. They originally come from England.

What English Toy Terriers Look Like

The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) is a small and elegant dog.

Size and Weight

According to the Kennel Club in the UK, these dogs usually stand about 25–30 cm (10–12 in) tall. They typically weigh between 2.7–3.6 kg (6–8 lb). This makes them a very manageable size for many homes.

Color and Features

The only color allowed for this breed is black with clear tan markings. These tan spots can be found on their legs, chest, and face. They have eyes shaped like almonds and ears that are often described as looking like "candle flames." When they move, they have a special gait that looks like the fast, extended trot of a horse.

The History of English Toy Terriers

The English Toy Terrier (ETT) (Black & Tan) has a very interesting past. It developed from an older breed called the Old English Black and Tan Terrier. This breed is also closely related to the slightly larger Manchester Terrier.

From Rat Pits to Pet Homes

These dogs were once very fast and agile. Their story begins in the cities of Victorian England, where a sport called rat baiting was popular. In this sport, terriers were placed in a pit with rats, and people would bet on which dog could catch a certain number of rats the fastest. Smaller dogs were highly valued because they were quick and efficient.

One famous Black and Tan Terrier named Tiny the Wonder weighed only about 5+1⁄2 pounds (2.5 kg). In 1848, this amazing dog was recorded to have caught 200 rats in less than an hour!

An English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) puppy.

Becoming Show Dogs

When rat baiting became illegal, the focus for these dogs changed. Around the same time, the Kennel Club was formed. Because of their elegant looks, Black and Tan Terriers started to appear in dog shows. At the very first all-breeds dog show, many Black and Tan Terriers were entered, separated by their weight.

This weight division continued for a long time. In the 1920s, the two sizes were officially split into two different breeds: the larger Manchester Terrier and the smaller Black and Tan Terrier (Miniature). In 1962, the smaller breed was given its current name: the English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan).

Across the Ocean

Black and Tan Terriers were also sent to Canada and the United States. For a long time, these dogs in North America were mostly separate from those in Europe. In North America, the two sizes were also considered different breeds until 1958. At that time, because there were fewer Standard Manchester Terriers, the American Kennel Club decided to combine them. They became one breed with two varieties: Standard and Toy.

English Toy Terriers (Black & Tan) in 1894 with a Paisley Terrier, another popular toy dog from the Victorian era.

Helping the Breed Survive

The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) is currently on the Kennel Club (UK)'s list of vulnerable native breeds. This means there are not many of them left, and they need help to keep their numbers up.

Efforts to Increase Numbers

A lot of effort is being made to make the breed more popular and to create a healthy group of dogs for breeding. The Kennel Club (UK) has even made a special rule. They now allow North American Toy Manchester Terriers to be registered as English Toy Terriers (Black & Tan). This is allowed as long as they are certified to be the "Toy" size and not the larger "Standard" size.

Some owners in Great Britain are not happy about this decision. However, others believe it is a good way to help save the breed and make sure it continues to exist for future generations.

See also

In Spanish: Terrier inglés miniatura para niños