English Toy Terrier
(Black And Tan)
Toy

Group:

Toy

Size:

small

Lifespan:

14-16 years

Exercise:

very little

Grooming:

very little

Trainability:

very easy

Watchdog ability:

very high

Protection ability:

very low

Area of Origin:

England

Date of Origin:

about 1860

Other Names:

Manchester Toy Terrier, Black / Tan Toy Terrier

Original Function:

hunting small rodents

History

The English toy terrier nickname is the "rat terrier" since it was developed as a rat hunter in nineteenth century Manchester, England by a man named John Hulme. The English Toy Terrier was considered to be the best vermin hunting breed of the day. An English Toy Terrier named Billy supposedly killed 100 rats in only 6 minutes, 13 seconds in a British contest! Though he looks like a Miniature Doberman, the breeds are not related. The English Toy Terrier was the result of crosses between the Black & Tan Terrier and the Whippet. Selective breeding produced the toy size. The English Toy Terrier became popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, when miniaturization was the rage. Some tiny Victorian-age dogs weighed only 1Kg. Today, the Manchester is primarily a companion.

Temperament

The English Toy Terrier loves human companionship and attaches itself deeply to its family. English Toy Terriers are highly intelligent and cunning and are easy to train. Excelling at obedience trials and agility, the English Toy Terrier should not be left unattended with small animals and should be introduced to children as a puppy. English Toy Terriers can be snappish and headstrong and require firm training and early socialisation.

Upkeep

This is not an outdoor breed. It enjoys a romp outdoors, but it hates the cold. Indoors, it appreciates a soft, warm bed. Coat care is minimal, consisting of occasional brushing to remove dead hair.

Official Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A well balanced, elegant and compact Toy with Terrier temperament and characteristics. It must be borne in mind that in the past the breed was required frequently to be able to acquit itself satisfactorily in the rat pit. Therefore present day specimens should be sleek and cleanly built giving an appearance of alertness combined with speed of movement but not of whippet type.

In realization of the fact that this is a Toy Dog with Terrier characteristics unduly nervous specimens cannot rank as wholly typical representatives of the breed. Judges when officiating should bear this in mind.

Head and Skull:
The head should be long and narrow with a flat skull, wedge-shaped without emphasis of cheek muscles and well filled up under the eyes . The top and bottom jaws should be held tightly together within compressed lips. Upon close inspection of the foreface one finds indications of a slight "stop". The foreface then tapers gently to provide a wedge-shaped impression in profile similarly corresponding to that given when it is viewed direct. Although an illusion of being "overshot" can result, any suggestion of a snipy appearance is undesirable. Nose - Black.

Eyes:
These should be very dark to black without light shading from the iris. They should be small, almond shaped, obliquely set and sparkling.

N.B.: Light, large and round, protruding or disproportionately wide or narrow set eyes should be regarded as faults.

Ears:
These should be of "candle-flame" shape, slightly pointed at the tips, placed high upon the back of the skull and proportionately close together. A guide to the size can be obtained by bending the ear forward. It should not reach the eye. From nine months of age the ear carriage must be erect. The entire inside of the ear should face the front. The leather of the ear should be thin. A cat ear appearance is wrong.

N.B.: Large or "lapping" ears should be regarded as faults.

Mouth:
Teeth should be level and strong. The upper front teeth should close slightly over the lower front teeth, the latter to lean forward fractionally thus establishing the correct level bite.

Neck:
The neck should be long, graceful and slightly arched. The shoulders should be well laid back not straight. The pattern of the neck line flowing into the shoulders, and sloping off elegantly. Throatiness is undesirable.

Forequarters:
The chest narrow and deep. Legs falling straight from the shoulders, with the elbows close to the chest providing a straight front. Loose elbows and wide fronts are faults. Fine bone is eminently desirable. The ideal fore-movement is that akin to the "extended trot", hackney action is not desirable; equally to be discouraged is a "shuffling" gait.

Body:
The body is compact, head and legs proportionate thus producing correct balance. The back very slightly curving from behind the shoulder to the loin falling again to the root of the tail. The chest should be narrow and deep with the ribs well sprung to a well cut up loin. The buttocks should be gently rounded.

Faults:
A roached, dipped or dead flat back, hindquarters higher than the shoulders.

Hindquarters:
A well-rounded loin leading to a good turn of stifle is required, hocks well let down, a "tucked under" appearance is undesirable. Hind-action should be smooth and suggest ease and precision combined with drive. There should be a "flowing quality" to give true soundness.

Feet:
Dainty compact, split up between the toes, and well arched, with jet black nails; the two middle toes of the front feet rather longer than the others and the hind feet shaped like those of a cat. Hare feet are not desirable, and should be regarded as a fault.

Tail:
The tail should be thick at the root, tapering to a point. Set low and not reaching below the hock. A "gay" tail carriage is undesirable if displayed to excess.

Coat:
The texture should be thick, close, smooth and of glossy appearance. A density of short hair is required.

N.B.: Sparse, weak coats should be regarded as faults.

Colour:
Black and Tan. The black should be ebony and the tan can be likened to a new chestnut, deeply rich. These colours should not run or blend into each other, but should meet abruptly, forming clear and well defined lines of colour division. Forelegs tanned to the knee in front. The tan then continuing inside and at the back of the foreleg to a point just below the elbow. A thin black line up each toe (Pencilling) and a clearly defined black mark, "thumb mark", on the centre of each pastern and under the chin. The hind legs should be well tanned in front and on the inside, with a black "bar" dividing the tan at the centre of the lower thigh. Each toe "pencilled". Heavy tan on the outside of the hindquarters, "breeching", is a fault. On the head the muzzle is well tanned, nose black, the black continuing along the top of the muzzle, curving below the eyes to the base of the throat. A tan spot above each eye and a small tan spot on each cheek. The under jaw and throat are tanned, the lip line black. The hair inside the ears tanned (tan behind the ears a fault). Each side of the chest is slightly tanned. The vent and under root of the tail tanned. White hairs forming a patch anywhere are a serious fault.

Weight and Size:
The ideal weight is between that of 2.7 to 3.6 kg. (6-8 lbs) and a height of 25.5 - 30 cms. (10 -12 inches) at the shoulders is most desirable.

Judges are encouraged to use scales, as it is hoped this will help to establish uniformity.

Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.