English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)

English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) Breed Standard

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A Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function. Absolute soundness is essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions or exaggerations which would be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed. From time to time certain conditions or exaggerations may be considered to have the potential to affect dogs in some breeds adversely, and judges and breeders are requested to refer to the Kennel Club website for details of any such current issues. If a feature or quality is desirable it should only be present in the right measure.

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General Appearance
Well balanced, elegant and compact, sleek and cleanly built.

Characteristics
Toy with Terrier characteristics.

Temperament
Alert, remembering that historically he could acquit himself satisfactorily in the rat pit. Never unduly nervous.

Head and Skull
Head long, narrow, flat skull, wedge-shaped without emphasis of cheek muscles, well filled up under eyes. Top and bottom jaws held tightly together within compressed lips. Slight stop. Foreface tapers gently to provide wedge-shaped impression, in profile similar to that seen when viewed from front. Although an illusion of being overshot can result, any suggestion of snipey appearance is undesirable. Nose black.

Eyes
Dark to black, without light shading from iris. Relatively small, almond shaped, obliquely set and sparkling, not prominent.

Ears
Candle-flame shape, slightly pointed tips, placed high upon back of skull and proportionately close together. A guide to size can be obtained by bending ear forward – it should not reach eye. From nine months of age ear carriage must be erect. Entire inside of ear should face front. Leather of ear thin.

Mouth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Teeth level and strong.

Neck
Long, graceful, slightly arched. Shoulders well laid back. Line of neck flowing into shoulders, and sloping off elegantly. Throatiness undesirable.

Forequarters
Legs falling straight from shoulders with elbows close to chest providing a straight front. Fine bone eminently desirable.

Body
Body compact, head and legs proportionate thus producing correct balance. Back very slightly curving from behind shoulder to loin, falling again to root of tail. Chest narrow and deep with ribs well sprung. Loins well cut up. Buttocks gently rounded.

Hindquarters
Well rounded loin leading to a good turn of stifle; hocks well let down; turning neither in nor out; a ‘tucked under’ appearance undesirable.

Feet
Dainty, compact; split up between toes; well arched, with jet black nails, two middle toes of front feet rather longer than others, hind feet cat-like. Hare feet undesirable.

Tail
Thick at root, tapering to point. Set low and not reaching below hock. ‘Gay’ tail undesirable if displayed to excess.

Gait/Movement
Ideal fore-movement akin to the ‘extended trot’; hackney action not desirable; equally a ‘shuffling gait’ undesirable. Hind action smooth with ease and precision combined with drive, there should be flowing quality to indicate true soundness.

Coat
Thick, close and glossy. A density of short hair required.

Colour
Black and Tan. The black ebony, the tan likened to a new chestnut deeply rich. Colours not running or blending into each other, but meeting abruptly, forming clear and well defined lines of colour division. Forelegs tanned to knees in front. The tan then continuing inside and at back of forelegs to point just below elbows, the thin black line up each toe (pencilling) and a clearly defined black mark (thumb mark) on centre of each pastern, and under chin. Hindlegs well tanned in front and inside with black bar dividing tan at centre of lower thigh. Heavy tan on outside of hindquarters (breeching) undesirable. Muzzle well tanned. Nose black, the black continuing along top of muzzle, curving below eyes to base of throat. A tan spot above each eye and a small tan spot on each cheek. Under-jaw and throat tanned, lip line black. Hair inside ears tan (tan behind ears undesirable). Each side of chest has some tan. Vent and under root of tail, tan. White hairs forming a patch anywhere totally undesirable.

Size
Ideal weight 2.7-3.6 kgs (6-8 lbs). Ideal height 25-30 cms (10-12 ins) at the shoulder.

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

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

Last Updated - October 2009