The English Toy Terrier's are known for their lively and good-natured temperaments. However, they love to be kept busy with lots of tasks and without this can quickly become bored. This can also occur if they are left by themselves for too long, as they are prone to developing separation anxiety, which is mainly due to their love of 'hoomans'. However they are a fantastic choice for a family pet where they can be involved in lots of daily activities. They are relatively easy to train, but this must happen as soon as possible as they can often be quite loud. Additionally, they need plenty of socialization, in order to develop into happy and well-rounded doggies.

These little guys have been around for hundreds of years, although before 1960, they were known by different names; The Miniature Black and Tan Terriers! Records of these dogs date back to the 15th century although it wasn't until the 1800s that they became popular, due to the fact they were fantastic ratters. Rats were a big issue during this time and the only real thing that could keep them from breeding was the Toy Terrier! As a result, competitions were started between Terrier owners, to see who's dog could kill the most rats! Over time, 'hoomans' decided they wanted smaller dogs, which led to many being interbred. Unfortunately, this led to a lot of puppies suffering from various hereditary and congenital illnesses, as a result, the numbers of this breed dropped dramatically. A few breed enthusiasts managed to bring these doggies back from the brink of extinction, creating puppies that were a lot stronger and healthier than ever before. Nowadays, they are still a relatively rare breed, with only a couple of puppies being register each year. So anyone wanting a puppy will most likely be put onto a waiting list.