Page 90 - K9News_Issue16_May2021
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Late 20th Century
In the late 20th century as the world seemed to
grow smaller, there was an uptake in ETTs being
exported, particularly to Finland (late 1980s,
early 1990s). In the 1960s a Toy Manchester
Terrier, (Eaglespur) Bummet Brook Lauder Ol’
Angus was imported into Britain from the USA,
but he was not well received by British breeders,
virtually unused, and sired only a handful of
litters. Although he does appear back in some
British bloodlines pedigrees.
There was nothing new in some of the British
Stuffy breeders exporting specimens to Europe etc,
but no one sent stock to America for many
When I used to give lectures on the breed, as decades, as at that time the Toy Manchester
well as bringing along live specimens, I also Terrier was held to be a different breed from the
took Stuffy. Stuffy was, as her name implies, a ETT. In 1991 I found myself breaking ranks with
taxidermy ETT dated the beginning of the 20th British breeders, resulting in much controversy,
century. Diminutive in size, and a better head when I exported an ETT to the Velvet Firefly’s
than the two I shall comment on below, and from kennel in the USA where he made a significant
the photographs you can see how through half a impact as a sire, winning his own title and siring
century the head was developed and refined. 11 champions.
Stuffy gives a fascinating insight to how small Eventually some British breeders came to
the breed became, almost driving it to extinction. terms with it and looked into the merits of
A common practice by taxidermists was to stitch bringing imports into Britain to open the rapidly
together deceased puppy skins to create an decreasing gene pool here. The first came in
alleged ‘tiny’ specimen and pass it off as having 1995 from Australia and then in the 2000s from
been a living example. the USA.
There are just two examples extant (plus, of The ETT, originally a gentleman’s dog, as
course, Stuffy), of small genuine ETTs, which is evidenced by the rat pit photographs (no
makes them of great value both as an historical women are present) has never achieved
and commercially valuable asset. These are tremendous popularity, but a core of dedicated
in the museum at Tring, Hertfordshire. I have enthusiasts, now both men and women, have
visited and seen them on display and discussed over the decades ensured the continuance of
them with the curator. They are definitely the breed with a number of notable specimens
authentic and correct. As indeed is Stuffy. distinguishing themselves in the ring, the
The Breed Club whelping box and/or as stud dogs.
Vulnerable Breed Watch List
In 1938 a dedicated band of breed enthusiasts
gathered at the Crufts breed benches and Breeders, aware of the ETT being currently
formed the Breed Club, with the name Miniature Kennel Club listed as a vulnerable breed due to
Black & Tan Terrier. On April 1st 1960, the their comparatively low number of registrations,
breed and the Club were renamed the English in the main, continue to share their good stock
Toy Terrier (Black & Tan). with each other for further enrichment of the
breed as a whole.
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MAY 2021
