Toy Manchester Terrier vs English Toy Terrier comes down to registry rules: both are small black-and-tan ratters from the same root, filed differently by kennel clubs. The American Kennel Club treats the Toy Manchester Terrier as a variety of one breed, while The Royal Kennel Club lists the English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) as a separate Toy breed. The differences sit in weight caps, ear shape and disqualifications.
Is a Toy Manchester Terrier the same breed as an English Toy Terrier?
A Toy Manchester Terrier and an English Toy Terrier share an origin, but the major registries do not list them as one breed. The American Kennel Club (AKC) standard states, “The Toy variety is a diminutive version of the Standard variety,” so in the AKC system the Toy Manchester Terrier is one of two varieties of the Manchester Terrier. The Royal Kennel Club places the English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) in its Toy group, describing the breed as “Toy with Terrier characteristics.” The FCI lists the English Toy Terrier separately as FCI-Standard No. 13.
The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club, a UK breed club, frames the two as essentially the same dog for most purposes and states that “the Royal Kennel Club does register all imported Toy Manchester Terriers as ETT’s.” That claim comes from the breed club, not a published Royal Kennel Club policy, so check with the registry before an import. The AKC recognized the Manchester Terrier (Toy) in 1886 and the Standard in 1887.
How big is a Toy Manchester Terrier compared with an English Toy Terrier?
An English Toy Terrier is usually the smaller dog, with an ideal weight of 6 to 8 lb against a Toy Manchester Terrier cap of 12 lb. The Royal Kennel Club gives the English Toy Terrier an “Ideal weight 2.7-3.6 kgs (6-8 lbs)” and an “Ideal height 25-30 cms (10-12 ins) at the shoulder.” The FCI standard repeats the same ideal height of 25 to 30 cm and ideal weight of 2.7 to 3.6 kg.
The AKC rule for the Toy Manchester Terrier works differently. The AKC Toy variety “shall not exceed 12 pounds,” and the AKC Standard variety covers dogs over 12 pounds and not exceeding 22 pounds. The United Kennel Club (UKC) uses the same 12 lb and 22 lb split. The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) sets the Toy at “Weight not exceeding 5.5 kg (12 lb)”.
The Royal Kennel Club and FCI weights for the English Toy Terrier are ideal ranges, not hard caps, while the AKC 12 lb line for the Toy Manchester Terrier is a firm boundary.
Why do cropped or button ears disqualify a Toy Manchester Terrier?
Cropped or button ears disqualify a Toy Manchester Terrier because the AKC accepts only one ear for the Toy variety: the naturally erect ear. The AKC standard says, “The only correct ear for the Toy variety is the naturally erect ear,” and lists “Toy Variety – Cropped or button ears” among its disqualifications. The CKC Toy standard also disqualifies “Cropped or cut ears.”
The twist is that the same AKC breed allows those ears on the larger variety. For the Manchester Terrier Standard variety, the AKC says, “Correct ears for the Standard variety are the naturally erect ear, the cropped ear or the button ear.” The UKC Standard accepts the same three ear types. The AKC treats wide, flaring or bell ears as a serious fault in both varieties, while the UKC lists bell ears as a serious fault for the Toy.
The English Toy Terrier has its own ear description. The Royal Kennel Club calls for a “Candle-flame shape, slightly pointed tips,” set high on the skull, and adds that “From nine months of age ear carriage must be erect.” That line sets a show-ring expectation for adult dogs, not a promise that a puppy’s ears will stand. If an individual dog’s ear structure worries you, consult your veterinarian.
What happens when a Toy Manchester Terrier weighs more than 12 pounds?
Under AKC rules, a Toy Manchester Terrier over 12 pounds is excused from the class rather than disqualified. In the AKC standard, disqualification by weight applies only to the Standard variety, where a dog over 22 pounds is disqualified. The UKC is gentler still for larger dogs: a Standard over 22 lb is a serious fault, not a disqualification.
The CKC takes the strictest line of the three. A CKC Manchester Terrier Toy over 5.5 kg (12 lb) is disqualified. So a dog just over 12 lb could be excused at an AKC show and disqualified at a CKC show. These are show-ring rules only, not health verdicts. For a dog’s healthy body weight, consult your veterinarian rather than a breed standard.
Why can a UK Manchester Terrier have folded ears when an American Toy cannot?
A UK Manchester Terrier has folded ears because The Royal Kennel Club standard describes the correct ear as small, V-shaped and hanging, while the AKC Toy rule demands an erect ear. The Royal Kennel Club Manchester Terrier standard reads: “Small and V-shaped, carried well above top line of head and hanging close to head above eyes.” The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club puts it more simply: “Manchester Terrier ears are soft and fold forwards.”
That folded ear is the opposite of the AKC Toy requirement. However, a UK Manchester Terrier is not a toy-sized dog. The Royal Kennel Club gives an ideal height of 41 cm (16 in) for dogs and 38 cm (15 in) for bitches, which matches the AKC Standard variety, where button ears are correct.
How rare are English Toy Terriers and Manchester Terriers in the UK?
Both breeds are on The Royal Kennel Club Vulnerable native breeds list, with 52 English Toy Terrier and 74 Manchester Terrier registrations in 2025. The Royal Kennel Club defines a Vulnerable breed as one with “fewer than 300 registrations a year,” and an At Watch breed as one with between 300 and 450 registrations a year.
The Royal Kennel Club figures show a decline. English Toy Terrier registrations went from 78 in 2015 and 126 in 2018 to 66 in 2024 and 52 in 2025. Manchester Terrier registrations fell from 192 in 2015 to 110 in 2023, 89 in 2024 and 74 in 2025. Both totals sit far below the 300-registration line that defines a Vulnerable breed.
How do the Toy Manchester, English Toy and Manchester Terrier compare at a glance?
The table compares the AKC Toy Manchester Terrier with the Royal Kennel Club English Toy Terrier.
| Feature | Toy Manchester (AKC) | English Toy (RKC) |
|---|---|---|
| Registry status | Variety of one breed | Separate Toy breed |
| Size rule | Max 12 lb | Ideal 6-8 lb |
| Ears | Natural erect only | Erect candle-flame |
| Cropped ears | Disqualified | Not listed |
| UK registrations 2025 | Not applicable | 52 |
For comparison, The Royal Kennel Club Manchester Terrier is a separate Terrier breed with an ideal height of 15 to 16 in, small V-shaped folded ears and 74 UK registrations in 2025.
Colour rules unite all three. The AKC disqualifies “Any color other than black and tan” in both varieties, and white forming a patch or stripe of one half inch or more. The CKC sets the same limit at 1 cm (1/2 in). The Royal Kennel Club states that white hairs forming a patch anywhere are “unacceptable, unless caused by scarring” for the English Toy Terrier.
Frequently asked questions
Is the English Toy Terrier smaller than the Toy Manchester Terrier?
Usually, yes. The Royal Kennel Club gives the English Toy Terrier an ideal weight of 6 to 8 lb, while the AKC Toy Manchester Terrier may weigh up to 12 lb.
Do the two breeds have the same temperament?
The standards describe a similar terrier character. The AKC says, “The Manchester Terrier is neither aggressive nor shy.” The Royal Kennel Club describes the English Toy Terrier as “Alert, remembering that historically he could acquit himself satisfactorily in the rat pit. Never unduly nervous.” Individual dogs vary.
Can a Toy Manchester Terrier have button ears?
Not in the AKC show ring, where button ears disqualify the Toy variety, although the AKC accepts them on the Standard Manchester Terrier. The CKC Toy standard calls for naturally erect ears.
What colours are allowed?
Only black and tan. The AKC asks for jet black with rich mahogany tan, and The Royal Kennel Club calls for ebony black with tan “likened to a new chestnut deeply rich.”
Sources
- American Kennel Club, “Official Standard of the Manchester Terrier” (approved 2021-07-13, effective 2021-10-06) – https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/ManchesterTerrier.pdf
- American Kennel Club, “Breeds by Year Recognized” – https://www.akc.org/press-center/articles-resources/facts-and-stats/breeds-year-recognized/
- The Royal Kennel Club, “English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) breed standard” (updated 2025-08-01) – https://www.royalkennelclub.com/breed-standards/toy/english-toy-terrier-black-tan
- The Royal Kennel Club, “Manchester Terrier breed standard” (updated 2025-04-01) – https://www.royalkennelclub.com/breed-standards/terrier/manchester-terrier
- The Royal Kennel Club, “Vulnerable native breeds” (2025 figures) – https://www.royalkennelclub.com/vulnerablebreeds
- The Royal Kennel Club, “Vulnerable breeds 2024” (10-year statistics, 2015-2024) – https://www.royalkennelclub.com/media/bdlkyvd0/vulnerable-breeds-2024.pdf
- FCI, “FCI-Standard No. 13 English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)” – https://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/013g03-en.pdf
- Canadian Kennel Club, “Manchester Terrier Toy” breed standard (effective January 2004) – https://www.ckc.ca/CanadianKennelClub/media/Breed-Standards/Group%205/Manchester-Terrier-Toy.pdf
- United Kennel Club, “Manchester Terrier” breed standard (revised 2007-04-15) – https://www.ukcdogs.com/docs/breeds/manchester-terrier.pdf
- The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club, “Frequently Asked Questions” – https://english-toy-terrier-club.com/about-english-toy-terriers/frequently-asked-questions