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Manchester Terrier

Thinking about purchasing an Manchester Terrier? Then read our breed profile including a brief description, information on height, weight, color, coat, temperament, grooming, activity and history. Purchasing a new puppy is a commitment that may last ten or more years so please educate yourself on the Manchester Terrier breed, including all stages of their life from puppy hood to older dog.

Ask yourself will I be a good owner? Do I have the time it takes to train a new puppy? Do I have the resources to give my new dog a rewarding life. Do I have a local veterinarian that I can take my new dog to? Do I have a groomer or can I do the grooming myself on a regular basis. Fundamental requirements for a being a good Manchester Terrier owner;

properly feed your new dog,
house them comfortably
train them in basic obedience.

Before making a purchase talk to the breeder, ask them many questions about their dogs and the breed in general. A good breeder will teach you about the Manchester Terrier and they will have many questions for you about your home and life style and if this breed is suited for you and your family.

Questions you may want to ask an Manchester Terrier Breeder:

When were your Manchester Terriers born? When will they be allowed to leave?
Have your puppies received their first shots? being wormed? had a puppy check up with your veterinarian?
What type of socialization have the puppies received? with children? with other pets? in the home?
Have you seen genetic problems in previous litters? What are your health guarantees?
Are there any health certifications on the sire or dam?
What is the temperament of the puppies, of the mother? shy? boisterous? aggressive? skittish?
If you become unable to care for your new Manchester Terrier, will the breeder help you find a new home?

It is recommended that you sign a contract with the breeder so that there will be no misunderstandings on the arrangements made. Then bring home your new Manchester Terrier and enjoy as "there is no greater love then a dog's devotion."

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Manchester Terrier Profile

The Manchester Terriers were registered as separate breeds until 1959 when they became a single breed with the Toy Manchester Terrier. Now they have two varieties, the Toy and the Standard. The Toy is an exact model replica of the Standard. This breed is thought to be a contributing progenitor to several other breeds. Both have cropped erect ears or naturally drop ears. They have hardly a stop at all on the face, and come in colors of black and tan. They have the usual Doberman markings. Manchester Terriers are a true terrier: inquisitive, alert and keen to investigate and look into everything. They have a long lifespan, a high activity level and a good watchdog bark. They are intelligent, one-person dogs. they can, however, be difficult to train and do not readily obey their owners. They cannot be trusted around small animals either, as they have a high prey drive. Despite this, Manchester Terriers are easy to care for, clean, alert and make excellent companions.

Other Names: Black and Tan Terrier, Gentleman's Terrier

Type: Terrier

Height for Standard Variety: 15 - 16 inches.
Weight for Standard Variety: 12 - 22 lbs.
Height for Toy Variety: 10 - 12 inches.
Weight for Toy Variety: 7 - 12 lbs.

Colors: Jet black and rich tan or mahogany. Much the same markings as the Doberman, the tan or mahogany markings generally appear on the muzzle, forelegs, on the chest, inside the ears and on the underside of the tail. They also sometimes have tan "eyebrows".
Coat: Close, smooth, sleek, short, and glossy.

Temperament: Manchester Terriers are intelligent, personable, and high-strung. They have a lot of energy, are alert and will use their bark to let their owners know what is going on. Manchester Terriers are affectionate with family, wary of strangers and adaptable. They can be possessive and also like to dig. They are not good with other small pets, as they will probably hunt them. They are good with children, although they are not as good with smaller children. Manchester Terriers are said to have a short temper. They should be trained and socialized to avoid such aggressive behaviors.
With Children: Yes, but may not tolerate the hectic activity of young children.
With Pets: May be overly aggressive to other animals; untrustworthy with small pets.
Special Skills: Ratter and family pet.

Watch-dog: Very High. Manchester Terriers are very alert and on the lookout for anything unusual.
Guard-dog: Medium.

Manchester Terrier Care and Training: Manchester Terriers are easy to care for as all they require is a daily brushing or a rub down to give their coat a shine. Bathe only when necessary. Manchester Terriers obtain their exercise in a small area, but do enjoy a good run. They should be socialized at a young age to prevent aggressive hostilities toward other animals. Apartments are fine for this breed as long as exercise is given.
Learning Rate: High. Obedience - Low. Problem Solving - Medium. Although intelligent, being a terrier, the Manchester has a mind of its own.

Activity: Very High. They are a very active breed; very energetic.
Special Needs: Socialization and training.
Living Environment: Apartment is okay if daily walks are given, or a house with a yard is good. They are adaptable, and this breed is good for the elderly with their alerting bark, easy maintenance, and preferable companionship to one person. The best owner for this breed would be an individual, active or sedentary, living in the country, suburbia or city environment.

Manchester Terrier Health Issues: Lens luxation, Secondary Glaucoma, skin problems and von Willebrand's disease (blood clotting disease).

Life Span: 13 - 15 + years.
Litter Size: 2 - 4 puppies.

Country of Origin: Great Britain
Manchester Terrier History: Manchester Terriers were originally known as the Black and Tan Terrier in the 16th century in England, and have been referred to as such even today. At one time they were called the "Gentleman's Terrier", since Manchester was a poor town in England, this breed's name was not very popular. Though, later they were officially named Manchester Terrier in 1923. They were used as a ratter and a companion dog back then, and were extremely efficient at their job. Putting a terrier in a box full of rats was a popular spectator sport in the 19th century, especially in Manchester of northern England. One record-making Manchester named "Billy" was set in a box with 100 rats in it, and given a time limit of 8 and 1/2 minutes. He killed all 100 rats in nearly 6 minutes! It took him only 3 and a half seconds to kill each rat. The Manchester Terrier may have been produced by crossing the Whippet, Italian Greyhound, Doberman, Dachshund, possibly King Charles Spaniel and other terriers such as the White English Terrier. The Toy version of the breed was produced by breeding the smallest of the Manchester Terriers. They are both identical except for size. During Queen Victoria's reign, the breed was miniaturized to the extent of receiving poor health and pathetic results. At this time it was not uncommon to see Manchesters of two and a half pounds, full grown! When problems of normalcy became apparent, people stopped breeding for smallness and the breed regained it's health. In 1889 ear cropping was outlawed, as well as pitting rats against dogs, and the breed's popularity declined. Because of ear cropping, breeders did not worry about the size of ear when breeding Manchester Terriers, thus making it quite difficult to get a Manchester of correct ear size and markings for show after the ear cropping ban. Today the breed is mostly known to accompany elderly ladies or be a family pet.

First Registered by the AKC: 1886
AKC Group: Terrier
Class: Terrier
Registries: AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI (Group 3), KC (GB), UKC

Manchester Terriers

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Wednesday, December 17, 2008