The Manchester Terrier gets its name from the English city where it was developed. Manchesters are lively, bright, and athletic dogs with the ratting instinct of a terrier and the beautiful curves of a coursing hound. They have the sleek grace of a coursing hound and the fearless instincts of a rat terrier. These racy dogs are available in two sizes: standard (no more than 22 pounds) and toy (no more than 12 pounds). Despite differences in size, all Manchesters have a similar temperament, body type, and athletic ability. A tight coat of rich mahogany tan and jet black distinguishes them. The head is long and wedge-shaped, with tan patches above each eye indicating a wary look. Manchesters are fast and have good reach.
Manchester Terrier (Standard)
bright / spirited / keenly observant
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
15-16 inches
Weight
12-22 pounds
Life Expectancy
15-17 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a Manchester Terrier (Standard)
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
Manchester Terrier enthusiasts from all over the world are actively working together to create a genetic test for juvenile cardiomyopathy, a fatal condition that can affect the breed (and several others). If your Manchester ever needs surgery, inform your vet that the breed, like its Greyhound predecessors, should be given anesthetic with caution. The Manchester, like some tiny dogs, can suffer from 'loose knees,' also known as patellar luxation.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
- Thyroid Evaluation
- Von Willebrand's Disease DNA Test
- Cardiac Exam
Grooming
The Manchester is a low-maintenance, 'wash and wear' breed. A bath every now and again with a dog shampoo is all that is required to keep him looking stylish. Wiping him down weekly with a moist towel or hound glove can keep his coat looking healthy. Nail trimming should be done every couple of weeks to keep his joints in perfect alignment. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis to remove excess wax or debris that can lead to a painful ear infection. The Manchester will enjoy these grooming sessions as a bonding experience with the human he adores.
Exercise
The Manchester, who is active, quick, and athletic, will need a couple of excellent walks with his human every day to preserve his mental and physical health. He will like lounging on the sofa with his owner, but he will also appreciate going outdoors to chase a few tennis balls or jump about and play furiously.
Training
The Manchester is an extremely bright individual who prefers to reason his way through every circumstance. He enjoys pleasing his folks and is easily trainable through the use of positive, reward-based tactics. He does not respond well to severe corrections, so make your training sessions enjoyable and full of applause for work well done. The breed is an excellent choice for obedience, rally, agility, lure coursing, barn hunt, earthdog, tracking, flyball, scent work, and even freestyle dancing. They enjoy a good challenge! They should be highly socialized from the start.
Nutrition
The Manchester Terrier should thrive on high-quality dog food, whether purchased commercially or cooked at home with your veterinarian's supervision and consent. Any diet should be tailored to the age of the dog (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to becoming overweight, so keep an eye on your dog's calorie intake and weight level. Treats can be a valuable training aid, but feeding too much can lead to obesity. Discover which human foods are suitable for dogs and which are not. If you have any concerns regarding your dog's weight or diet, consult with your veterinarian. At all times, clean, fresh water should be available.
History
Long before it was famous for its soccer team, Manchester was a center of England’s thriving textile trade. Local mill employees’ favorite activities in the mid-1800s were rabbit hunting with small hounds and rat killing (releasing a terrier into a rat pit and wagering on the outcome). Breeders worked hard to create a dog that could succeed at both. They crossed a popular terrier known as the Black and Tan Terrier with Whippets, producing a distinct Manchester terrier.
The Standard Manchester and Toy Manchester were registered as different breeds until 1959, however, interbreeding was permitted. Since then, the two breeds have merged to become the Manchester Terrier, which comes in two sizes: toy and standard.