The Manchester Terrier is named after the English city where it was first bred. Sleek, racy dogs who possess a terrier’s ratting instinct and the graceful contours of coursing hounds, Manchesters are spirited, bright, and athletic. They combine the streamlined grace of a coursing hound and the instincts of a fearless rat terrier. These racy dogs come in two size varieties: Toy (not exceeding 12 pounds) and
The Manchester requires a high-quality dog food appropriate to his age to maintain good weight and overall health. Some Manchesters are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. If you choose to give your dog treats, do so in moderation. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Give table scraps sparingly, if at all, especially avoiding cooked bones and foods with high fat content. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.
The Manchester is a very easily maintained “wash and wear” kind of dog. An occasional bath with a shampoo formulated for dogs is all that is necessary to keep him looking quite dapper. Wiping him down weekly with a damp towel or a hound glove will give the coat a healthy shine. Toenail trimming should be done every couple of weeks to maintain the proper alignment of his joints. Ears should be cleaned regularly to keep them free of excess wax or debris that can cause a painful ear infection. The Manchester will look forward to these grooming times as a bonding experience with the human whom he loves.
Active, swift, and athletic, the Manchester will require a couple of good walks with his human every day to maintain his mental and physical health. He can enjoy relaxing on the sofa with his owner but will be equally eager to go outside and chase a few tennis balls or run around and play vigorously.
Major concerns: none
Minor concerns: lens luxation, Legg Perthes, vWD
Occasionally seen: epilepsy
Suggested tests: eye, DNA for vWD
Life span: 14-16 years
Long before Manchester was famous for a soccer team, it was a center of England’s booming textile trade. Local mill workers of the mid-1800s had two favorite sports: hunting rabbits with small hounds and the revolting pastime of rat killing (turning a terrier loose in a rat pit and betting on the results). Breeders worked toward a two-in-one dog to excel at both. They crossed a popular ratter called the Black and Tan Terrier with Whippets; the result was a distinct Manchester type of terrier.
The breed reached the height of its popularity during the Victorian Era. The Standard Manchester was thought to be a fitting companion to the “discerning gentleman” but the Victorian women wanted a smaller dog. To meet this demand, the Toy variety was created by breeding the smallest Standard Manchesters together. Though the early breeding of the Toy Manchester grew extreme and unhealthy, today’s Toy Manchester Terrier is much healthier and sounder, although slightly bigger than its early ancestors.
Up until 1959, the Standard Manchester and the Toy Manchester were registered as separate breeds, although interbreeding was permitted. Since then, the two breeds have combined to form one breed, the Manchester Terrier, with two varieties: the Toy and Standard. However, the AKC has grouped the two varieties separately. The Standard Manchester belongs to the Terrier Group while the Toy belongs to the Toy Group.