Manchester Terrier

The Manchester Terrier has many qualities to become the best companion. The breed, unfortunately not well known, is still in decline in Europe. In the United States, his ears are cut off, and this resulted in making him more popular. It is a pity that the notion of aesthetic alone succeeds in increasing the popularity of the breed, instead of his qualities as a life companion. This little vermin hunter even came close to extinction in England, after a decree was issued that completely banished these types of amputations. The Manchester Terrier is a very interesting breed to discover, whether his ears are cropped or not.

Height 37 to 42 cm
Weight 6 to 10 kg
Life expectancy 14 to 16 years
Home country United Kingdom (UK)

Quick Overview of the Manchester Terrier

Temperament

  • Easy to live with
  • Affectionate
  • Gentle and dynamic
  • Rather reserved

Appearance

  • Compact and elegant silhouette
  • Very robust
  • Small bright eyes
  • Short, glossy, smooth and thick coat

Health

  • No particular pathology
  • Generally in excellent health
  • Long life expectancy

Temperament of the Manchester Terrier

An excellent hunter, the Manchester Terrier is also a much appreciated companion dog. Easy to live with, affectionate, kind, dynamic and reserved, he greatly appreciates the company of human beings.

He loves all the members of his entourage and is very sociable. Not at all aggressive, he is nevertheless a very good guardian. He is quite reserved towards strangers, and will be inclined to warn but always without aggressiveness.

Quite stubborn, he is however easy to train because he is also very intelligent. He is not particularly sociable with other dogs, nor small animals, which he prefers to hunt.

Breed Appearance

Manchester Terrier

Possessing a compact and elegant silhouette, the Manchester Terrier has a compact appearance with lots of substance. He looks fragile, but his build is, on the contrary, robust and very solid.

Height

Between 39 and 42 cm (15.35 to 16.54 inches) for the male
Between 37 and 40 cm (14.57 to 15.75 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 6 and 10 kg (13.23 to 22.05 pounds) for the male
Between 6 and 10 kg (13.23 to 22.05 pounds) for the female

Color

His color is a very intense black, with mahogany spots, also very intense.

Hair

The short hair of the coat is shiny, smooth and rather thick.

Morphology

The Manchester Terrier's long head has a flat, narrow skull. His small, bright, almond-shaped eyes are quite dark.

His small v-shaped ears drop down above the eyes. They are usually clipped in the United States. His nose is black. His tail is fairly thick, yet tapers towards the tip.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 3, section 1 and is #71

Tips About this breed

The Manchester Terrier can adapt to any situation and live anywhere. All types of owners are suitable.

His size allows him to live very well in an apartment, and he greatly appreciates the comfort of home, especially the carpets and armchairs.

He loves to be pampered by his family, and home is the best doghouse for him.

He fears the cold, and his fur does not allow him to withstand bad weather. It is therefore much better to keep him indoors, even if he still needs to spend his boundless energy.

A daily walk should allow him to get a good workout before going home.

The Manchester Terrier is an excellent companion, but he needs a rigorous education, aiming to dominate him and teach him to obey.

He's very stubborn, and he can do whatever he wants if he's not properly educated.

Socialization must also be instilled in him very early, as he does not tolerate the presence of other dogs.

Health of the Manchester Terrier

He is very robust and does not suffer from any particular pathology. He generally enjoys excellent health and very good longevity.

GROOMING

There is nothing special about his maintenance, except brushing from time to time to keep his coat healthy and to ensure a smooth and shiny look.

History of this breed

This breed, officially recognized in 1879, would be the heir of the Old Black and Tan Terrier ratter. The latter was widespread in Northern England in the 19th century.

At the very beginning, crossbreeding started with Whippets, and later on with other specimens of the Terrier family.

The Manchester Terrier is said to be one of the oldest representatives of the Terrier family. The two World Wars were almost fatal to the breed, but some enthusiasts worked on increasing the numbers to save this dog from certain extinction.

Best known in European territory at the time, he crossed the borders to arrive in America in 1923.

The name Manchester Terrier was only officially given to him in 1923, when the Manchester Terrier Club of America was founded. Even if there is no official document listing his name, the city of Manchester in England would be the point of origin of his nomenclature. He was recognized around 1926 by the American Kennel Club.

The extermination of rats made the breed very popular at a time when vermin infestation was a daily issue for people.

His crossbreeding with the Whippet allowed the Manchester Terrier to be also used for hunting rabbits and foxes, which had the effect of increasing his popularity, fox hunting giving him a more noble character than rat hunting.

Then, he became very appreciated as a life companion, and as man's best friend. In spite of this revival of popularity at the time, the breed is still not very widespread today.

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