Manchester Terrier: breed description, character, photos and reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The Manchester Terrier, or Rat Terrier as it is also called, is a relatively recent breed of dog, bred in the British Isles, whose popularity peaked in the Victorian era. Unlike in the past, when Manchester Terriers were used to hunt and kill rats and other rodents, today they are mostly used as companion dogs.

This is facilitated by the fact that the Manchester Terrier is pleasant in everyday communication and is very devoted to his owner and his family members. In addition, the animal is small and does not require care and maintenance.

How did this breed originate?

According to researchers, the progenitors of this breed were common in the British Isles for a long time. Over time, a special species stood out - the black and tan terrier - smooth-haired dogs, which were small in size and perfectly hunted mice, rats and hares. Closest tomodern Manchester Terriers were dogs bred towards the end of the 18th century by the cynologist and scientist from Manchester, John Hume, who crossed the Whippet with a black and tan terrier. Cynologists do not exclude the possibility that later the breed was refreshed with the blood of the West Highland White Terrier.

The Manchester Terrier acquired its final and modern look by the middle of the 19th century, and by the end of it, dogs of this breed take part in exhibitions, which greatly contributed to their popularity and distribution. At the beginning of the 20th century, several Manchester Terrier clubs were organized. Until the Second World War, the breed was actively spreading throughout Europe and was brought to the USA.

During the war, the Manchester Terrier practically disappeared, remaining only with individual breeders. The breed was restored for quite a long time, and only in 1962 it was recognized by the English Kennel Club.

Two different breeds or species?

Until the end of the 1950s, it was believed that the Manchester and Toy Terrier were two completely different, albeit very similar, dog breeds. Only after the adoption in 1959 of the FCI breed standard No. 71, all modern kennel federations and organizations recognized that the Manchester Terrier and the English Toy Manchester are two varieties of the same breed, differing only in weight, size and shape of the ears. Both species have thin, small ears, set high and close together. They are narrow at the base and pointed upwards. Toy Manchesters have ears straight forward and up, whileRepresentatives of Manchester Terriers, if not docked, may be bud-shaped or standing. If the puppy's ears have been cropped, they will be erect and long.

What does he look like?

Strong, small, short-haired terrier. The dog is elegant, with a long and dry wedge-shaped head and a clear, alert look. The muscular and compact body testifies to the high mobility, endurance and great strength of the Manchester Terrier, which allows him to pursue prey for a long time. The bite, like most terriers, is a scissor bite, although straight, but in this breed it is not considered a defect. In England, the ears are left without docking, hanging on the cartilage, like most other terriers. In the United States, a different approach has been taken: Manchester Terriers have their ears cropped at puppyhood to give them a pointed, erect shape. Their eyes are almond-shaped, small and dark.

Standard Manchester Terriers must weigh at least 6 and not more than 10 kg, and English Toy - 6 kg. The height of males does not exceed 41, and females - 38 centimeters.

Color

Manchester Terrier can only be black with bright mahogany tan.

At the same time, a line separating the main color from the marks is clearly visible. How many and what tan marks representatives of this breed can have can be found out in detail in dog breeders' clubs or from breeders who know the breed standard by heart.

Wool

Smooth, short, shiny andresembling a fur seal coat - this is how the coat of a he althy Manchester Terrier should look like.

These are smooth-haired dogs, the coat of which does not require special care, since they have practically no shedding. To maintain a good appearance, it is enough to periodically clean the animal with a bristle brush or a special rubber mitten. An indicator of a dog's he alth is a dense, mirror-like, but not soft coat.

A feature of this breed is a persistent dislike for water and various bathing. Therefore, you should not often expose your pet to such procedures, only if it gets very dirty. After bathing, the dog's coat should be thoroughly wiped with a towel made of natural fabric. Don't forget to dry your Manchester Terrier even if it gets caught in the rain during a walk.

How to care?

Although the Manchester Terrier is a low-maintenance dog, the he alth of your pet's eyes and ears needs to be carefully monitored. The most common diseases of this breed are cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, epilepsy, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as inherited von Willebrand disease. Due to its short coat, the Manchester Terrier does not tolerate both low and high temperatures. Of course, the dog is better and more pleasant in the sun than in the cold, but it is also not worth allowing overheating and leaving it under scorching rays for a long time.

Featurescharacter

Something, but the character, and quite contradictory, this little dog has! No one will dispute that devotion, the highest activity and love of freedom are the distinctive qualities of the Manchester Terrier breed. Before you get yourself a Manchester pet, consider whether you can devote enough time not only to communication, but also to raising him. The fact is that if puppies do not receive the necessary upbringing and attention, then, growing up, they turn into aggressive, stubborn and self-willed dogs, which are almost impossible to retrain. Given all this, owners of Manchester Terriers should form their character from puppyhood, clearly showing what can and cannot be done.

It should also be borne in mind that Manchesters are dogs of one owner, to whom they are devoted all their lives. They are loyal and even kind to other family members and children with whom they will play, but only if they are not very bothered. If there are other pets in the house, dogs of this breed get along well with them. Just remember that your favorite rat, mouse or hamster is prey for even the most strictly educated Manchester Terrier, and at some point the instinct may work. That is why the joint keeping of rodents and such terriers is not recommended.

Special attention should be paid to the fact that outwardly calm and playful towards strangers, the Manchester Terrier only pretends. In fact, these dogs are extremely distrustful of strangers, and at the first sign of an unacceptableterrier standards of behavior will notify the owner of this with a loud bark. In rare cases, aggression is possible, but it depends both on the character, individual characteristics, and on the upbringing of the dog.

Training

As mentioned above, Manchester Terriers need a fairly early obedience and socialization course. It should be noted the intelligence and ingenuity of dogs of this breed, which, with a good relationship with the owner, quickly learn what is required of them, trying to earn praise and encouragement from the owner.

Rudeness and violence should not be applied to Manchester Terriers, but justice, constancy of requirements and firmness will help in raising a pet.

Where to buy and how much?

Today it is almost impossible to buy Manchester Terrier puppies in Russia. The price in Western nurseries varies from 600 to 2500 US dollars. There are no breeders of Manchester Terriers in our country yet.