| Standard Manchester Terriers and Toy Manchester Terriers: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Manchester Terrier personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Manchester Terrier, including these excerpts:
"The AKC Standard says, "The Manchester Terrier presents a sleek, sturdy, yet elegant look... with a keen, bright, alert expression."
The lively Manchester, keenly observant and discerning, is more devoted to his owner, more responsive, and better mannered than some other terriers.
Athletic and agile, he is best suited to active families, as he enjoys brisk walking every day and all-out running whenever he can get it. However, he must be kept on-leash or in a securely fenced area at all times, for he is very curious, has strong hunting instincts, and will chase anything. Manchester Terriers love to play -- with you, with another dog, or by themselves (with or without a toy!).
With his acute senses and wariness of strangers, the Manchester Terrier makes an excellent watchdog, but early socialization is imperative so that he does not become sharp or timid.
Manchesters are not given to fiery posturing with other dogs and are generally accepting, but they will stand their ground and fight when challenged or when they feel their space has been invaded. Two adults of the same sex should not be kept together. Smaller creatures, including low-flying birds, will be pursued with determination.
The Manchester Terrier is smart and trainable if you are a confident, consistent leader who can smile at his antics, yet not allow him to outwit you. He is exceedingly sensitive to physical corrections, so use a light hand on the leash and rely more on praise and food rewards. (Food in moderation, please: He tends to pack on pounds quickly.)
Manchesters are comfort-loving dogs who seek out soft beds and often tunnel under the covers. They can be possessive of their food and toys and some like to bark."
History
He was developed in Manchester, England, to hunt vermin. He especially excelled in rat-killing contests, a fashionable gambling activity in British pubs. There are two sizes: Standard and Toy.
Size
Standard: 15-17 inches and 12-22 lbs. Toy: 8-13 inches and 8-12 lbs. |
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Standard Manchester Terriers
Toy Manchester Terriers
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- Looks like a small Doberman, with a sleek black and tan coat, elegant build, and keen expression
- Moves swiftly with light-footed grace
- Is lively, playful, and athletic
- Makes a keen watchdog
- Is more responsive and better mannered than some terriers
- Lives a long time
A Standard or Toy Manchester Terrier may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- The dynamic terrier temperament (see full description below)
- Providing enough exercise and activities to keep them busy
- Aggression toward other animals -- chasing instincts
- Stubbornness
- Digging holes
- Barking
A Manchester Terrier may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Manchester Terrier... |
My major concerns would be:
- The dynamic terrier temperament. Most terrier breeds are remarkably similar. The same words are used over and over -- quick to bark, quick to chase, lively, bossy, feisty, scrappy, clever, independent, stubborn, persistent, impulsive, intense.
- Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Manchester Terriers are active go-getters. They MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and to use their busy minds to do interesting things.
| Terriers were never intended to be simply household pets. I strongly recommend that you get your Manchester Terrier involved in obedience classes at the intermediate or advanced level, in agility (an obstacle course for dogs), or in an earth dog club (terriers dig and tunnel after small critters who are secured in a sturdy cage so they can't be harmed). |
- Animal aggression. Manchester Terriers are less scrappy toward strange dogs than many other terrier breeds, but they are still a determined force to reckon with if they decide to initiate or accept a challenge to fight. Most terriers have strong instincts to chase and seize small fleeing creatures. This can make for conflict if you own a cat. It may be much worse than that if you own a pet rabbit or hamster!
| Terriers cannot be trusted off-leash. They will take off -- oblivious to your frantic shouts -- after anything that runs. |
- Fence security. Many terriers are clever escape artists who will go over or under fences in search of adventure. You may need higher fences than you might imagine for their small size. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks.
- Barking. Terriers are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. If you work all day and have close neighbors, terriers are not the best choice for you. For the same reason, terriers should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised. To make matters worse, some terriers have high-pitched barks that can set your teeth on edge.
- Mind of their own. Manchester Terriers are not Golden Retrievers. Though they are more amenable to training than many other terriers, they must still be taught at an early age that they are not the rulers of the world. The toughness that makes them suited to killing vermin can frustrate you when you try to teach them anything. Terriers can be stubborn and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
- Defensive reactions. If you need to physically chastise a terrier, and you go beyond what THEY believe is a fair correction, terriers (as a group) are more likely than other breeds to growl or snap. It may be because they were bred to become more fierce when their prey fought back, i.e. terriers are apt to "return pain" if they "receive pain." As an obedience instructor, I'm always extra careful when putting my hands on any terrier for a correction.
| I do NOT recommend terriers for small children. Many terriers will not tolerate any nonsense from little life forms whom they consider to be below themselves in importance. Many terriers are quick to react to teasing, and even to the normal clumsiness that comes with small children (accidental squeezing of their ears or pulling of whiskers or stepping on their paw). Many terriers are possessive of their food and toys and will defend these from all comers, including children. |
| Not all Manchester Terriers are alike! |
- There are energetic Manchesters, and placid Manchesters.
- Hard-headed Manchesters, and sweet-natured Manchesters.
- Serious Manchesters, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Manchesters, and Manchesters who love everyone.
| If you acquire a Manchester Terrier puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
| If you're considering an adult Manchester Terrier... |
There are plenty of adult Manchester Terriers who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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