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Manchester Terrier
Toy Breed Dogs
Small Breed Dogs








What you Must Know BEFORE Getting a Puppy

Forget about the normal list that everyone writes about..."puppy proof your home", "choose the right breed".  The information you must know, goes MUCH deeper than that. This is insider information that no one talks about, the behind-the-scenes info you really must know before you make your choice...Read More
Average Weight:  12  lbs (5.44 kg) or under
 Average Height: 10 -12 inches (25.4 - 30.48 cm)
Pronounced: Man-Ches-TER     TEH-ree-er
Group:  AKC Toy, AKC Terrier
Life Span: 16 Years
Average Litter: 3
Origin: Northern England

Description
The Manchester Terrier comes in 2 varieties, toy and standard. The only difference between the two beside the the size ...are the ears.  For the standard, ears may be erect, cropped (where it is legal to do so) or a button ear.  However, the smaller toy has naturally erect ears. 

This is a small, black, short-coated dog with distinctive rich tan markings.  This small breed dog is sleek looking yet very sturdy and elegant as well.  The head is wedge shaped and relatively long.  The expression is bright and very alert.  The eyes are very dark, usually black, sparking and almond shaped.  This dog is also known for its very white teeth which are strongly developed and usually with a scissors bite.
Color

Purebreds will always be black with tan.  The amount of this deep, rich tan color will vary. The coat is a dark, jet black color.  Wherever the tan marking occur, they are well defined and usually do not blend.  One very interesting fact is that there is a distinct black line, known as a pencil mark, which runs on the top of every toe on this small dog.  In addition, the toenails are always deep black. More regarding this will be in the below grooming section, as trimming black nails is more difficult than lighter nails.

Personality

Neither aggressive or overly shy, this dog breed is known for being very observant of their environment, usually silently looking around to see what is about.  Most get along very well with other dogs and love to have canine companionship.

The Manchester Terrier is loyal, known for being devoted to their human family members and very affectionate, wanting hugs, playtime and even insisting on sleeping in the bed with their owners. One of the reasons why this breed makes a wonderful pet is because they are very happy when just lounging around and also ready to jump up and do activities whenever called on. He will follow the cues from his owner and adjust his activity level to his owner's.


History & Origin

Originating in Manchester, England (hence the name), this breed used to be a ratter (dogs who were brought into mills or in homes to chase down rats and mice to keep down the vermin population). This breed was perfected in 1860 and soon became known all over Britain and then the United States.  A breed club was established in America in 1923. Interestingly, both the toy and standard were considered 1 breed until 1959 when they were separated by size.

Health

There are several canine health issues to be aware of.  This does not mean that your pup or dog will develop these, it simply means that this breed is more prone to these than some other breeds.  You will want to be aware of:
  • Legg-Calve Perthes disease - The canine hip joint consists of a ball that fits into a socket. This disease causes a malformation of that hip ball and socket. If this is to happy, it generally will begin to show symptoms before the 1 year mark. Rest and physical therapy can help if the ball is still tightly in the socket. If not, surgery can correct this.
  • Hypothyroidism - known commonly as a low thyroid.  Signs will be a dulling of the coat, weight gain and activity levels will drop as the dog is tired quite a bit.
  • Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy - A canine heart muscle disease, most commonly seen in middle aged dogs.
  • Luxating Patella - A condition in which the kneecap slips out of place. This can happen from injury, such as a young puppy jumping off of a sofa or can develop more slowly as the pup matures. There are some studies which suggest that when a puppy goes through a very fast growth spurt, this can make the pup more prone to this.
Exercise

This is one pet who loves going for walks!  He will be ready, with the leash in his mouth before you can finish asking if he wants to go out. Spurts of more intense exercise such as playing fetch and allowing the dog to run will keep him happy, as well.

Grooming

The coat only needs a minimal amount of care.  The ears need attention to keep them well clean.  Excess hairs should be plucked out, they should be thoroughly dried after bathing and flushed clean if there is any excess buildup.

Because purebred Manchester Terriers have dark black nails, an owner must take care in regard to trimming.  An owner should check to see if trimming is necessary about every 2-3 months. All dogs have a large vein which runs down the very center of each nail, if clipped it will bleed quite a bit.  This vein is referred to as the "quik".  For black nails, you cannot see this quick...therefore one must trim a very small amount at a time and keep looking at the nail.  As soon as you see a light pink color in the center, this means it is time to stop.

Care & Training

Care specifically for small breed dogs is necessary, providing appropriate care, exercise, environment and safety precautions will greatly help to reduce the odds of any of the above health issues.  Because behavior issues can get in the way of a great bond between owner and dog, one should also have specific behavioral training information. Lastly, due to this breed having such strong devotion to its owners, Separation Anxiety is very common and changes should be made to reduce this small dog's stress.   Owners - Click Here for More Detailed Information

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