(AKC Terrier Group)
The Manchester Terrier was developed in England and originates from
the Black and Tan Terrier, the oldest known terrier breed. They were
bred to hunt rats and other small vermin and still retain that ability
today. The cuddly house pet quickly turns into an efficient worker
whether in the backyard or field when it detects the presence of a
rodent.
General Appearance
A small, black, short-coated dog with distinctive rich mahogany markings and a taper style tail. In structure the Manchester presents a sleek, sturdy, yet elegant look, and has a wedge-shaped, long and clean head with a keen, bright, alert expression. The smooth, compact, muscular body expresses great power and agility, enabling the Manchester to kill vermin and course small game.
Except for size and ear options, there are no differences between the Standard and Toy varieties of the Manchester Terrier. The Toy is a diminutive version of the Standard variety.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The Toy variety shall not exceed 12 pounds. It is suggested that clubs consider dividing the American-bred and Open classes by weight as follows: 7 pounds and under, over 7 pounds and not exceeding 12 pounds.
The Standard variety shall be over 12 pounds and not exceeding 22 pounds. Dogs weighing over 22 pounds shall be disqualified. It is suggested that clubs consider dividing the American-bred and Open classes by weight as follows: over 12 pounds and not exceeding 16 pounds, over 16 pounds and not exceeding 22 pounds.
The Manchester Terrier, overall, is slightly longer than tall. The height, measured vertically from the ground to the highest point of the withers, is slightly less than the length, measured horizontally from the point of the shoulders to the rear projection of the upper thigh. The bone and muscle of the Manchester Terrier is of sufficient mass to ensure agility and endurance.
Head
The Manchester Terrier has a keen and alert expression. The nearly black, almond shaped eyes are small, bright, and sparkling. They are set moderately close together, slanting upwards on the outside. The eyes neither protrude nor sink in the skull. Pigmentation must be black.
Correct ears for the Standard variety are either the naturally erect ear, the cropped ear, or the button ear. No preference is given to any of the ear types. The naturally erect ear, and the button ear, should be wider at the base tapering to pointed tips, and carried well up on the skull. Wide, flaring, blunt tipped, or "bell" ears are a serious fault. Cropped ears should be long, pointed and carried erect.
The only correct ear for the Toy variety is the naturally
erect ear. They should be wider at the base tapering to pointed tips, and
carried well up on the skull. Wide, flaring, blunt tipped, or "bell"
ears are a serious fault. Cropped, or cut ears are a disqualification in
the Toy variety.
The head is long, narrow, tight skinned, and almost flat with a slight indentation up the forehead. It resembles a blunted wedge in frontal and profile views. There is a visual effect of a slight stop as viewed in profile.
The muzzle and skull are equal in length. The muzzle is well filled under the eyes with no visible cheek muscles. The underjaw is full and well defined and the nose is black.
Tight black lips lie close to the jaw. The jaws should be full and powerful with full and proper dentition. The teeth are white and strongly developed with a true scissors bite. Level bite is acceptable.
Neck, Topline, Body
The slightly arched neck should be slim and graceful, and of moderate length. It gradually becomes larger as it approaches, and blends smoothly with the sloping shoulders. Throatiness is undesirable. The topline shows a slight arch over the robust loins falling slightly to the tail set. A flat back or roached back is to be severely penalized. The chest is narrow between the legs and deep in the brisket. The forechest is moderately defined. The ribs are well sprung, but flattened in the lower end to permit clearance of the forelegs. The abdomen should be tucked up extending in an arched line from the deep brisket. The taper style tail is moderately short reaching no further than the hock joint. It is set on at the end of the croup. Being thicker where it joins the body, the tail tapers to a point. The tail is carried in a slight upward curve, but never over the back.
Forequarters
The shoulder blades and the upper arm should be relatively the same length. The distance from the elbow to the withers should be approximately the same as the distance from the elbow to the ground. The elbows should lie close to the brisket. The shoulders are well laid back. The forelegs are straight, of proportionate length, and placed well under the brisket. The pasterns should be almost perpendicular. The front feet are compact and well arched. The two middle toes should be slightly longer than the others. The pads should be thick and the toenails should be jet black.
Hindquarters
The thigh should be muscular with the length of the upper and lower thighs being approximately equal. The stifle is well turned. The well let down hocks should not turn in nor out as viewed from the rear. The hind legs are carried well back. The hind feet are shaped like those of a cat with thick pads and jet black nails.
Coat
The coat should be smooth, short, dense, tight, and glossy; not soft.
Color The coat color should be jet black and rich mahogany tan, which
should not run or blend into each other, but abruptly form clear, well defined
lines of color. There shall be a very small tan spot over each eye, and
a very small tan spot on each cheek. On the head, the muzzle is tanned to
the nose. The nose and nasal bone are jet black. The tan extends under the
throat, ending in the shape of the letter V. The inside of the ears are
partly tan. There shall be tan spots, called "rosettes," on each
side of the chest above the front legs. These are more pronounced in puppies
than in adults. There should be a black ""thumbprint" patch on
the front of each foreleg at the pastern. The remainder of the foreleg shall
be tan to the carpus joint. There should be a distinct black "pencil
mark" line running lengthwise on the top of each toe on all four feet.
Tan on the hind leg should continue from the pencilling on the toes up the
inside of the legs to a little below the stifle joint. The outside of the
hind legs should be black. There should be tan under the tail, and on the
vent, but only of such size as to be covered by the tail.
White on any part of the coat is a serious fault, and shall disqualify whenever the white shall form a patch or stripe measuring as much as one half inch at its longest dimension.
Any color other than black and tan shall be disqualified.
Color and/or markings should never take precedence over soundness and type.
Gait
The gait should be free and effortless with good reach of the forequarters, showing no indication of hackney gait. Rear quarters should have strong, driving power to match the front reach. Hocks should fully extend. Each rear leg should move in line with the foreleg of the same side, neither thrown in nor out. When moving at a trot, the legs tend to converge towards the center of gravity line beneath the dog.
Disqualifications
Standard variety-Weight over 22 pounds.
Toy variety-Cropped or cut ears.
Both varieties--White on any part of the coat whenever the white shall form a patch or stripe measuring as much as one half inch at its longest dimension.
Any color other than black and tan.
Approved June 10, 1991
Effective July 31, 1991
Although it does not suffer from any major health issues, the Manchester Terrier may be susceptible to minor problems like von Willebrand's Disease (vWD), hypothyroidism, and cardiomyopathy. Some other common health concerns include patellar luxation, Legg-Perthes disease, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). To idenitfy some these problems early, a veterinarian may advise DNA, eye, hip, and thyroid tests for this breed, which has an average lifespan of 15 to 16 years.
The Manchester Terrier is neither aggressive nor shy. He is keenly observant, devoted, but discerning. Not being a sparring breed, the Manchester is generally friendly with other dogs. Excessive shyness or aggressiveness should be considered a serious fault. The Manchester Terrier shows a more responsive nature than other terriers and is a very well-mannered house dog (although some have been known to dig incessantly). As it is reserved with strangers, independent, impeccably clean, and sensitive, this terrier is often described as "catlike." It shows utmost devotion to its family, and loves to sleep beside its favorite person. On other occasions, it is rambunctious, looking for a game or adventure.
(See Training Tips)
The Manchester district of England was a noted center for two "poor men’s sports," rat killing and rabbit coursing. A fancier by the name of John Hulme, with the idea of producing a dog that could be used at both contests, mated a Whippet bitch with a celebrated rat-killing dog, a crossbred terrier dark brown in color. On this basis the roached back, seldom found in a terrier, is explained. The dogs proved useful, other fanciers took to breeding them, and the Manchester school of terriers was launched.
The name Manchester, however, was regarded as somewhat misleading, for similar dogs were known in many parts of England. Designation of the new breed did not take place until 1860 or thereabouts, at which time the city for which the dog was named had become a breed center. Manchesters soon spread over the British Isles and eventually came to this country in considerable numbers, but years were to pass before the name was stabilized. In 1923, however, the newly formed Manchester Terrier Club of America changed the name back to Manchester Terrier, and there it has remained.
As a sagacious, intelligent house pet and companion, no breed is superior to the well-bred Manchester. There is a sleek, breedy look about him that no other dog presents. His long, clean head, keen expression, glossy coat, whip tail, and smart, wide-awake appearance always command attention, while his clean habits and short coat admit him to homes which might shut out his rough-haired brothers. Moreover, his weight leaves nothing to be desired, for there is a medium-sized type weighing over 12 and not exceeding 22 pounds, and a toy weighing 12 pounds or under.
Up until 1959 the Manchester Terrier and the Toy Manchester Terrier were registered as two separate breeds, although interbreeding between the two breeds was permitted. Since that date they have been registered as a single breed, the Manchester Terrier, with two varieties, the Toy and the Standard, for dog-show purposes.
No longer are extremes of any sort favored or fostered within the breed, for "the gentleman’s terrier," as he was known long ago, has come into his own. He exhibits that true Manchester type, with its flat skull, triangular eyes, accented kiss marks, and sleek ebony coat with clearly delineated markings. The sole difference between the larger dog and the Toy is concerned with the ears. Both varieties have moderately small, thin ears, narrow at the base and pointed at the tips. They are set high on the skull and quite close together. In the Standard variety, ears may be erect or button; if cropped, they are long and carried straight up. In the Toy variety, however, cropping disqualifies. The Toy ear is carried naturally erect, without sidewise flare.
Eukanuba Naturally Wild: Performance Formula
Manchester Terrier AKC Breed Standards
General Appearance A small, black, short-coated dog with distinctive rich mahogany markings and a taper style tail. In structure the Manchester presents a sleek, sturdy, yet elegant look, and has a wedge-shaped, long and clean head with a keen, bright, alert expression. The smooth, compact, muscular body expresses great power and agility, enabling the Manchester to kill vermin and course small game.
Except for size and ear options, there are no differences between the Standard and Toy varieties of the Manchester Terrier. The Toy is a diminutive version of the Standard variety.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The Toy variety shall not exceed 12 pounds. It is suggested that clubs consider dividing the American-bred and Open classes by weight as follows: 7 pounds and under, over 7 pounds and not exceeding 12 pounds.
The Standard variety shall be over 12 pounds and not exceeding 22 pounds. Dogs weighing over 22 pounds shall be disqualified. It is suggested that clubs consider dividing the American-bred and Open classes by weight as follows: over 12 pounds and not exceeding 16 pounds, over 16 pounds and not exceeding 22 pounds.
The Manchester Terrier, overall, is slightly longer than tall. The height, measured vertically from the ground to the highest point of the withers, is slightly less than the length, measured horizontally from the point of the shoulders to the rear projection of the upper thigh. The bone and muscle of the Manchester Terrier is of sufficient mass to ensure agility and endurance.
Head
The Manchester Terrier has a keen and alert expression. The nearly black, almond shaped eyes are small, bright, and sparkling. They are set moderately close together, slanting upwards on the outside. The eyes neither protrude nor sink in the skull. Pigmentation must be black.
Correct ears for the Standard variety are either the naturally erect ear, the cropped ear, or the button ear. No preference is given to any of the ear types. The naturally erect ear, and the button ear, should be wider at the base tapering to pointed tips, and carried well up on the skull. Wide, flaring, blunt tipped, or "bell" ears are a serious fault. Cropped ears should be long, pointed and carried erect.
The only correct ear for the Toy variety is the naturally
erect ear. They should be wider at the base tapering to pointed tips, and
carried well up on the skull. Wide, flaring, blunt tipped, or "bell"
ears are a serious fault. Cropped, or cut ears are a disqualification in
the Toy variety.The head is long, narrow, tight skinned, and almost flat with a slight indentation up the forehead. It resembles a blunted wedge in frontal and profile views. There is a visual effect of a slight stop as viewed in profile.
The muzzle and skull are equal in length. The muzzle is well filled under the eyes with no visible cheek muscles. The underjaw is full and well defined and the nose is black.
Tight black lips lie close to the jaw. The jaws should be full and powerful with full and proper dentition. The teeth are white and strongly developed with a true scissors bite. Level bite is acceptable.
Neck, Topline, Body
The slightly arched neck should be slim and graceful, and of moderate length. It gradually becomes larger as it approaches, and blends smoothly with the sloping shoulders. Throatiness is undesirable. The topline shows a slight arch over the robust loins falling slightly to the tail set. A flat back or roached back is to be severely penalized. The chest is narrow between the legs and deep in the brisket. The forechest is moderately defined. The ribs are well sprung, but flattened in the lower end to permit clearance of the forelegs. The abdomen should be tucked up extending in an arched line from the deep brisket. The taper style tail is moderately short reaching no further than the hock joint. It is set on at the end of the croup. Being thicker where it joins the body, the tail tapers to a point. The tail is carried in a slight upward curve, but never over the back.
Forequarters
The shoulder blades and the upper arm should be relatively the same length. The distance from the elbow to the withers should be approximately the same as the distance from the elbow to the ground. The elbows should lie close to the brisket. The shoulders are well laid back. The forelegs are straight, of proportionate length, and placed well under the brisket. The pasterns should be almost perpendicular. The front feet are compact and well arched. The two middle toes should be slightly longer than the others. The pads should be thick and the toenails should be jet black.
Hindquarters
The thigh should be muscular with the length of the upper and lower thighs being approximately equal. The stifle is well turned. The well let down hocks should not turn in nor out as viewed from the rear. The hind legs are carried well back. The hind feet are shaped like those of a cat with thick pads and jet black nails.
Coat
The coat should be smooth, short, dense, tight, and glossy; not soft.
White on any part of the coat is a serious fault, and shall disqualify whenever the white shall form a patch or stripe measuring as much as one half inch at its longest dimension.
Any color other than black and tan shall be disqualified.
Color and/or markings should never take precedence over soundness and type.
Gait
The gait should be free and effortless with good reach of the forequarters, showing no indication of hackney gait. Rear quarters should have strong, driving power to match the front reach. Hocks should fully extend. Each rear leg should move in line with the foreleg of the same side, neither thrown in nor out. When moving at a trot, the legs tend to converge towards the center of gravity line beneath the dog.
Disqualifications
Standard variety-Weight over 22 pounds.
Toy variety-Cropped or cut ears.
Both varieties--White on any part of the coat whenever the white shall form a patch or stripe measuring as much as one half inch at its longest dimension.
Any color other than black and tan.
Approved June 10, 1991
Effective July 31, 1991
Manchester Terrier Health Issues
Although it does not suffer from any major health issues, the Manchester Terrier may be susceptible to minor problems like von Willebrand's Disease (vWD), hypothyroidism, and cardiomyopathy. Some other common health concerns include patellar luxation, Legg-Perthes disease, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). To idenitfy some these problems early, a veterinarian may advise DNA, eye, hip, and thyroid tests for this breed, which has an average lifespan of 15 to 16 years.
Manchester Terrier Temperament
The Manchester Terrier is neither aggressive nor shy. He is keenly observant, devoted, but discerning. Not being a sparring breed, the Manchester is generally friendly with other dogs. Excessive shyness or aggressiveness should be considered a serious fault. The Manchester Terrier shows a more responsive nature than other terriers and is a very well-mannered house dog (although some have been known to dig incessantly). As it is reserved with strangers, independent, impeccably clean, and sensitive, this terrier is often described as "catlike." It shows utmost devotion to its family, and loves to sleep beside its favorite person. On other occasions, it is rambunctious, looking for a game or adventure.
(See Training Tips)
Did You Know?
- Until 1959, the Manchester Terrier and 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: Toy and Standard.
- Development of the Toy from the larger Manchester Terrier was first a matter of chance and later the business of selective breeding.
- Frustration with ear shape caused Manchester breeders to slow and eventually stop breeding altogether but for a few staunch devotees who continued to keep the breed alive.
- The sole difference between the Standard and Toy Manchester, besides size of course, is ear shape.
Manchester Terrier History
The Manchester district of England was a noted center for two "poor men’s sports," rat killing and rabbit coursing. A fancier by the name of John Hulme, with the idea of producing a dog that could be used at both contests, mated a Whippet bitch with a celebrated rat-killing dog, a crossbred terrier dark brown in color. On this basis the roached back, seldom found in a terrier, is explained. The dogs proved useful, other fanciers took to breeding them, and the Manchester school of terriers was launched.
The name Manchester, however, was regarded as somewhat misleading, for similar dogs were known in many parts of England. Designation of the new breed did not take place until 1860 or thereabouts, at which time the city for which the dog was named had become a breed center. Manchesters soon spread over the British Isles and eventually came to this country in considerable numbers, but years were to pass before the name was stabilized. In 1923, however, the newly formed Manchester Terrier Club of America changed the name back to Manchester Terrier, and there it has remained.
As a sagacious, intelligent house pet and companion, no breed is superior to the well-bred Manchester. There is a sleek, breedy look about him that no other dog presents. His long, clean head, keen expression, glossy coat, whip tail, and smart, wide-awake appearance always command attention, while his clean habits and short coat admit him to homes which might shut out his rough-haired brothers. Moreover, his weight leaves nothing to be desired, for there is a medium-sized type weighing over 12 and not exceeding 22 pounds, and a toy weighing 12 pounds or under.
Up until 1959 the Manchester Terrier and the Toy Manchester Terrier were registered as two separate breeds, although interbreeding between the two breeds was permitted. Since that date they have been registered as a single breed, the Manchester Terrier, with two varieties, the Toy and the Standard, for dog-show purposes.
No longer are extremes of any sort favored or fostered within the breed, for "the gentleman’s terrier," as he was known long ago, has come into his own. He exhibits that true Manchester type, with its flat skull, triangular eyes, accented kiss marks, and sleek ebony coat with clearly delineated markings. The sole difference between the larger dog and the Toy is concerned with the ears. Both varieties have moderately small, thin ears, narrow at the base and pointed at the tips. They are set high on the skull and quite close together. In the Standard variety, ears may be erect or button; if cropped, they are long and carried straight up. In the Toy variety, however, cropping disqualifies. The Toy ear is carried naturally erect, without sidewise flare.
Manchester Terrier Suggested Food Choices
Eukanuba Naturally Wild: Performance Formula
- Real Chicken is the #1 ingredient
- Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA
- Contains natural sources of glucosamine for joint health and mobility
- Supports increased endurance and lean muscle mass.
Manchester Terrier Pics
AKC Recommended Breeders
Manchester Terrier
Parent Club: American Manchester Terrier Club
Breeder Referral: Susan Thrasher, 765-529-5196, susangthrasher@att.net
Breeder Directory: website
Parent Club: American Manchester Terrier Club
Breeder Referral: Susan Thrasher, 765-529-5196, susangthrasher@att.net
Breeder Directory: website
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