The Manchester Terrier has a small, muscular body with erect ears and a short, glossy coat. He is the perfect dog for people who are looking for a small, hardy dog that also makes a wonderful sporting companion. This breed fits well to most types of family, although it tends to be a one-person dog. He is very affectionate with his owner but suspicious around strangers. He is intelligent, high-strung, and has an unlimited supply of energy. Because this breed can be bossy, he requires early, consistent, and precise training and should not be spoiled. As a terrier, he may show dog-aggression and can have a high prey drive toward small animals.
He is a good watch dog and tends to bark incessantly if he is left alone for too long. He is a little hard to housebreak and is sensitive to extreme climate. This is a breed that appreciates a sweater in cold days to keep him warm. He is long-lived and very seldom ill. He can live outside the house provided you have a heated kennel.
Size: The approximate height for the male dog is 16in and 15in for the female. The Manchester Terrier comes in two types: the toy and the standard. The Toy Manchester Terrier has an upper weight limit of 12lb while the Standard Manchester Terrier should be over 12lb but no more than 22lb.
History and origin: This breed was developed in 18th and 19th centuries in England. The Toy Manchester Terrier was originally used as a ratter and kept as a companion. He is a crossed between the Whippet and terrier bloodlines. His lineage can be traced back to the old hunting Black and Tan Terrier which in north of England had the reputation of being a supreme rat killer. This breed was once closely related to a white English Terrier that seems to have vanished probably due to his tendency to deafness. The Manchester Terrier has evolved as a reliable house dog that maintained a keen sporting instincts. A number of this breed was exported form the United Kingdom to the United States, Canada, and then later on to Germany in the 1800s. Early Manchester Terriers had cropped ears, which is a practice that became illegal in the United Kingdom in 1895.
Feeding: Recommended feeding for this breed is ½ -1 can (13.30z size) of high-quality meat product with biscuit added in equal part by volume or 1 ½ cupfuls of a complete dry food.
Exercise: This breed can easily adapt to apartment life provided he is walked several times a day with an occasional run.
Grooming: Generally, he is a clean dog with a shedding coat that needs to be brushed once a week. This breed does not like the rain and should be rubbed with a towel if they get wet.
