Frequently Asked Questions

Printer Friendly 

Q: What is the difference between a Standard and a Toy Manchester?

A. In the United States and Canada, Manchester Terriers come in 2 varieties: Standard and Toy. According to the breed Standards of the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), the only differences between the 2 varieties are size and ear type. The Standard Manchester Terrier should weigh over 12 pounds but not more than 22 pounds; the Toy should weigh 12 pounds or less. Also, while the Toy Manchester Terrier only has 1 acceptable ear type (naturally erect), 3 ear types are acceptable for the Standard Manchester Terrier (cropped, button, and naturally erect).


Q: Is the English Toy Terrier (ETT) the same as the Toy Manchester Terrier (TMT)?

A. While the English Toy Terrier and the Toy Manchester Terrier began as essentially the same breed, they have developed somewhat differently since the mid-1900s. This is due to the fact that the British counted the toy-sized and standard-sized Manchesters as two separate breeds, which could not be bred to each other. In America, the two sizes are varieties of the same breed, which allows them to be cross-bred back and forth to each other. Today, therefore, the English Toy Terrier does not entirely resemble the Toy Manchester Terrier.  Although the annual registrations have increased in recent years. In 2005, the Kennel Club registered 103 ETTs. In Finland, the breed continues to be rare with a few litters and annual registrations ranging from one to two dozen.

Most of the difference between the two can be seen in size (ETTs are to weigh between 6 and 8 lbs., while TMTs may weigh up to 12 lbs.), head type (ETTs have a shorter-length head with a more noticeable stop; TMTs retain the longer, wedgier head more similar to their Standard cousins), and in leg length and boning. Compare The English Toy Terrier (ETT) Breed Standard with the American Manchester Terrier Standard.

Q: What kinds of health issues to Manchesters have?

A. This dog is an authentic terrier, however it does not have the typical terrier coat and it requires of little coat care. The owner will need to brush its coat every two days and must regularly checks its eyes, paws, and ears. One problem that does seem to occur a lot in this breed though is skin irritations and infections; these can be treated with medicine and ointments though. A rare and unusual skin problem has also been seen called coetaneous asthenia; the symptoms include soft, delicate, humid and pale looking skin. Hip dysplasia is not common but it has been seen in some as well as epilepsy and Von Willebrand. Dental problems aren't frequent in this breed, however plaque is a big problem in this breed.  It may be due to the tight lips. Lots of Manchesters have to have their teeth pulled because of it or they develop infections that will lead to heart problems if not treated. Frequent scaling is a must. Of course - if you give raw bones a couple of times a week then that will keep the teeth clean.  This dog has a very athletic look and it does need an abundant amount of exercise to maintain itself in shape.  <more health info>

Q: How much grooming do Manchesters require?

A. The Manchester Terrier has an "easy-care" coat that requires a minimum of grooming. Regular (once a week) brushing with a rubber curry or bristle brush to keep their short, sleek coats glossy, and will help to reduce shedding. Regular grooming also allows the owner to check for cuts, scrapes or other bodily damage. Because Manchesters do not have an undercoat and are clean by nature, they do not have a “doggy” smell, so bathing is only necessary if the dog becomes visibly dirty or stained.

In addition to coat care, the toenails should be kept short by clipping or filing them weekly so as not to cause distortion of the feet or difficulty walking. Ears and teeth should be checked regularly and cleaned if necessary so as to avoid ear infections and periodontal disease, which can lead to loss of the teeth.


Q: Do they shed?

A. This breed does not have an undercoat, but they do shed a tiny bit. Most Manchester Terriers only "blow coat" twice a year (spring and fall). With regular grooming, shedding is usually not a problem.


Q: Are Manchester Terriers easy to housebreak?

A. Manchester Terriers are relatively easy to housebreak, so long as the owner is diligent about taking the dog out immediately upon notification of need, and is attentive to the dog's behavior when it needs to go out . As with any breed, the key to housebreaking is consistency and reward. Make sure your puppy is on a consistent schedule (when he eats, when he sleeps, when he is taken outside to eliminate), figure out the times when he has to go out, make sure to take him to the proper spot at these times, and then reward him for eliminating in that spot. Take your puppy out on a lead, so you know what he is doing (or not doing!); do not just put him out the door and expect him to perform.

Most Manchesters are naturally clean and want to please you. However, they can also be quite content to do things in the way that is easiest for them -- dogs are nothing if not pragmatic! So, if you don't pay attention to when your dog has to go out and he finds the oriental rug behind the sofa convenient, you will have a larger problem to correct than if you had been diligent in the first place. If you are attentive to your Manchester when he is a puppy, you will have years and years to enjoy a reliably housebroken adult.

As an aside, there are no noticeable differences between the sexes with regards to housebreaking; the boys are just as easy to housebreak as the girls are.


Q: Do Manchesters bark a lot? Are they yappy?

A. Manchester Terriers do bark, although most Manchester Terriers do not bark to excess unless they have been left to their own devices uncorrected, or are bored. With most Manchester Terriers, barking can be curbed early on or avoided entirely by taking a few preventative steps. The most important step is to socialize your puppy properly. Make sure your Manchester Terrier is exposed to a wide variety of people, animals, and noises at a young age. It is especially important to expose your Manchester Terrier to a variety of people visiting your home and a variety of noises within the home while he is still a puppy. This will teach your puppy that these things are normal and acceptable and not to be barked at. If barking problems begin to develop, they can usually be dealt with either with some training, a bark collar, or (as a last resort) a surgical de-barking procedure.


Q: Can my Manchester live outdoors?

A. Although Manchester Terriers are quite a hardy breed, they should not be expected to live outside. Their lack of undercoat makes them sensitive to the cold in the winter and their black coloring makes them susceptible to overheating in the summer. This is not to suggest that Manchesters do not enjoy the outdoors; simply that they should not be expected to live outdoors year round. Manchester Terriers do best when living indoors with their family while being allowed to exercise and play outside.


Q: What is their activity level? Are Manchesters "hyper"?

A. Manchester Terriers are busy, intelligent, active, inquisitive and looking for a job and are not overly active indoors. Most Manchesters, as adults, match their activity level to that of their owner(s). Puppies, of course, are more energetic and “busy” than adults. A single Manchester Terrier will often not be overly active indoors, however, multiple dogs living in the same household will play together.

Outdoors, Manchesters have an abundant amount of energy. They are quite athletic and enjoy a variety of activities from playing with other dogs at the park, to playing ball, to running agility courses. In fact, the Standards can make good running companions as they have both speed and endurance. Standard Manchester Terriers require a bit more exercise than the Toys, usually between 30 minutes to 1 hour per day. Toy Manchesters can often get enough exercise inside, if the home or apartment is large enough.


Q: Will a Manchester Terrier get along with my other pets?

A. Manchester Terriers get along quite well with other dogs. While they are an assertive breed, they are not generally an aggressive one. They also can get along with cats, provided they were raised with them from a young age. However, as Manchesters were developed for centuries to hunt and kill small rodents and to course hare, it is inadvisable to ask them to live with rabbits, rats, mice or other rodent pets. Their terrier instinct is generally too strong to allow peaceful co-habitation with pets of this sort.


Q: What makes a better pet, a male or a female?

A. The sex differences in the Manchester Terrier seem to be less pronounced than in other breeds. Both males and females make excellent pets. Some find the males to be somewhat more demonstrative in their affections and companionable as a “pal” than the females, while the females have more of their own agenda, rather like a cat does. Depending on how active you are and what you are looking for in a pet, the Manchester Terrier breed has something that will suit you.


Q: How are they with children?

A. Most Manchester Terriers get along well with children, assuming they have been exposed to well-behaved children early on, and have been handled gently by them. Nevertheless, many Toy Manchester breeders prefer to sell their puppies to families with older children. If you want your dog to interact successfully with children it is important for you to expose your Manchester to children at an early age. It is also important that you teach the children to respect the dog and to treat it properly. Regardless, you should never leave any dog with a child unattended. Even the most trustworthy dog will often try things with a child they would never try with an adult.


Q: Do Manchester Terriers come in any other colors?

A. The only acceptable color for a Manchester Terrier is black and tan. In the mid-1800s there was some interest in different color variations including whites, blues, and reds and these color variants began appearing at competitions. However, various genetic problems seemed to be associated with some of these other colors; the English White Terrier, in particular, often displaying certain health problems. These color variants are no longer bred for, are no longer acceptable, and are today considered a serious fault.

Source: Canadian Manchester Terrier Club, TheGentlemansTerrier & ChesterPets

Go Back