American Manchester Terrier Club
An organization dedicated to promoting the interests of a noble and loyal breed
JoAnn Emrick, President 713-473-7800
Breed Particulars
This breed is smart, active, stubborn, curious and hilarious at times. 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.
- They look quite like a small Doberman Pinscher, with a sleek black and tan coat, elegant build, and keen expression.
- They move swiftly with light-footed grace.
- They are lively, playful, and athletic.
- They make keen watchdogs and are more responsive and better mannered than some terriers.
- They live a long time, generally 15 to 17 years.
With all of the incredible virtues the Manchester Terrier
has, it is a surprise that this dog has not impacted the canine world
more. While it may resemble a small-sized Doberman, it is a unique breed
and has been around a lot longer than Dobermans have. This dog is
perfect for active and energetic people. If you live in an apartment,
its size fits right into the picture. It has a very adaptable and
pleasing personality. This dog is very sure of itself and can serve as a
very good guardian dog.
Growth:
Manchester Terriers are born black-and-tan, although the tan sections may be quite dark on the neonates. The tan brightens as time goes by, and the black thumbprints and pencil marks become more well-defined. By the time Manchester puppies are old enough to go to their new homes, all markings are normally clearly evident and the demarcation between the black and tan areas is crisp. Standard Manchester puppies may have their ears cropped. This is usually done between the ages of 3 to 3-1/2 months. It is important to find a skilled and experienced veterinarian to perform the cropping, as a bad crop can ruin the dog's appearance for good and all. However, cropping is a fairly straightforward procedure and because most Manchesters' ears are inclined to stand naturally anyway, there is very little if any postoperative care (“posting”) involved. Make sure to talk to the breeder and veterinarian about this possibility.
General care:
This dog is an authentic terrier, however it does not have the typical terrier coat and it requires none of the trimming or hand-stripping of a wire coat. Brushing the coat on a weekly basis is enough to keep most Manchesters slick and gleaming. The ears should be kept clean, and the teeth checked regularly and kept clean of tartar. Attention to these simple but pertinent maintenance procedures will keep the Manchester hale and hearty for many long years.
Health concerns:
There are two heritable diseases present in the Manchester Terrier: Legges-Perthes Syndrome (also known as “toy dog hip dysplasia”) and von Willebrand's Disease, which is a bleeding disorder somewhat analogous to hemophilia in humans. As may be discerned from its nickname, Legges-Perthes is more frequently seen in the Toy Manchester than in the Standard, although it has also been found occasionally in the Toy's larger cousin. It is caused by a faulty circulatory system around the head of the femur which ends with the head of the femur dying and pulling away from the hip socket and the hip dislocating. Hence, its similarity to canine hip dysplasia, although not for the same reason. Palpation by a vet or even by an experienced breeder can detect looseness in the hip joints which might indicate the presence of Legges-Perthes.
Von Willebrand's Disease (vWD) results from low levels of clotting factor in the bloodstream, and is hereditary. The gene for normal blood clotting is the dominant gene; the gene for vWD is recessive. Therefore, it requires the inheritance of one recessive gene from each of the parents for a puppy to display symptoms of vWD. Fortunately, there is now a DNA test for vWD which tells whether a dog is Clear (has two normal genes), a Carrier (one normal gene and one vWD gene) or Affected (two vWD genes – a “bleeder”). Reputable breeders have their breeding stock DNA tested so as to ensure they never produce Affected puppies, and many, through judicious breeding and testing, have established breeding lines entirely clear of vWD.
Other health issues common to dogs in general exist also in the Manchester Terrier. Incidents of epilepsy, heart disease(s), and skin disease(s) of various kinds have been reported. However, the Manchester does not suffer a high incidence of these problems as compared with the general canine population.
Health and Educational Studies <more>
- Education Study
- Important
Anesthetic Information
- Combined AMTC/CMTC
Thyroid Survey Results
- Health Survey Information
- AKC Canine Health Foundation
- VetGen: Manchester Terrier Findings
- VetGen: Interpreting Results and Planning Breedings
Attributes / Traits
Real-world definition of a Toy Manchester Terrier showcased by a TMT and
others from
chester forums.
Attention Standard Manchester owners, we are looking for stories about
Standards and whether or not the Standard share some of the Toy traits.
E-mail
me with your stories!
Velcro Dog: Velcro dog is a slang term describing a
milder form of Separation Anxiety. Standards can be very
independent and downright devilish at times. They can also be velcro, but
some only want you when they want you. Toys can have a devotion that is really almost pathological. If you
don't want a dog who wants to be with you all the time (in bed, on the
couch, in the bathroom), then you do not want this kind of dog. It is
likely this dog won't leave your side whether you have him on a leash or
not.
Prey Drive: With squeaky or crinkly toys their sole
goal is to
make it so they don't squeak or crackle anymore. Relentless to the point
of driving you crazy. This also means you have to careful with
cats, birds and rodents. If they are your pets, they are probably ok.
Unknown cats, birds and rodents of any type beware! I've had my dogs
snatch cats off the top of a 6' fence and lay in wait for a squirrel
that wasn't paying attention -- and birds are not safe while on the
ground or within reach. The Standards can jump almost 4-5 feet from a
stand and can make it up to 6' from a running start.
Energy Level: Rather high energy but seems to burn it off quicker than
some dogs. They can come in from doing zoomies in the yard and
crash on the blanket or on the couch the rest of the evening. You
may find he will be climbing the walls and ping ponging off the
ceiling when you get home (even if you are only gone for 5 minutes) but will
calm down in about 20 minutes and be a lap dog until you pull out his
leash or come back inside again.
Lifestyle: this is a dog that will mold itself to your lifestyle -
Despite the proclivity for play, they can stay quietly for hours. Personality will change with who he is around. Doesn't like
children, unless they grow up with them. The Standards make good
companions on walks, hikes and bike riding, where they've been trained
in those venues.
Smarts: definitely a very smart dog but can also be
stubborn when not motivated properly. They seem to truly understand what
you are saying, and learn new info so quickly! Pickup up names,
distinguish people talking to others from talking to them. Almost knows
immediately what is off limits and are not threats.
Habits: very particular about bedtime and will ditch you between 8:30
and 9:30 and go up to bed on his own. Will go on an occasional barking
rant over the "ghost" in the yard, the wind that just blow passed or
whatever.
Sociability: Not so friendly when they don't know you but is way too
happy if he remembers you. It takes a little while to get used to
strangers that come to visit, but once they're accepted they're ok.
Observations: Some say theirs are very calm and couch potatoes. Some
sound like little angels, and others are very mischievous! (sounds like
our human children).
More Info
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. Read more in Attributes & Traits
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.
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!
Without extensive socializing the Manchester Terrier can become shy and fearful, with overindulgence they can become tyrannical; socialization done properly is critical.