Manchester Terrier: Temperament, Puppies For Sale, and Price

The Manchester Terrier is a very smart dog, but above all an unbeatable life companion.

The Manchester Terrier is not only one of the oldest English Terriers, but also one of the most suitable to live in an apartment or in a house with a backyard. Although it likes playing, this breed is generally quite lazy, so it only needs a sofa or a rug to feel at home. In the past, however, this Terrier was a great mice hunter.

Manchester Terrier: Origins

The Manchester Terrier has existed since the 19th century, but it seems that it remained in its native country, Great Britain, for at least four centuries before it became known. Originally there was a dog called “Old black and tan Terrier“, which was very common in the northwest area of the island. The dogs we see today would be the modern version of them.

The Manchester Terrier is not a very popular breed in Canada, Australia, and South Africa. It is very common to see Manchester Terriers on the streets of the United States, but there they have their ears cropped. This practice, which was also fashionable in England, should end.

Fortunately, they no longer use ear cropping on Manchester Terriers, but these Terriers had to pay a high price to achieve this civil emancipation. When the Prince of Wales decided to ban amputations by issuing a decree in 1898, the breed’s numbers collapsed immediately. Society’s angry reaction almost made the breed extinct. From that moment on, the breed was reborn, but in a totally different way: not from a morphological point of view, but in its role and temperament.

A few years after the prince’s decree, a group of enthusiastic breeders revived the breed and transformed it into a companion dog. Aggressive and determined, it used to be a prized hunter of mice and small animals. But once crossbred with the Whippet, the Manchester Terrier became much calmer. This touch of friendliness has also benefited it physically. According to experts, the new version of the breed is aesthetically more attractive, less rustic, and “robust”, more refined, and elegant.

Manchester Terrier: Puppies

Manchester Terriers puppies are small and black. with brown spots. Once they reach adulthood, they are medium-sized and their coat, in addition to black, may have brown spots.

• Males stand 16-17 inches (40-41cm) at the shoulder.
• Females are 15 inches (38 cm) tall.

Their smooth, compact, muscular bodies express great power and agility. They can live for many years.

The Manchester Terrier has a compact and well-proportioned body, and a long, flat, and narrow skull. It resembles a blunted wedge in frontal and profile views. The muzzle is black. The nearly black, almond shaped eyes are small, bright, and sparkling. The ears are “V” shaped. They are not large and fall over the forehead above the eyes. 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.

Its coat is short, smooth, and glossy. Its coat is jet black and rich mahogany tan, which should not run or blend into each other, but abruptly from clear, well defined lines of color.

Manchester Terrier: Temperament

This breed fits perfectly in a house, in an apartment, or in a mansion. Besides, it is also a very clean and quiet dog. It can be a very obedient member of the family. Those who are with him 24 hours a day also say that the Manchester Terrier is very pleasant and cheerful, lively, and intelligent, courageous, and energetic. We are not exaggerating the qualities. It is also very respectful and attached to his owner.

What more could one ask for? Although the Manchester Terrier is an active dog during its walks, as it is dedicated to chasing small prey, either because it found them or because it was curiously looking for them, when it is at home it stays quietly on the sofa. Few things will convince it to move from that place: It is lazy. This breed is fond of children. It loves hugs and will never be aggressive. It may be a bit cold to strangers at first, until it figures out if it is necessary to defend its family or if it can trust them.

Manchester Terrier: Health

Besides being one of the most suitable dogs to have in an apartment, the Manchester Terrier is a dog that enjoys good health and does not even require much grooming for its coat. Its coat is short, clean, and black. You will have no major problems. It will stay calm at home after doing the right amount of daily exercise. And if you feed it in a balanced way, it will not have obesity problems.

Some answers to the most common questions

1. Can it live in the backyard? It is not recommended as it has no inner coat (undercoat), and therefore it suffers from low temperatures. It prefers to sleep in the warmth of home… and if it sees the chance, it will not hesitate to get under the sheets! However, beyond the “temperature” problem, the Manchester Terrier is a dog that we will enjoy much more if it is with us at home. Furthermore, it will be very happy and will fill our hearts with joy. As a family, we will notice some aspects of its temperament that would otherwise have remained hidden from us… and that will make us feel even more proud of our choice.
2. Is it a good guard dog? The answer is Yes! It is an excellent alarm. It is territorial, reckless, and almost audacious in the face of any danger that threatens its owner and its home.
3. Does it bark a lot? Fortunately, it does not. It only does so when necessary.
4. Does it need to exercise a lot? Like all Terriers, it is an active and dynamic dog, which must unburden its energies; but its small size makes it particularly easy to handle, as a limited space would be more than enough for it to make all the exercise it needs. Moreover, it is not a “frenetic” dog, in other words, it is not always in constant movement. It adapts perfectly to family rhythms. For example, it can wait quietly until the next walk in its own private place in the house.
5. Does it have a high predatory instinct? Yes, like all Terriers. Although nowadays it is almost exclusively a companion and a show dog, it certainly has not forgotten its origins and the job it was selected for. Therefore, if the Manchester has the opportunity, it will act as a perfect “rat exterminator”. In the absence of rodents, it will chase lizards or other small animals. In general, it is “triggered” by any strange movement.

Manchester Terrier: Price, and Puppies For Sale

The price of a Manchester Terrier puppy can vary greatly due to the limited number of available specimens. We may find Manchester Terriers from 700 to 1100 dollars, about 600-900 English pounds in breeding establishments. On the Internet or abroad, the price may be different.

Fortunately, this rustic, friendly, and sturdy dog is low-maintenance when it comes to its coat or health care. It is essential that you be aware of the fraudsters who are always on the prowl. This is why we recommend that you contact a reliable breeder to make sure that your puppy has been:

• Bred for good health and temperament;
• Well-selected (this means that its parents were chosen without genetic diseases);
• Properly socialized, so that it is not too fearful or too aggressive;
• Vaccinated and well-groomed.

Now that we have clarified all the most important aspects, you can go in search of your new 4-legged friend, who is surely waiting for you.

You may be interested in reading another article related to other dog breeds such as:

• Russian Toy
• Manchester Terrier
• American Hairless Terrier
• Cairn Terrier
• Alaskan Klee Kai
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Griffon Belge
• Maltese
• Chihuahua
• Lakeland Terrier