Look who!!

[Smitty]

I was stood next to one at a village dog show in Somerset some years ago. The owner had travelled two or three hundred miles to get it. Not sure I have seen another since. I love them.

 

[Chiffy]

Only just seen this post. We had a Manchester 30 years ago. Smart looking little dogs with loads of character. We struggled to find one and had to travel a long way. She was expensive too! The breeder told us that there were only 11 in the country at the end of the war.

 

[ihatework]

I think they are an amazing breed! I can’t fathom why they are so rare.

 

[palo1]

I think they are an amazing breed! I can’t fathom why they are so rare.

Have you had MTs before or is the breed new to you? I think it is just 'fashion' re: why they are not more popular tbh. There are some really wonderful breeds that would happily suit modern family life that are totally forgotten about. In part I think it is because of the intensely image driven and the kind of 'narrow' focus influence of that. My lad is medium sized, non shedding, lovely fun temperament, healthy breed history and 'fun' looking but the breed is still really rare. I always get asked about him and he is much admired out and about but most people assume he is some kind of trendy cross-breed! A MT is a lovely size, smart looking, easy coat to maintain and has a good breed society too; you would think they would make really popular dogs. It really is a shame that they are not - potentially in favour of less healthy and less understood breeding. It seems mad to me!!

 

[ihatework]

Yes I’ve had one before!
Was just waiting for the right time to introduce another ?

 

[Smitty]

I wonder if its their colour. A lot of people dont like like dark coloured dogs, although black Patterdales are certainly not rare.

 

[palo1]

Yes I’ve had one before!
Was just waiting for the right time to introduce another ?

Aw, that is lovely that MTs have another dedicated 'enthusiast'!! I would love more Irish terriers and quite fancy a smooth fox terrier (a friend has one) though they certainly can have devilish temperaments lol!!

 

[Smitty]

I Googled them and have found a 4 day old advert for MT x Yorkie. Mum is the MT. I would be tempted if the pup had an MT type coat ...

 

[CorvusCorax]

I saw a lovely pair of MTs at a coffee shop in 2020 and the owners were shocked I knew what they were I think they were visiting though.

 

[druid]

I Googled them and have found a 4 day old advert for MT x Yorkie. Mum is the MT. I would be tempted if the pup had an MT type coat ...

Oh this makes me want to cry - the numbers registered annually are tiny so cross breeding is an absolute failure for the breed. We average about 150 pups a year in the UK, our litter is only the second in Ireland in the past 10 years


I adore our MTs, they've such character and are great with bigger dogs. Happy to wrestle and get muddy but delighted to curl up on the sofa. It seems to me they're marmite dogs - people either adore them or don't take to them at all. Well bred ones are an absolutle joy but like any guardy breed they need lots of socialising (the last two of the litter went to the train station today for a little day trip!) and we do haave vWD and renal issues in the breed (all being well investigated/researched with the breed club raising huge funding for scientific studies).

 

[palo1]

Oh this makes me want to cry - the numbers registered annually are tiny so cross breeding is an absolute failure for the breed. We average about 150 pups a year in the UK, our litter is only the second in Ireland in the past 10 years


I adore our MTs, they've such character and are great with bigger dogs. Happy to wrestle and get muddy but delighted to curl up on the sofa. It seems to me they're marmite dogs - people either adore them or don't take to them at all. Well bred ones are an absolutle joy but like any guardy breed they need lots of socialising (the last two of the litter went to the train station today for a little day trip!) and we do haave vWD and renal issues in the breed (all being well investigated/researched with the breed club raising huge funding for scientific studies).

Yes, it seems a huge shame to cross breed such lovely rare dogs. I know the IT society tend to rather frown on outcrosses as they have worked so hard to bring those terriers back from the brink. I did consider a MT before acquiring my IT but the slightly bigger size and wiry coat sold me lol!!

 

[Smitty]

I see crosses with Norfolk's as well though. In this instance I assumed there was no suitable stud available, but then I have not the first clue about breeding rare breeds ...

I do agree it's very sad if a pure and healthy MT litter could have been produced. Judging from the small selection of people on here who are keen on MTs, they could have been homed easily.