Manchester terrier fans

[P3LH]

I know there are a few on here - for research purposes I’m intrigued to know more.

Having always admired them at shows, I just think they’re really smart little creatures, I am curious to what they are like out of trotting around a ring - as this is often misleading as we know.

They cropped up in discussion at work today, as someone has added them to their maybe list for a future dog. They are a breed I’ve admired from a far for a long time.

 

[Chiffy]

We had a Manchester many years ago. We had been whippet people but I fancied a Manchester, they are so smart looking. I believe they may still be a vulnerable breed. Apparently there were only 11 left in the country at the end of the war so much of the breeding is quite close.
When we bought ours my OH said she cost , weight for weight , as much as a £50,000 racehorse!
The main thing I learnt was that they are a TERRIER, just be prepared for that. I discovered I am not a terrier person! She was opinionated from the moment she arrived. She was a family pet and we did love her but didn’t find her the easiest. Whippets have a much nicer temperament in my opinion, but terrier fans may not agree.

 

[P3LH]

That was my take on the breed too, but my colleague seemed to think they were a rather sedate and measured accomplice - I felt I had missed this memo.

 

[cauda equina]

The only ones I've met have been scrappy, looking to pick fights with everything

 

[Annette4]

I've only known one personally, he got himself banned from agility which was a mean feat in itself as the trainer thought Dobby's zoomies were hilarious and wasn't phased by his reactivity. As someone with 1 1/2 terriers I do think his behaviour was an owner issue though from what I saw.

I have however spent a long time admiring the likes on Onyx (flyballing Manchester Terrier) and they are on our list for in the future although that list does grown with every visit to Discover Dogs

 

[TPO]

@druid @ihatework @ponyparty own/breed them

 

[ihatework]

For me they are pretty much perfect!
I’m on my second, really happy go get characters that also adore their humans and are super snuggly.

Very intelligent which is probably good and bad, they know their own minds.

My boy one is very friendly with other dogs but on first sight can get a bit alert and grumbly (but it’s all mouth and no trousers!)

He does agility and goes out beating

 

[SkylarkAscending]

@ponyparty has Frank who is a total dude! Apart from he didn’t get on with George….but many dogs don’t get on with George

 

[ponyparty]

@SkylarkAscending he was terrified of George and also George’s reactiveness with other dogs set him off and he wanted to get involved, it was a bloomin nightmare

To answer the OP… well I’m clearly biased but they’re ace very intelligent, but definitely don’t always use their power for good you’ll need a good sense of humour as they run rings around you (sometimes quite literally, thinking back to Frank’s adolescence!). They certainly are terriers, with the prey drive and alertness that comes with that. Also massive sofa and bed hoggers. Make great hot water bottles - if you can convince them to let you put your cold feet on them, that is..! Mine hates water and getting his feet wet, he has a lot of coats for rainy walks. They don’t shed much and mostly just wipe clean like Teflon. I’m a lazy groomer so this suits me just fine!

They can be prone to being nervy, I had that covered and F was a well rounded little dog that I could take anywhere. However since covid lockdowns and some traumatic events (being attacked by other dogs) he is aloof with strangers, and selective about dogs he likes. But SO loving and gentle with those he considers family, and so sweet with dogs he considers friends.

They’re big personalities and will give you a few grey hairs along the way - but they are worth it. Very fun dogs! I may sometimes mutter “why on earth didn’t I get a lab” under my breath, but truth be told, life would be boring without my feisty little black and tan friend by my side

 

[Chiffy]

Just popped back P3LH, having read other comments . Our Manchester was not difficult with other dogs, was well behaved and intelligent at obedience training and she showed well. She just had a mind of her own at home and I had to be careful when visitors came that they ignored her and waited for her to be friendly, not the other way round. I was used to dogs that wanted to please you and I felt she always wanted to please herself first!

 

[P3LH]

They are beautiful - and sound very charming. The colleague looking at one was just happy to speak to someone without being told to import a rescue dog from Romania or cypress as an automatic response. I’m not quite sure the breed will suit what they’re after though.

 

[Glitter's fun]

We used to have a source of non-pedigree Manchester Terrier types (a rescue in Lancashire) but they only seem to get bully-x types now.
Absolutely loved them & would get another in a heartbeat. They were energetic, intelligent & characterful - depends if you love or hate that!

Never had a pedigree one. No offence to their fans just my personal worries about small gene pools.

Edited to add; one of ours was mildly epileptic (maintained on tablets & lived to a very ripe old age). The vet said she'd seen it in the breed before. That was a long time ago.

 

[ponyparty]

Generally there are few health issues in the breed though (compared to many other pedigree dogs). Their appearance hasn’t really changed in the last 100 years. They’re cracking little dogs, full of personality. Does depend if you like the challenge of that in a dog or not

Probably the most annoying thing about them is they’re so attractive that everyone wants to stroke them. Frank doesn’t like being stroked by strangers so I am CONSTANTLY having to tell people to leave him alone. It gets quite grating after a while when you’re just trying to have a coffee/meal/beer when you’re out and about!

 

[druid]

I (Well, the mothership) breeds them, with our first homebred Champion this year - Finn, the brother to IHW's Loki.

We breed a mixed performance/show line - our only breeding bitch currently competes in Bikejor and holds her own with the eurohounds/greysters on technical trails due to being so damn smart and quick on commands. Finn can usually be found upside down asleep on a camp chair under his blanky at shows no matter what is going on, he's also been handled by various people to Irish CC equivalents who he met only the day of the show due to my work schedule. He's so laid back he's practically horizontal.

They are terriers, through and through - ours rat and mouse at every chance they get. We don't have dog reactivity/stranger reactivity issues but our lines draw less from the UK stock and more from USA/NZ/Aus where tempraments are better in general. We also raise every litter with puppy culture, IHW will tell you Loki left us without a backwards glance and tail wagging in a busy McDonalds carpark to head off with her for his ferry trip home!

 

[malwhit]

I had a Manchester Terrier years ago, I was forever being asked if Dexter was a Dobermann puppy or a black/tan Whippet

 

[Patterdale]

I have one, and she’s just ace.

They are a wonderful breed. They’re sleek and clean, a nice small portable size without being tiny, they’re active enough to keep up with any amount of exercise, but they’re also fond of warm soft places and resting when needed too. They’re also very beautiful and elegant.
People always comment on mine and ask what she is.

Yes they are terriers, and they do have a high prey drive, but they are also far more intelligent and trainable than the average terrier. Mine has an excellent recall.

I really can’t think of a better dog!!

 

[photo_jo]

Generally there are few health issues in the breed though (compared to many other pedigree dogs). Their appearance hasn’t really changed in the last 100 years. They’re cracking little dogs, full of personality. Does depend if you like the challenge of that in a dog or not

Probably the most annoying thing about them is they’re so attractive that everyone wants to stroke them. Frank doesn’t like being stroked by strangers so I am CONSTANTLY having to tell people to leave him alone. It gets quite grating after a while when you’re just trying to have a coffee/meal/beer when you’re out and about!

Have you seen the image of them in the painting at Arley Hall? I've an image of it somewhere, I'll look it out

 

[Patterdale]

Have you seen the image of them in the painting at Arley Hall? I've an image of it somewhere, I'll look it out

I’d love to see this too!

 

[photo_jo]

I’d love to see this too!

If you ever go to Arley it is (well was), on the right hand side in the entrance. A Manchester Terrier enthusiast saw the painting in an episode of Bargain Hunt (or something like that), hence I went to copy it for them -with the permission of Arley! It's one of the two marked in the bottom photo

 

[MurphysMinder]

There is a school of thought that Lancashire heelers are descended from MTs, disputed by quite a few stalwarts of the breed but I can certainly see a similarity, both in appearance and attitude . I see a lady regularly at agility shows with 2 MTs , they are really good, though can be a bit reactive when queuing.

 

[ponyparty]

I’ll have to go! I’ve got this print up on the wall in my landing (currently obscured by a bathroom cabinet while I faff around making a few improvements in there!).

 

[ponyparty]

Slightly thicker-set back then, before the introduction of whippet into the bloodlines I assume..?

 

[Bearin' it]

Just seen this post, had to contribute! Two of our dogs were on the Obreedience team that won Crufts in '22 and were 4th in '23, so they are very trainable and great fun with it. However, they are extremely manipulative opinionated terriers, and the Breed Standard description 'Discerning but Devoted' sums up their attitude to most things - they like who they like and don't go readily to people/dogs they don't know or have been offended by in the past. Not a dog for everyone but once you have one they do kind of become addictive! The FB page 'British Manchester Club Terrier Fan Page' is a good place to see them warts an' all. Believed to be England's oldest breed of terrier they were originally called Black and Tans, and have been written about since Tudor times. They are in the make up of a lot of younger breeds, most noticeably the Dobermann.