What to Know About Manchester Terriers

The oldest terrier breed with records dating back to the 1500s, Manchester Terriers — or simply Manchesters for short — were bred for rat-catching in England. Originally called black-and-tan terriers, the breed was renamed the “Manchester Terrier” when Manchester breeder John Hume crossed Black and Tan Terriers with Whippets, producing the modern Manchester Terrier line.

While many terrier breeds are bred for country hunting, Manchester Terriers were bred to catch vermin in urban environments. This unique history makes these dogs well suited to city life, and the toy variety, in particular, does well in apartments.

If you’re considering a Manchester Terrier companion, read on to learn everything you need to know about this breed.

Characteristics of a Manchester Terrier

Many people mistake Manchester Terriers for miniature Doberman Pinschers, and they have a similar appearance due to both breeds descending from the Black and Tan Terrier. Manchester Terriers have wedge-shaped, muscular bodies with short, smooth black-and-tan coats. They have slim, arched necks and long muzzles that help give the breed a sleek appearance. 

In the U.S., Manchester Terriers often have cropped ears. Cosmetic ear cropping is illegal in the U.K. and most of Europe, where it’s considered animal abuse, so natural button ears that stand up and fold over at the tip are more common for Manchester Terriers in those countries.  

Manchester Terrier Size

Manchester Terriers come in two varieties: standard and toy. 

Standard Manchester terriers are medium-small dogs, averaging 15 to 16 inches in height and 12 to 22 pounds in weight. 

Toy Manchester terriers are small dogs, averaging 10 to 12 inches in height and under 12 pounds in weight.

Manchester Terrier Personality

Manchester Terriers are intelligent, people-pleasing dogs that do well as household dogs for active families or working dogs. Manchester Terriers are athletic dogs that love to play, but they’re a versatile breed that also does well as lap dogs. 

Common Manchester Terrier characteristics include: 

• Alert
• Observant
• Intelligent
• Devoted
• Affectionate
• Athletic

Manchester Terrier Temperament

While Manchester terriers are spirited and high-energy like most terriers, their history as an urban breed makes them well suited for apartment life. Manchester terriers are affectionate family dogs that form close bonds with their owners and typically do well with children.

Manchester Terriers are often vocal dogs and can bark incessantly when not appropriately trained.

Manchesters are intelligent, thoughtful, observant dogs that can often be seen thinking through a situation before acting.

Caring for a Manchester Terrier

Manchester Terriers are relatively low-maintenance dogs. Manchesters don’t typically drool, and they have short, smooth coats that shed moderately and are easily maintained.

Manchester Terrier Grooming

Manchester Terriers have easy coats to maintain. They only require an occasional bath with a dog-friendly shampoo, though wiping your Manchester down with a damp towel weekly can help keep its coat shiny and clean. Manchester Terriers don’t need haircuts. You can brush your Manchester Terrier weekly with a hound glove, which can help control shedding. Manchester Terriers love to spend time with their owners, and most Manchesters enjoy their simple grooming process.

Manchester Terriers, like all dogs, need regular nail trims and dental care. You should brush your Manchester’s teeth daily with dog-friendly toothpaste and trim their nails before they’re clicking when walking. You can trim or grind down your Manchester terrier’s nails with an electric file as needed.

You should also give your Manchester a regular tick and flea preventative. These are available in chewables, sprays, topical treatments, powders, and flea prevention collars, both over-the-counter and by prescription. Talk to your vet if you have any questions about tick and flea prevention.

Manchester Terrier Exercise

While your Manchester Terrier will do well in an apartment or small house, they still need active playtime every day. A few brisk walks or an hour of outside playtime is enough for most Manchesters. Manchester Terriers love vigorous play and will enjoy chasing balls, Frisbees, or sticks.

Manchester Terriers are intelligent dogs that love to be challenged. They excel at many canine sports, including obedience, agility, tracking, flyball, and earthdog events. Manchester Terriers can even make great dancers!

Manchester Terrier Training

Manchester Terriers are intelligent, driven to please their owners, and easy to train using positive, reward-based methods. Manchester Terriers won’t respond well to harsh or punitive training methods. Early socialization with a wide variety of people and experiences is essential for raising a friendly, well-rounded pet. 

Manchester Terrier Feeding

Manchester Terriers will do well on any high-quality dog food that’s appropriate for their age and size. Puppies have higher energy needs than adult dogs and need puppy-specific food that’s high in protein. Manchester Terriers that are working dogs have higher energy needs than family pets and may require more food. Talk to your veterinarian if you have questions about how much to feed your Manchester Terrier. 

Manchester Terrier Medical Care

Like all dog breeds, Manchester Terriers should visit the vet every 3 to 4 weeks as puppies and annually after 1 year of age. 

Manchester Terriers need typical core vaccines, and some will need noncore vaccines. Your vet may give noncore vaccines if your Manchester has a higher exposure risk. Talk to your vet to decide if your Manchester Terrier needs any noncore vaccines.

Core vaccines include: 

• Canine parvovirus
• Distemper
• Canine hepatitis
• Rabies

Noncore vaccines include:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica
• Borrelia burgdorferi
• Leptospira bacteria

Manchester Terriers should take a heartworm prevention medication regularly to prevent this potentially deadly parasitic infection. Heartworms are spread through mosquito bites and are difficult to treat but easy to prevent. Puppies are started on a heartworm preventative by 8 weeks of age. Heartworm preventatives are prescription medications that come in oral or topical forms. Your vet can help you choose which prescription is right for your Manchester Terrier.

Manchester Terrier Health Issues

The average Manchester Terrier lifespan is 15 to 17 years. Health issues that Manchester Terriers can be prone to include:

Canine von Willebrand Disease

A genetic bleeding disorder, Canine von Willebrand Disease (vWD) can cause uncontrollable bleeding. Canine vWD can be mild to severe. Severe vWD can cause spontaneous bleeding from the nose or mouth and the urinary, reproductive, or intestinal tracts. If your Manchester Terrier has any signs of random or uncontrolled bleeding, talk to your veterinarian about vWD. 

The treatment for severe bleeding is a canine blood transfusion. If your Manchester Terrier has vWD, your veterinarian may give them a plasma transfusion before surgery or other procedures that can cause bleeding. Manchester Terriers with vWD should never be given medication that interferes with clotting, like aspirin or heparin.

Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Autoimmune thyroiditis is a disease where your Manchester Terrier’s immune system attacks its thyroid gland. Autoimmune thyroiditis damages the thyroid and prevents your Manchester from producing enough thyroid hormone, causing hypothyroidism. Symptoms include:

• Excessive shedding
• Fur loss or thinning
• Weight gain
• Reduced activity
• Reduced cold tolerance
• Thickening of the skin
• Frequent ear or skin infections
• Facial droop

If you suspect autoimmune thyroiditis, your veterinarian may test for related conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) . 

Hypothyroidism is treated with a synthetic thyroid hormone given in pill form. Your dog will need to take this medication for the rest of their life. If SLE causes your Manchester Terrier’s autoimmune thyroiditis, your veterinarian will likely prescribe anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant medications.  

Special Considerations for Manchester Terriers

Manchester Terriers are sensitive to the cold. You may need to encourage your Manchester Terrier to go outside for bathroom breaks in cold or rainy weather. A coat or sweater may be necessary to help keep your Manchester Terrier comfortable — in general, anytime you wear a coat or sweater, your Manchester would probably like one as well. 

Manchester Terriers do well with children. Affectionate, people-pleasing dogs, Manchester Terriers make a great family pet if they’ve been well socialized with children. They’re generally tolerant of children’s play, and many Manchester Terriers will even let children dress them up. Remember: No matter how child-friendly a dog is, small children should never be left with dogs unsupervised, and children should be taught how to handle a dog safely. 

Manchester terriers have a high prey drive. Originally bred to catch city vermin like rats, Manchester Terriers still have the instinct to chase after small animals and moving objects. Manchester Terriers aren’t a good fit for houses with small pets like rabbits or hamsters. Manchester Terriers should be leashed on walks and contained within a fenced area anytime they’re off-leash due to their chasing instinct. 

Manchester Terrier History

Manchester Terriers as we know them today originated in the 1800s when Black and Tan Terriers were bred with Whippets. They excelled at hunting city vermin like rats and mice and were used in a rat-killing sport where bets were placed on which terrier could kill the most rats in a certain period of time. 

Manchester Terriers became popular as pets during the Victorian era but fell out of popularity after ear cropping was outlawed in England in 1895. The look of the Manchester Terrier’s uncropped ears was unpopular, and breeders began to breed for the button ears that Manchester Terriers are associated with today.