Breeds / Small
Manchester Terrier (Standard) puppies
Keen, quick and clean in the house, closely attached to their person and always alert. A sleek black and tan terrier with sighthound in their make-up.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin Great Britain
- Adult weight 5.4 to 10 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 12 to 22 lb
- Adult height 38 to 41 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short smooth
- Shedding Low
- Typical lifespan 15 to 17 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Manchester Terrier (Standard)
The Manchester Terrier was made in industrial northern England for killing rats and coursing rabbits, reportedly by crossing the old black and tan terrier with a whippet, and the result still looks it: an arched loin, a tucked up waist and a long wedge shaped head. The standard variety weighs 5.4 to 10 kg and stands 38 to 41 cm, in a short glossy black and tan coat. They are keen, quick, clean in the house and closely bonded to one person.
Energy is high, so a couple of proper walks plus something to chase every day, after which they will happily take the sofa. Grooming is a weekly wipe with a damp towel or hound glove and an occasional bath, though the thin coat means they feel the cold. They bark readily. They rate well with children, with supervision and socialisation. The one thing to remember for life: tell any vet about the sighthound ancestry before surgery, because the breed needs the same caution with anaesthesia as a Greyhound.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Manchester Terrier (Standard) puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy, currently found by echocardiogram, with a genetic test under development
- Patellar luxation, detected on orthopaedic examination
- Von Willebrand's disease, an inherited clotting disorder detectable by DNA test
- Sensitivity to anaesthesia inherited from their sighthound ancestry, managed by telling the vet before any procedure
Your Manchester Terrier (Standard) puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Manchester Terrier (Standard).
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 5.4 to 10 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 10 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Manchester Terrier (Standard)
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Manchester Terrier (Standard) breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/manchester-terrier-standard/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Roger Ahlbrand, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.