Manchester Terrier (Toy) puppies

About the Manchester Terrier (Toy)

The Manchester Terrier was built in the industrial north of Britain to kill rats, a cross of the old black and tan terrier with whippet blood that gave the breed speed and a curved topline. The Toy variety is the same dog in miniature, a sleek black and tan animal with a short smooth coat, standing 25 to 30 cm and rarely over 5.4 kg. They are sharp, quick to attach themselves to one or two people, and far more terrier than lapdog in the way they react to noise and movement.

Grooming is close to nothing: a weekly wipe with a damp cloth or hound glove, an occasional bath, and nails trimmed every couple of weeks. Exercise matters more than the size suggests, so plan on two proper walks a day plus a game of chase. The breed rates well with children, but a fine boned toy dog needs supervision and children who have been shown how to handle one. Treat their recall with caution, because the prey drive is fully intact.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Manchester Terrier (Toy) 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 toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. They can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so they need frequent small meals rather than two big ones. 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 identified by cardiac examination while a genetic test is being developed
• Patellar luxation, graded on veterinary orthopaedic examination
• von Willebrand disease, a clotting disorder detectable by DNA test
• Anaesthetic sensitivity shared with the breed's sighthound ancestry, which the vet should be told about before any surgery
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist examination
• Pyometra and mammary cancer in unspayed females, found on veterinary examination

Your Manchester Terrier (Toy) puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Manchester Terrier (Toy).
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the Up to 5.4 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 22 inch (22 x 14 x 16 in, 56 x 36 x 41 cm) for an adult of up to 5.4 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

• Puppy pads: are they a good idea, and how to pick ones that do not leak
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other toy breeds

More on the Manchester Terrier (Toy)

Previous: Manchester Terrier (Standard) · Next: Maremma Sheepdog

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 (Toy) breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/manchester-terrier-toy/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: sally9258, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.