The Manchester Terrier is considered one of the most original British dog breeds. His passion and task was rat hunting. To this day, this hunting instinct is in his blood, which is why the elegant, black-brown terrier needs a very good education. Within his two-legged family, the lively four-legged friend is a loyal, lovable chatterbox who gets along well with children of all ages.

ProfileManchester Terrier

Terrier with a long tradition

The origin of this robust and active terrier breed goes back further than the 15th century. During the Tudor period, the dog breed, named after the English city of Manchester, gained importance in rat hunting in medieval cities. As the cities became cleaner, the Manchester Terrier was given a new task with hare hunting. Today, only a few breeders still maintain this old breed.

Manchester Terrier: Character

The Manchester Terrier is an intelligent, attentive and motivated dog who is always ready to do something with his human. Equipped with a good portion of cooperation, he wants to please. He is full of energy and needs a maximum of physical and mental exercise. If this is missing, his strong will and independence come into play. He then makes his own decisions and develops creative activity ideas such as digging up the garden, destroying furniture or barking intensively. The small, courageous terrier generally takes his guard duty extremely seriously, which is why good education and socialization must be ensured from the very beginning. The Manchester Terrier is considered loyal and lovable in the circle of its humans. Due to his attachment and joy of movement, the little athlete does not like to stay at home alone.

Training and keeping of the Manchester Terrier

As a typical terrier, the Manchester also needs a clear line and fixed rules. You should attach great importance to his socialization in the first few weeks after moving in: Show your puppy his new world, introduce him to children, other dogs and as different situations as possible, but don’t overwhelm him. He will tend to overdo it and needs regular rest periods. Calm, steady movement helps this active dog to work out in a targeted manner. Be restrained with long play sessions and wild ball games. Your dog will demand more and more of it.

The hunting instinct requires special attention. Most terriers show a clear interest in cats and small animals at an early age. They should never be left unsupervised alone with four-legged roommates. The same applies when going for a walk: It is best to secure your wiry hunting dog with a tow line until you have it reliably under control when running free. This protects your dog from accidents and the game from injury and stress.

Caring for the Manchester Terrier

The Manchester Terrier’s straight short hair is very easy to care for. It is sufficient to brush it once a week and check the eyes, ears and teeth. This dog breed hardly sheds if the excess hair is brushed out regularly.

Also check out these smaller terrier species:

• Cairn Terrier: The Scots have a heart for terriers and bred the Cairn Terrier in addition to other breeds. The dog should be versatile, attentive, courageous and yet friendly to its own family. The fuzzy Scotsman meets all these requirements and convinces with a successful mix
•  Jack Russell Terrier: He is small, nimble and inspires with his droll nature: The Jack Russell Terrier is a charming clown and extremely smart. This should not hide the fact that the little dog needs consistent training and an experienced owner.
• Norfolk Terrier: The Norfolk Terrier makes an incredibly sympathetic first impression with its wavy, long fur and funny face. It lasts just long enough until the terrier discovers a cat and rushes away chasing away despite all calls.
• Norwich Terrier: The Norwich Terrier is one of the smallest terrier breeds. In recent decades, it has developed from a hunting dog to a family and companion dog. Nevertheless – the terrier heritage cannot be denied: The Norwich Terrier is up for any fun.
• Parson Russell Terrier: Are you looking for a sporty and cheerful dog, are you an active person, maybe with a family and children? If you also have a little dog experience, then the Parson Russell Terrier is your ideal candidate.
• Patterdale Terrier: With a Patterdale Terrier by your side, life with a dog never gets boring! The lively four-legged friends bring all their energy and joie de vivre into an active everyday life. After a long day in the fresh air and lots of exercise, they enjoy time with their family.
• Welsh Terrier: The Welsh Terrier is one of the rarest terrier breeds in the world. Its roots could go back to the Celts. In recent decades, its task has changed from hunting to companion dog. The intelligent small dogs are lovable family members.
• West Highland White Terrier: In the 1990s, the West Highland White Terrier became a fashion dog. The snow-white fuzzy head with the button eyes became a popular family companion. But hand on heart: It’s also hard not to fall in love with the Westie.
• Yorkshire Terrier: Cute button eyes flash out from under the bow, which don’t miss anything. That’s how you know the Yorkshire Terrier from TV. You could think of him as a cuddly toy, but far from it: The Yorkshire Terrier is an agile action dog with a strong character.