Manchester Terrier
A sleek, athletic black-and-tan terrier that is sharp, affectionate and quick on its feet.
At a glance
- Size
- Small
- Height at the withers
- Males 38–41 cm · Females 36–38 cm
- Weight
- Males 6–8 kg · Females 5–7 kg
- Life expectancy
- 13–16 years
- Exercise
- 45–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Black and tan
- Bred for
- Terrier work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 3, no. 71 · Terriers
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 4/5 – High |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 1/5 – Very low |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a low-maintenance, athletic small dog
- live in a town but enjoy active walks
- like a dog that bonds closely
Think twice if you …
- keep rodents or other small pets
- live somewhere very cold without using a dog coat
- are away for long days
Care
Temperament
Alert, keen and affectionate, often devoted to one person. Discerning with strangers and lively in play.
Exercise
About an hour of daily walking, running and play suits it; it enjoys agility, lure coursing and scent work.
Grooming
The short, glossy coat needs only a weekly brush and sheds lightly.
Training
Learns quickly with positive, varied training, though it can be independent. Recall needs practice near wildlife.
Health
Von Willebrand disease, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and some heart and eye problems are reported in the breed. Ask the breeder for eye and heart results and any DNA tests they use.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Eye examination
- Heart
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Manchester Terrier was developed in nineteenth-century Manchester, where mill workers kept fast, smooth-coated terriers for ratting and rabbiting. Crosses between black-and-tan terriers and whippets produced its racy outline and speed.
Today it is a clean, compact companion that adapts well to town life if it gets enough activity. It is devoted to its family, often reserved with strangers, and still keen on chasing anything small that moves. Its short coat makes it easy to care for, though it feels the cold and appreciates a warm blanket and, in winter, a dog coat.
Did you know?
The UK Kennel Club lists the Manchester Terrier as a vulnerable native breed because of its low registration numbers.