How to Identify a Manchester Terrier

Last Updated: January 11, 2021 References

Manchester Terriers are named after the English city where much of the breed's earlier development took place.^{[1]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} There are two types of Manchester Terriers, standard and toy, with the standard being part of the terrier group, and the toy being part of the toy group.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} Manchester Terriers share some traits with other dogs, but by recognising their key traits, it can be much easier to identify a Manchester. This wikiHow will help you know whether or not a dog is a Manchester Terrier.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Recognising Body Structure

1
Check the dog's size. Manchester Terriers can be two sizes:
- Standard Manchester Terriers are 15–16 inches (38.1–40.6 cm) tall and weigh 12–22 pounds (5.4–10 kg).^{[3]
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  Trustworthy Source
  American Kennel Club
  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
  Go to source}
- Toy Manchester Terriers are 10–12 inches (25.4–30.5 cm) tall and weigh under 12 pounds (under 5.4 kg).^{[4]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Kennel Club
  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
  Go to source}
2
Examine the eyes. Manchesters have bright, sparkling eyes which are set fairly close together. The eyes are black, and slant upwards on the outside.^{[5]
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3
Find the ears. Standard Manchesters can have either naturally erect ears, cropped ears or button ears. These ears should be wider at the base and set high on the head (except the button ear). Toy Manchesters only have naturally erect ears, which are wider at the base tapering to a pointed tip and set high on the head.^{[6]
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4
Look at the muzzle. A Manchester's muzzle is well filled and has no visible cheek muscles. The lips are tight and black whilst the teeth are white with scissors bite or a level bite.^{[7]
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5
Notice the tail. Manchester Terriers have rather short tails which are thicker where they join the body. The tail is carried in a slight upward curve but never over the back.^{[8]
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6
View the overall structure. A Manchester Terrier have muscular thighs with hind feet shaped like those of a cat. The shoulders are well laid back and the shoulder blades and upper arm should be around the same length. The neck is thin and graceful, and it slopes toward the shoulders.^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Taking Notice of the Coat

1
Check the texture and appearance of the coat. A Manchester Terrier has a smooth, dense, short, tight, and glossy coat.^{[10]
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Research source} The coat shouldn't be soft, and it should be of firm texture.^{[11]
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2
Look at the coat's colour. Manchester Terriers have jet-black and rich mahogany tan colours on their coat, which don't blend into each other but have an abrupt meeting line. They have a very small, tan spot above both eyes and on each cheek. The muzzle is tanned to the nose, and there should be tan spots, called rosettes, on either side of the chest above the front legs.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Checking the Temperament

1
Look for liveliness. The Manchester Terrier is lively and spirited. They're very social, and love to be around humans when they can. The Manchester is very active, wanting several walks a day, and will love it more than anything if they are taken for a run.^{[13]
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2
See how alert the dog is. Manchester Terriers will often bark at every new sight or sound, so excessive barking is definitely something to look out for.^{[14]
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3
Notice if the dog has a mind of their own. Manchesters are often clever escape artists and will go over or under fences in search of adventure. They are tough and stubborn, traits which helped them whilst they were killing vermin. Training a Manchester Terrier will generally be frustrating, as they often think they're the king of the world.^{[15]
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4
Determine if the dog is aggressive towards other animals. The Manchester Terrier will often chase small animals, such as rabbits, cats, hamsters etc. They generally get along with other dogs, but can be incredibly territorial around dogs of the same sex. If they think another dog came too far into their space, they'll be sure to let them know, even the other dog only did it by accident.^{[16]
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5
Watch for loyalty. Manchesters are extremely loyal, and will want to be at their owners side at all times possible.^{[18]
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