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THE DISCERNING MANCHESTER TERRIER

The word ‘discerning’ in the Manchester Terrier Standard is there to try to alert the judge of the day to the very special temperament of the breed. This is not a lolloping, in your face, gundog. It is a breed with a very long history. It was bred out of street dogs that lived a hard life making a living where they could. It eventually came into the home as a ratting terrier to keep vermin under control. But the home was a town home, a working home, as poor as the streets in which it had live. Also its primary prey was caught and killed in confined spaces. It needed supremely quick reactions, hearing, sense of smell and eye sight. That makes for a dog with heightened senses and reactions. Its history also makes it a dog with reserve towards those it meets. Its past taught it that it could receive a kick as often as a friendly greeting. It also makes it a supreme guard dog, the stranger who comes to your property or who approaches your child is treated as a threat until it is told otherwise.

It is not merely discerning in its reaction to people, it is discerning about what it takes into its mouth and what it puts its feet on. It is an opportunist and will eat pretty well anything, but it does not eat golf balls, tennis balls, toys etc. Manchester Terriers mostly do not end up at the vet having ‘foreign objects’ taken out of its guts. It is cat like about where it treads too, it would rather not get its feet wet, without good cause and it treads lightly where ever it goes.

Every inch and every hair and instinct of this breed is ‘discerning’. Those of us who love the breed love this aspect of its character too and do not want to change it.

The Standard was changed in the 1980’s and the word ‘discerning’ put in then to best describe the special Manchester Terrier temperament. I think that it was the word put forward by George Sterland of the Cappoquin Manchester Terriers and we thought that it was apt.

ELLA EVA

Ella.eva1@yahoo.co.uk

The Manchester