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What is A Manchester Terrier?
Learning More About Today’s Manchester Terrier History

The Manchester Terriers seem to have always been a fancier’s breed and the oldest of all the Terrier breeds. Today, when people look for a Manchester Terrier to join their family, they are not only intrigued over this very regal looking dog but their research shows them how much fun and full of antics they truly have.   They also have a choice of a variety in choosing the Manchester. In North America the Manchester Terrier is divided into two varieties by size (weight).   A variety is a division of a breed based on coat, color, or size.   Each variety competes separately in the conformation Group ring but is considered one variety in the performance ring. See dog show information below for more details.
Originally, the breed itself was AKC recognized as two breed groups; the Toy Manchester Terrier in 1886 and then the Standard Manchester Terrier in 1887. The Toy Manchester Terrier (TMT) weighs up to 12 lbs and the Standard Manchester Terrier  (SMT) which weighs more than 12 lbs but must not exceed 22 lbs are often heard to be called over sized if they exceed their weight requirements. The Toy Manchester Terrier has naturally erect ears, never cropped. In North America today, cropping is allowed giving the Standard Manchester three (3) allowable ear types (naturally erect, button, or cropped). Other than size differences and ear type, the Manchester Terrier and the Toy Manchester Terrier have the same overall appearance.

In 1962, it was written the Manchester Terrier has the most distinctive color and markings of all the 115 breeds recognized by the AKC.   It also goes on to say his temperament is as distinctive as his good looks for the usual terrier adjectives of “dour” and “unpredictable” do not apply to the Manchester. He is renowned for a warm and sparking personality and an insatiable eagerness to learn. Once taught, he is responsive and obedience and takes immeasurable pride in this accomplishments.

Today locating a Manchester Terrier can be a difficult process. They are small in numbers and breeders are highly dispersed throughout the United States. For many years in the 50’s and 60’s Manchester Terriers were placed in the top third of popular breeds as compared to today, Manchester Terriers are on the bottom third. Of the favorite breeds in the nation and major U.S. cities for 2009 AKC lists the Manchester Terrier (SMT & TMT combined) Ranks 117th out of 164th. This is a slight increase to the average trend for the past 3 years of 107, 109, and 102 respectively. In the United States the litter registration for both varieties (SMT & TMT) is showcasing a reduction year over year. Five years ago there were approximately 150 litters registered compared to 106 in 2009 and 99 in 2008. 

During the 1950’s both the Standard and Toy Manchesters were in very serious trouble. Toys had been bred down to Chihuahua size and may even have been crossed with that breed by breeders trying for a particular market. They were sickly as well. Standard Manchester numbers were dwindling and they too, had their physical problems. Prior to 1955 the Standard and Toy Manchester was considered two separate breeds. In 1955 the AKC stepped in to help reorganize the Breed Club. Not only was the club in disarray, but they all agreed in order to support the survival of the breed(s) they needed to incorporate themselves into a variety and represent the breed as a whole. In doing so, they kept the American Toy Manchester Terrier Club, changed its name to the American Manchester Terrier Club (AMTC) and modified the breed as a variety to include the Standard Manchester Terrier.   It is thought that if the clubs had not merged it is quite possible that both varieties would be unrecognizable from the original breed. Even in the 80’s breeders were having Toy Manchester Terriers with big domed heads, pop eyes, no bone mass and questionable structure. Bad temperament, although improved today, did seem to play a role and the judges had a difficult time judging them.

To help the Toy Manchester Terrier and reduce the incorrect features of the variety, the North American Written Breed Standard was modified in 1991 to include “the Toy should be a diminutive version of the Standard”. This gave room for the breeders to incorporate more of the Standard Manchester Terrier in their breeding programs in the hopes of eliminating many of the unwanted attributes of the toy which had been occurring for so long. Today some 20 years later, there are concerns of too much influence from both inter-breeding varieties including health related issues not previously seen in either variety.  The debate continues amongst purists and inter-variety breeders and the toy breeders continue to strive for the ‘diminutive version’ of the Standard Manchester Terrier.   An interesting note to take into consideration is the current trend being showcased in the Standard Manchester Terrier and Group rings. Within the Standard Manchester Terrier breed rankings for both 2009 and 2010 the top rank dogs are of Toy breeding (going over 12 pounds) and doing very well. 

On the Show Scene
Although the Manchester Terrier as a breed has not changed very much over the century, the quality and health of the breed continue to be of concern by breeders and AMTC alike. AMTC, holds an annual National Specialty (a parent breed club sponsored event) to help review and assess the breed. In addition to the National Specialty, the nine districts of the AMTC once or twice a year will hold an AKC District Specialty in their area (gathering of Manchester fanciers). A highlight to note is the 2008 National Specialty which was the largest dog show entry seen in history. 117+ Manchester Terriers took over Hampton Virginia and astounded exhibitors, judges and the public alike.

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