Manchester terrier is a breed of dog that originated in Manchester, England, in the 1800’s. Dog breeders produced the terrier to compete in rat-killing matches. In these matches, people bet on how many rats a dog could kill in a given period of time. By mating the black-and-tan terrier, an excellent ratcatcher, with the swift whippet, the breeders hoped to produce a superior ratter. Today, Manchesters are popular house pets. They are loyal to their owners and make excellent watchdogs.
Manchesters have a smooth, black coat; and a tan mark over each eye, on each cheek, and on the chest. The front of the forelegs and the inside of the hind legs are tan with black markings. The ears are set high on the long, narrow head. The dog has a whiplike tail.
The Manchester terrier has two varieties: the standard and the toy. The standard Manchester weighs 12 to 22 pounds (5.4 to 10 kilograms). Its ears may naturally stand erect or may fold over, with the tips falling to the front. Some owners have the ears cropped (cut) to make them stand straight up. The toy Manchester weighs 5 to 12 pounds (2.3 to 5.4 kilograms). Its ears are naturally erect. The toy was bred from the standard.
