Manchester Terrier History

Breed Origins

• According to Mersey Manchester Terriers, the breed was developed by an English breeder named John Hulme during the nineteenth century. He crossed a rough-coated, black and tan terrier with a whippet, resulting in the modern breed's coloration and smooth, glossy coat. The Italian greyhound and the dachshund may have also played a role in the creation of the breed.

Working History

• Originally, the Manchester terrier was bred to be a vermin hunter. Rats and mice were a serious problem to food stores during the nineteenth century and the terriers were trained to hunt and kill these pests. The dogs became common on ships, where they would kill mice and rats that threatened the ship's food supply.

Sporting History

• Manchester terriers were also used in the sports of rat baiting and hare coursing. In rat baiting, the Manchester terrier was placed in a pit with rats, which it would then kill. The winning dog was the one that managed to kill the greatest number of rats in the smallest amount of time. These terriers were also used in hare coursing, where two dogs pursue a hare over open territory and the winner was the dog that caught the hare.

Popularity

• The Manchester terrier achieved the height of its popularity during the Victorian age, where its clean lines and ratting ability made it a popular household pet. It was a popular sporting dog for the upper-class gentleman and the breed became known as the “gentleman's terrier.” Victorian ladies sought small Manchester terriers, which led to the development of a toy size. However, this procedure was carried to extremes and produced unhealthy animals. Today, the Westminster Kennel Club recognizes both toy and standard sizes. The modern toy Manchester terriers are healthier animals.

Ear Cropping and Size

• Ear cropping was banned in England in 1895. It is a surgical procedure that removes a part of the ear in order to produce ears that stand upright. As ear cropping had always been traditional for Manchester terriers, the uncropped ears looked unattractive and strange to the people who were used to the breed. This decreased the breed's popularity in England until the "button ear" was developed, which featured a V-shaped ear that folded down. The button ear became the breed standard in England but in the United States ear cropping is still legal. The Westminster Kennel Club's standards recognize three types of ears for the standard size Manchester terrier--naturally erect, button and cropped. However, the toy size may only have naturally erect ears. The UK Kennel Club's standards include only one size for Manchester terriers, from 15 to 16 inches at the shoulder.