The Manchester Terrier breeds have come a long way since their inception in England, at where else? Manchester! Up until 1959, the Toy Manchester Terrier and the standard Manchester Terrier were listed as two separate breeds. However, because they share many qualities, several dog governing agencies like the AKC (American Kennel Club) forged the two breeds into one with two varieties of Manchesters.

Overall Appearance

Overall, the Toy Manchester Terrier and the standard version both have very similar temperaments and physical characteristics. Both Manchester models have a clear gaze shining with intelligence as well as a strong, classic look with a sleek lined body. The muscles are well-defined in both varieties of active Manchesters. These dogs have great flexibility and speed, perfect to live up to their rat catching reputation.

Other similar appearances include the tapered down tail as well as the black coat with distinguishing dark tan markings on various parts of the body. Really, the only parts of each Manchester that are different are the body size as well as the shape of the ear.

Size Issues

In regards to their size, the Toy Manchester Terrier and the standard Manchester Terrier show distinct differences. For the toy variety, their height varies from dog to dog but is usually between 8 to 13 inches. With the standard variety, the typical height differential is usually between 14 to 16 inches.

The weight of these two Manchester Terriers also differs as well. The Toy Manchester Terrier usually does not exceed its maximum weight of 12 pounds. Some grown females have weighed as little 7 pounds although the average is close to 10 pounds. With the standard Manchester Terrier, they must be over 12 pounds but should not go over the 22 pound weight limit that some dog competitions place on them.

Listen Up

In competition, the proper ear standard for the Toy Manchester Terrier is an ear that is naturally erect. This means that the base of the ear against the head should be wide with the shape tapering to the pointy tip of an ear. A rounded tip of the ear or other funny shape in addition to cut ears could be a disqualification in competition.

For the standard Manchester Terrier, the right ears, especially for competition are either a naturally upright ear, a button ear or even a cropped ear. The button ear and natural ear should have a wide base against the head and taper to a pointed tip.

While each dog is different, many dog experts also feel that life expectancy varies just by a few years between the Toy Manchester Terrier and the standard Manchester Terrier. The larger standard size has an estimated lifespan of up to 15 years. The toy size expectancy lifespan is typically 10-12 years. In most other ways, both of these varieties of the Manchester breed are virtually the same. And with similar black and tan colorings and body build, without that weight and height distinction, you would almost believe they are the same.

comments powered by Disqus