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Manchester Terrier |
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Described by
Dr. Johannes Caius's chronicle of English dogs (1570s), the Black and
Tan Terrier was probably the original ratting terrier, highly skilled
in his duty. The Black and Tan was coarser in head and body, and shorter
on leg than many of our modern terriers and may have looked much like
the modern smooth-coated Patterdale. The wellspring for many of the ter:
rier breeds, these black/tan dogs also contributed to the formation
of some fighting breeds.
The poor man's
sports of rat killing and rabbit coursing reached a zenith in the Manchester
district of England during the mid-1800s. John Huhne, as well as other
sporting men, determined to produce a dog with "true grit" that
could be used in both arenas, crossed the Black and Tan Terrier with the
coursing Whippet. This combination created the breed now known as the
Manchester Terrier. Backcrossing to fix type was mainly to more terriers,
but the Whippet (sighthound) influence is evidenced still by the
arched loin and slightly Roman nose with very little stop to the head.
But grit they did have! The famed "Billy" was pitted against
100 rats, with a time limit of eight-and-a-half minutes. Billy killed
them all in six minutes, 35 seconds, later lowering his time by another
22 seconds—only three-and-a-half seconds per rat!
Although the breed became celebrated, the name did not, many feeling it was too restrictive for a dog known throughout the British Isles. During his heyday in the Victorian era, he was often referred to as the "Gentleman's Terrier." For a time, around the turn of the present century, the original name (Black and Tan Terrier) was reintroduced. With a great
deal of size variation in the early Manchester stock, the Toy variety
was created by selecting and breeding the smallest among them. Although
called the Toy Manchester in the USA, the English version has retained
the interim name of Black and Tan Toy Terrier. This smaller version
also peaked in popularity during Queen Victoria's reign, with breeders
fascinated with producing tinier and tinier specimens until health and
normalcy were threatened. Two-and-a-half-pound adult dogs were not unusual.
Since ears always had been cropped, selection for ear size and carriage was unimportant. When ear cropping was outlawed in 1889, breeders of both varieties had difficulty in obtaining dogs of correct type that also had the good button ear. Also, the newly adopted standard required precise markings. This discouraged many breeders. By this time, ratting trials had been outlawed as well. The breeds lost favor and became quite rare. Due to the persistence of a few devotees, the Manchesters were maintained, without the size extreme favored in earlier times and with much-improved ears. By 1923, American
and English fanciers elected to stay with Manchester Terrier as a name
for the breed. In the same year, the Manchester Terrier Club of America
was formed.
Except for
size and ears, the standard and Toy varieties are judged by the same
standard. The larger is allowed folded ears, similar to those of the
Fox and Lakeland Terriers, or erect ears, often cropped in a long cut
(except in England). Ideally, the tan markings on the legs and toes
should contain "pencil marks" of black. Any white in the coat
is highly objectionable.
Their sleek
beauty, graceful movement and intelligence make them a choice for the
show ring. In the home, they are great friends with a long lifespan.
All of these qualities, plus their easy-care coats and an alert bark,
make them a good choice for the elderly.
Today, the
Toy is a nearly identical smaller replica of the standard Manchester
Terrier. The "little brother" has high-set erect ears that
do not fold or drop, and cropping is a disqualification.
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