Manchester Terrier Breed Standard

General Appearance:
A small black short coated dog with distinctive rich mahogany markings and a taper style tail. In structure, the Manchester presents a sleek, sturdy yet elegant look and has a wedge shaped long and clean head with a keen, bright, alert expression. The smooth, compact, muscular body expresses great power and agility enabling the Manchester to kill vermin and course small game. Except for size and ear options, there are no differences between the Standard and Toy varieties of the Manchester Terrier.

 

The Toy variety is a diminutive version of the Standard variety.

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Size, Proportion, Substance:
The Toy variety shall not exceed 12 pounds. It is suggested that clubs consider dividing the American-bred and Open classes by weight as follows: 7 pounds and under, over 7 pounds and not exceeding 12 pounds.

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The Standard variety shall be over 12 pounds and not exceeding 22 pounds. Dogs weighing over 22 pounds shall be disqualified. It is suggested that clubs consider dividing the American-bred and Open classes by weight as follows: Over 12 pounds and not exceeding 16 pounds, over 16 pounds and not exceeding 22 pounds.

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The Manchester Terrier, overall, is slightly longer than tall. The height, measured vertically from the ground to the highest point of the withers, is slightly less than the length, measured horizontally from the point of the shoulders to the rear projection of the upper thigh. The bone and muscle of the Manchester Terrier is of sufficient mass to ensure agility and endurance.

The Toy variety over 12 pounds shall be excused.

Disqualification: Standard Variety - Weight over 22 pounds.

 

Head:
The Manchester Terrier has a keen and alert expression. The nearly black, almond shaped eyes are small, bright and sparkling. They are set moderately close together slanting upwards on the outside. The eyes neither protrude nor sink in the skull. Eye lid and rim pigmentation is black.

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Correct ears for the Standard variety are the naturally erect ear, the cropped ear or the button ear. No preference is given to any of the ear types. The naturally erect ear and button ear are wider at the base tapering to pointed tips and carried well up on the skull. Cropped ears are long, pointed and carried erect. The only correct ear for the Toy variety is the naturally erect ear. They are wider at the base tapering to pointed tips and carried well upon the skull.

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The head is long, narrow, tight skinned and almost flat with a slight indentation up the forehead. It resembles a blunted wedge in frontal and profile views. The muzzle and skull are equal in length. There is a visual effect of a slight stop as viewed in profile. The muzzle is well filled under the eyes with no visible cheek muscles. The underjaw is full and well defined and the nose is black. Tight black lips lie close to the jaw. The bite is a true scissors bite. Level bite is acceptable. The jaws are powerful with full and proper dentition. The teeth are white and strongly developed.

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Wide, flaring, blunt tipped, or "bell" ears are a serious fault for both varieties.

Disqualification: Toy Variety – Cropped or button ears.

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Neck, Topline, Body:
The slightly arched neck is slim, graceful and of moderate length. It gradually becomes larger as it approaches and blends smoothly with the sloping shoulders.

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The topline shows a slight subtle arch over the robust loins falling slightly to the tail set. While standing or in motion, a flat or roached back is a serious fault for both varieties.

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The chest is narrow between the legs and deep in the brisket. The forechest is moderately defined. The ribs are well sprung, flattened in the lower end to permit clearance of the forelegs. The underline is tucked up extending in an arched line from the deep brisket.

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The taper style tail is moderately short reaching no further than the hock joint. It is set on at the end of the croup being thicker where it joins the body. The tail tapers to a point carried no higher than the back. While standing or in motion, a flat or roached back is a serious fault for both varieties.

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Forequarters:
The shoulder blades and the upper arm are relatively the same length. The distance from the elbow to the withers is approximately the same as the distance from the elbow to the ground. The elbows lie close to the brisket. The shoulders are well laid back.

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The forelegs are straight of proportionate length and placed well under the brisket. The pasterns are almost perpendicular. Dew claws may be removed.

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The front feet are compact and well arched. The two middle toes are slightly longer than the others. The pads are thick and toenails are jet black.

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Hindquarters:
The thigh is muscular with the length of the upper and lower thighs being approximately equal. The stifle is well turned. The hindquarters are in balance with the well laid back shoulders. The hocks are well let down. Dew claws may be removed.

The hind feet are shaped like those of a cat with thick pads and jet-black nails.

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Coat:
The coat is smooth, short, dense, tight and glossy.

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Color:
The coat is jet black with rich mahogany tan which does not blend into each other, but abruptly form clear, well defined lines of color.

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There is a very small tan spot over each eye and a very small tan spot on each cheek. On the head, the muzzle is tanned to the nose. The nose and nasal bone are jet black.

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The tan extends under the throat ending in the shape of the letter V. The inside of the ears are partly tan. There are tan spots, called “rosettes” on each side of the chest above the front legs. These are more pronounced in puppies than in adults.

There is a black “thumb mark” patch on the front of each foreleg at the pastern. The remainder of the foreleg is tan to the carpus joint. There is a distinct black “pencil mark” line running lengthwise on the top of each toe on all four feet.

Tan on the hind leg should continue from the penciling on the toes up the inside of the legs to a little below the stifle joint. The outside of the hind legs is black. There is tan under the tail and on the vent but only of such size as to be covered by the tail.

White on any part of the coat is a serious fault and a disqualification whenever the white forms a patch or stripe measuring as much as one half inch at its longest dimension. Any color other than black and tan shall be disqualified. Soundness and type supersede color and markings.

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Gait:
The gait is free and effortless with good reach of the forequarters. Rear quarters have strong, driving power to match the front reach. Hocks fully extend. Each rear leg moves in line with the foreleg of the same side, neither thrown in nor out.

When moving at a trot, the legs converge toward the center of gravity of the dog.

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Temperament:
The Manchester Terrier is neither aggressive nor shy. He is keenly observant, devoted yet discerning. Not being a sparring breed, the Manchester Terrier is generally friendly with other dogs.

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Excessive shyness or aggressiveness shall be considered a serious fault.

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Faults:
• Toy Variety: Over 12 pounds shall be excused.
• Both varieties:
 – Wide, flaring, blunt tipped or “bell” ears.
 – Flat or roached back while standing or in motion.
 – Excessive shyness or aggressiveness.
 – White on any part of the coat.

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Disqualifications:
• Standard Variety - Weight over 22 pounds.
• Toy Variety – Cropped or button ears.
• Both Varieties – White on any part of the coat whenever the white forms a patch or stripe measuring as much as one half inch at its longest dimension.
• Any color other than black and tan.

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Approved July 13, 2021
Effective October 6, 2021