The Manchester Terrier

The early 1800s saw times of poor sanitation in England. Rats soon became a health menace and rat killing became a popular sport. John Hulme, enthusiastic devotee of the sport of rat killing and rabbit coursing, crossed a Whippet to a cross bred terrier to produce a tenacious, streamlined animal infinitely suited to the sport. (Perhaps the Whippet influence explains the unusual topline of the Manchester still required today). This cross proved so successful that it was repeated, resulting in the establishment of a definite type -- thus the Manchester Terrier was born.
By 1827 the breed's fighting spirit had made it equally handy along a hedge row as in a rat-pit. The Manchester could tackle, with silent determination, an opponent twice its size. Ears were cropped to save risk of being torn in frequent scraps. (This also enhanced the sharp appearance of the expression). When rat-killing became illegal in England rat-pits were supplanted by dining halls or public inns, all of which were infested by rats. To combat the rodent problem each inn kept kennels. When the taprooms closed, who do you think took command? The little Black and Tan rat killers who proved their worth one hudred-fold to the inn keeper.
1860 saw the Manchester district of England as the breed center for these "Rat Terriers" and the name Manchester Terrier surfaced. Smaller specimens began to gain appeal. Unethical persons were known to introduce Chihuahuas in order to reduce size to as small as 2 1/2 pounds! This resulted in numerous problems, including apple heads, thinning coats, and poppy eyes. Inbreeding further diminished size yet the smaller versions, though delicate and sickly, remained popular for some time.
Smaller Manchesters were carried in specially designed leather pouches suspended from the rider's belt, (earning the title of "Groom's Pocket Piece"). With their smaller stature these dogs obviously could not keep up with the hounds, but when the hounds ran the fox into dense thickets they were not able to penetrate, the little Manchester Terrier was released. Nicknamed the "Gentleman's Terrier" this breed was never a "sissy." His dauntless spirit commanded respect.
manpower and Tan Terrier was registered in the stud book. The following year "Lever" became the first AKC recognized Manchester Terrier.
The 20ted by the recognition of breed clubs devoted to preserving and promoting this breed:
In 1923 the "Manchester Terrier Club of America" was recognized, 1934 saw the Toy Black and Tan Terrier changed to Toy Manchester Terrier, and in 1938 the "American Toy Manchester Terrier Club" was recognized.
By 1952, however, the "Manchester Terrier Club of America" (Standards) was without organized breed representation. To the credit of the "American Toy Manchester Terrier Club", the two breeds were combined as one (with two Varieties - Standard & Toy) with the formation of the "American Manchester Terrier Club" in 1958, an organization which still survives today.
Manchester Terriers are considered by most to be the oldest of all identifiable terrier breeds, finding mention in works dating from as early as the 16th century. In 1570 Dr. Caius (Encyclopedia of Dogs) gives mention to the 'Black and Tan Terrier,' though he referred to a rougher coated, shorter legged dog than we are now accustomed to.
By the early 1800s a closer facsimile to the current Manchester Terrier had evolved. In The Dog in Health and Disease by J. A. Walsh a full chapter was devoted to the Black and Tan, for the first time recognizing it as an established breed. The description Walsh set forth might, in fact, serve well today: Smooth haired, long tapering nose, narrow flat skull, eyes small and bright, chest rather deep than wide, only true color Black and Tan.
Consistency in type and appearance this breed has maintained for nearly two centuries (at the very least).
Two Hundred Rats per Hour - in 1849, according to the Museum of London, publican Jimmy Shaw, owner of the Blue Anchor Tavern in Burnhill Row, Finsbury, near London, entertained customers with a display that was as disgusting by today's standards as it was intriguing. He made wagers that his Manchester terrier Tiny the Wonder could dispatch 200 rats in a specially built sixty-square-foot arena with three-foot-high wooden sides, and set out to prove it. Several dozen well-dressed and top-hatted gentlemen turned up to witness this event, as a commemorative painting found in the museum clearly shows. As he had done exactly one year before, Tiny did indeed pay off for his master, "having on both occasions time to spare." Records show that Shaw's public house became an ongoing venue for ratting contests and was outfitted to store as many as 2,000 of the unfortunate rodents in the cellar.

Breed Clubs and Societies

BRITISH MANCHESTER TERRIER CLUB. Sec: Miss C Wicker. Tel No: 01603 449383

This breed of dog is a 'Vulnerable Native Breed'.

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