Manchester Terrier Breed Information

Manchester Terriers are a member of the ‘Terrier’ breed group. Dogs in the Terrier group were originally bred for hunting vermin. They are hardy, brave dogs bred to pursue the likes of foxes, badgers and rats (to name a few) above and below ground.

Manchester Terriers are independent, sensitive dogs that are known to be devoted to their owners. They have a strong instinct to hunt and explore so bear this in mind when training, as even basic training – and especially recall – will not always be easy. To learn more about reward-based training for your dog, visit our dog behaviour page where you can pick up plenty of tips to help you and your canine companion better understand each other. They will also need early socialisation with other household pets.

Grooming is minimal, and brushing once a week is generally all that’s needed to keep the coat in good condition.

Breed-related health problems:

Owners are, understandably, upset when their dog develops a health problem linked to its breed. Often they wish they’d known what problems the breed was prone to have. The potential health problems that Manchester Terriers are prone to include:

• Von Willebrand's disease – deficiency in blood platelet function resulting in excessive bleeding.
• Cardiomyopathy – enlarged heart due to degeneration of the heart muscle.
• Legg-Perthes disease (Legg-Calvé-Perthes) – blood supply to the femoral head is depleted, causing destruction of the femoral head.

For some conditions, there are screening programmes available through the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Kennel Club. The Canine Health Schemes allow breeders to screen for a range of inherited diseases, so it’s a good idea to check the parents of any puppy you’re looking to rehome have been screened under these schemes. We’d also recommend discussing the medical history of your potential puppy’s parents and grandparents, and think very carefully before taking on a dog with any of the health conditions listed above evident in the family line.

You can find out more about the Canine Health Schemes on the BVA's website.

Exercise requirements:

Manchester Terriers will need up to an hour of exercise per day to keep them physically and mentally fit.

Estimated lifetime cost:

The likely lifetime costs for a Manchester Terrier are based on estimates calculated using current market prices and include:

• Initial costs of the purchase of the pet
• Neutering
• First vaccinations and booster vaccinations
• Microchipping
• Accessories
• Food
• Pet insurance
• Toys
• Grooming
• Worming
• Flea treatments

The list above does not include veterinary costs if your pet becomes sick or injured, so these average lifetime costs could be even higher.

Insure your Manchester Terrier with PDSA:

1 in 3 pets need vet treatment each year and vet bills can come to hundreds of pounds. PDSA Pet Insurance can give you peace of mind when your pet is poorly, especially for breeds like Manchester Terriers that are prone to certain conditions. PDSA Pet Insurance offers:

1. Dog and cat insurance policies from 8 weeks of age.
2. 24/7 veterinary advice online or over the phone with Petcall.
3. Manage your policy online with the PDSA Insure Hub.
4. Monthly payment at no extra cost.

By insuring your Manchester Terrier with PDSA Pet Insurance you’ll also be helping to provide vet care to some of the UK’s neediest pets.

For more information on taking care of your dog please visit our puppies and dogs section.

Rehoming from a reputable source:

Where you get a dog from can have a big effect on how healthy and happy it is for the rest of its life. Find out where our PDSA vet experts recommend you get your dog from.

Not sure if the Manchester Terrier is the right pet for you?