Toy Manchester Terrier E-Book

Peter Brown

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Comprehensive Owner's Guide
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 209

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

This diminutive terrier from Manchester, the Toy Manchester Terrier, known by British fanciers as the English Toy Terrier, is the focus of this Special Limited Edition, the only book of its kind about this elegant, compact breed. Although recognized by the American Kennel Club as well as the English Kennel Club, the Toy Manchester Terrier has a small but devoted following, a discriminating lot of dog lovers who know the charm and allure of this unique Toy breed. Agile and active, the Toy Manchester Terrier is an intelligent, personable dog, which makes limited demands on his owners.

Leseprobe

Physical Characteristics of the Toy Manchester Terrier

(from the American Kennel Club’s breed standard)

Ears: Naturally erect.

Head: Long, narrow, tight skinned, and almost flat with a slight indentation up the forehead. It resembles a blunted wedge in frontal and profile views. There is a visual effect of a slight stop as viewed in profile.

Eyes: 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. Pigmentation must be black.

Neck: Slightly arched neck should be slim and graceful, and of moderate length. It gradually becomes larger as it approaches, and blends smoothly with the sloping shoulders. The topline shows a slight arch over the robust loins falling slightly to the tail set.

Teeth: White and strongly developed with a true scissors bite. Level bite is acceptable.

Muzzle: Muzzle and skull are equal in length. 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 jaws should be full and powerful with full and proper dentition.

Forequarters: Shoulder blades and the upper arm should be relatively the same length. The distance from the elbow to the withers should be approximately the same as the distance from the elbow to the ground. The elbows should lie close to the brisket. The shoulders are well laid back. The forelegs are straight, of proportionate length, and placed well under the brisket. The pasterns should be almost perpendicular.

Color: Coat color should be jet black and rich mahogany tan, which should not run or blend into each other, but abruptly form clear, well defined lines of color. There shall be 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. The tan extends under the throat, ending in the shape of the letter V. The inside of the ears are partly tan. There shall be tan spots, called “rosettes,” on each side of the chest above the front legs.

Coat: Should be smooth, short, dense, tight, and glossy; not soft.

Body: Overall, 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.

Tail: 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. The tail is carried in a slight upward curve, but never over the back.

Hindquarters: Thigh should be muscular with the length of the upper and lower thighs being approximately equal. The stifle is well turned. The well let down hocks should not turn in nor out as viewed from the rear. The hind legs are carried well back.

Feet: Front feet are compact and well arched. The two middle toes should be slightly longer than the others. The pads should be thick and the toenails should be jet black. The hind feet are shaped like those of a cat with thick pads and jet black nails.

Size: Shall not exceed 12 pounds.

Contents

History of the Toy Manchester Terrier

Meet the early terriers of England to see how the Manchester and Toy Manchester Terriers developed. Learn about the breed’s ratting heritage, other breeds in its background and the people responsible for the establishment of this delightful small black and tan dog.

Characteristics of the Toy Manchester Terrier

The best of the terrier traits in an elegant small package, the Toy Manchester Terrier is an agile, skilled, intelligent and personable dog that makes a charming, compact companion. The pros and cons of the breed are discussed, along with breed-specific health concerns of which every prospective owner should be aware.

Breed Standard for the Toy Manchester Terrier

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Toy Manchester Terrier by studying the descriptions of the breed as set forth by the American Kennel Club. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the standard.

Your Puppy Toy Manchester Terrier

Be advised about choosing a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, typical puppy. Understand the responsibilities of ownership, including home preparation, acclimatization, the vet and prevention of common puppy problems.

Everyday Care of Your Toy Manchester Terrier

Enter into a sensible discussion of dietary and feeding considerations, exercise, grooming, traveling and identification of your dog. This chapter discusses Toy Manchester Terrier care for all stages of development.

Training Your Toy Manchester Terrier

By Charlotte Schwartz

Be informed about the importance of training your Toy Manchester Terrier from the basics of housebreaking and understanding the development of a young dog to executing obedience commands (sit, stay, down, etc.).

Health Care of Your Toy Manchester Terrier

Discover how to select a qualified vet and care for your dog at all stages of life. Topics include vaccinations, skin problems, dealing with external and internal parasites and common medical and behavioral conditions.

Your Senior Toy Manchester Terrier

Consider the care of your senior Toy Manchester Terrier, including the proper diet for a senior. Recognize the signs of an aging dog, both behavioral and medical; implement a special-care program with your vet and become comfortable with making the final decisions and arrangements for your senior Toy Manchester Terrier.

Showing Your Toy Manchester Terrier

Enter the world of showing dogs. Learn about the American Kennel Club, the different types of shows and the making of a champion. Go beyond the conformation ring to find out about agility, obedience trials and more.

Behavior of Your Toy Manchester Terrier

Learn to recognize and handle behavioral problems that may arise with your Toy Manchester Terrier. Topics discussed include separation anxiety, aggression, barking, chewing, digging, begging, etc.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS®TOY MANCHESTER TERRIER

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-351-8

eISBN 13: 978-1-62187-078-4

Copyright © 2003 • Kennel Club Books® • A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC™ 3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Photos by Carol Ann Johnson with additional photographs by: Norvia Behling, T. J. Calhoun, Doskocil, Isabelle Français, RBP, Bill Jonas, Mikki Pet Products, Alice Roche and Alice van Kempen.

The owner wishes to thank the owners of the dogs featured in this book, including John Richardson and Alan Taylor.

Illustrations by Patricia Peters.

Originating in its namesake city in England, the Toy Manchester Terrier has been a distinct breed for more than half a century. In its native England, the breed is called the English Toy Terrier.

As the name suggests, the Manchester Terrier originated in Manchester, England some time back in the early 1500s, although this breed name was not used until the late 19th century. All indications are that the breed evolved from the original Black and Tan Terrier and the Old English Terrier, believed to be the most ancient of the British terriers, having existed in Britain for 400 to 500 years.

In ancient times, these noble black and tan hunters were cherished for their keen sense of smell and hearing. Some accounts describe these original specimens, used mainly as ratters, as very high-strung and a bit snappy. Fortunately, these undesirable characteristics have been selectively bred out over the generations, and the Manchester’s alert nature and clown-like charm have remained in today’s Toy variety. Feisty terrier-dog qualities certainly added to the Manchester’s value as an expert mouse- and rat-killer! The breed’s strong desire to chase prey, and its extreme loyalty to man, will undoubtedly remain a part of its character, even if the Toy variety never hunts more than a stray mouse or “dust bunny.”

The Standard Manchester Terrier is virtually the identical to the Toy variety except in size. A Standard can weigh twice as much as a Toy.

Most histories of the breed point to an 18th-century gentleman by the name of John Hulme as the key figure responsible for the breed’s development. It was Hulme’s breeding experiments with England’s common Black and Tan Terrier and the graceful, speedy Whippet that gave rise to the Manchester Terrier we know today. Specific traits certainly point to these crossbreedings. Selective breeding resulted in a speedy and agile little hunter, which quickly went on to become a prized and most sought-after rodent killer. The Manchester’s expertise as an excellent little tracking and hunting companion even placed the breed in the saddlebags of hunters that sought fox. There is some speculation (but no specific proof) that some West Highland White Terrier and Doberman Pinscher bloodlines were also introduced into the breed at some later point in time. Even today, the Manchester’s color, coat texture and genetic makeup are very similar to that of the Doberman Pinscher. Still others theorize that the Italian Greyhound and Dachshund also played a role in the creation of the Manchester Terrier.

The Manchester itself is credited as the foundation for the development of other breeds, including the popular Doberman Pinscher; the Australian Terrier; the German Hunting Terrier, known in its native land as Deutscher Jagdterrier; the little-known British herding dog, the Lancashire Heeler; and the Moscow Toy Terrier, all of which are black and tan in color, though varying in size and purpose. Another American breed believed to be related to the Manchester is called the Louisiana Squirrel Dog, an unregistered working dog from the South.

TWO VARIETIES OF ONE GREAT DOG

The Manchester Terrier comes in two varieties—Standard and Toy. The Standard variety must weigh in at more than 11 pounds. Some Standards may be slightly heavier than 22 pounds, but this disqualifies them as show dogs. The Toy variety is virtually the same as the Standard, except it must weigh 11 pounds or less. Although registered by the AKC as the same breed, the Toy variety is a member of the Toy Group and the Standard belongs to the Terrier Group.

Sylvia Sidney, a world-famous screen star of yesteryear, was a supporter of the Manchester Terrier breeds. She is shown here with her favorite Standard. Note the cropped ears on this British dog from the 1930s.

England, of course, is the home of most of the Terrier Group breeds, and the Manchester Terrier reached the United States, Canada and the rest of Europe by the 19th century. They were initially bred to be vermin hunters. They were also loyal lap dogs that excelled at chasing and catching mice and rats in homes and on ships.

Eventually, the breed’s talent for killing rats turned into a recreational sport for the English people, a sport very much favored by Mr. Hulme himself. In fact, these little brave dogs were placed in the rat pits, and bets were taken to see which dog could kill the greatest number of rats in a certain time period. Thankfully, this blood sport, along with other kinds of animal baiting and dog fighting, eventually lost support when more civilized minds came to the fore. Nevertheless, despite bad taste and stomach-turning gore, the Manchester was quite adept at speed-killing his ratine foe. The history books state that a 5-pound Manchester Terrier named “Tiny” reportedly killed 300 rats in 54 minutes and 50 seconds! It was a gory but extraordinary accomplishment for any dog, especially one so small!

Eng. Ch. Threlkeld Cliff, bred by Miss C. S. Ratcliff in 1927. She became an English Champion in 1932.

Eng. Ch. Prince Rufus, bred by Mr. W. Anstey in 1932, was one year old when he became an English Champion.

Reaching the height of its public appeal in the Victorian era, the breed was admired for its sharp, sleek outline as well as its ability to keep the stables vermin-free and to hunt rabbit and other small game. While men preferred the large Manchesters, it was the refined ladies who became enamored with the smaller dogs, as this was a period of celebrated miniatures, including paintings, sculptures and dogs! As breeders saw the rise in demand for the smaller dogs, they began breeding specifically for the diminutive size. By repeatedly breeding the smallest to the smallest, the Toy variety emerged. Unfortunately, this practice was taken to the extreme, and many tiny but unhealthy toy terriers were produced. Fortunately, today’s Toy variety is consistent in type and temperament, and actually much larger and healthier than the specimens that were found in days of Queen Victoria.

EARLY ENGLISH INFLUENCE

The Black and Tan Terrier was one of the breeds mentioned by Dr. Johannes Caius in the famous letter of 1570 concerning the dogs of England. The work was sent to Gesner for inclusion in his encyclopedic work on the dogs of all nations. It wasn’t long before the Manchester district of England became known for two “poor men’s sports”—rat killing and rabbit coursing. It was a time of poor sanitation, and rats were running wild. The tremendous rat population was a great menace to health in populated areas, and the country desperately needed relief, which came in the form of an efficient rodent killer. By 1860, the city of Manchester became the breed’s center. Their popularity quickly spread over the British Isles before coming to America and expanding across the rest of Europe. In 1874, The Kennel Club Stud Book was established and the distinctive terrier breed evolved.

Banjo came from one of the leading Manchester Terrier kennels at the end of the 19th century. He was owned by S. Dean, and the Dean affix became a hallmark of excellence in the breed.

PLACE YOUR BETS

Since ancient times, the Manchester Terrier was cherished for its sharp hunting skills. Using the breed’s talented instincts as a vermin killer, the English developed a sport that included wagering on these terriers. A dog was placed in a giant pit and then timed to see how many rats it could dispose of.

FAMOUS OWNERS OF MANCHESTERS

Beloved American President Teddy Roosevelt and famous mystery novelist Agatha Christie both owned Manchesters. President Roosevelt’s dog “Blackjack” lived in the White House with him. Christie owned two Manchesters, named “Treacle” and “Bingo,” both of whom were inspirations for her novels.

Prince George, a favorite in the 1890s, was typical of the Manchester Terrier breed during those times.

Because there were several breeds that were part of the Manchester’s development, there really isn’t a single dominant individual dog or single foundation strain to which the breed can be traced specifically. The Manchester’s popularity in England remained somewhat moderate and the breed was never excessively popular—much to the delight of dedicated breeders and fanciers.

In 1895, at the apex of the Manchester’s popularity, ear cropping was outlawed in England and this proved a disastrous blow to the breed’s popularity. Up until this time, the Manchester’s ears, which were heavy and pendulous when not cut, had always been cropped to give the breed the desired alert expression. Once ear cropping could not be performed on the dogs’ ears, many people disliked the spoiled expression of the natural-eared Manchester Terrier. It took several years of breeding to develop sharp and attractive button ears, which are now desirable in the Standard variety.

The early 1900s brought a resurgence of the breed to England. Over the years there have been many influential English Manchester breeders that have stamped their bloodlines. It’s impossible to list them all and their outstanding stock, but one person’s breeding in particular does deserve mention. Mrs. Greene’s Harford Kennels, which developed in the 1930s, was responsible for two outstanding dogs that later made their way to American soil. They were Golden Embkem of Hartford and Golden Ermine of Harford. The Harford kennel would go on to produce several other influential dogs.

After World War II, there were only 5 breedable Manchesters left in all of England (it is said that there were 11 total, 6 of which were too old or infertile). Dogs sent over from the US revived the breed in England, using matings to the Miniature Black and Tans (the designation of the smaller Manchesters assigned between the World Wars). Beginning in 1960, the smaller dogs then became registered as English Toy Terriers and could not be crossed with Standard Manchesters. It took ten years for the breed to regain its status in the UK, and new champions began emerging around 1955. The British Manchester Terrier Club remained the only parent club to continue on after World War II, and it was the members of this club and their colleagues in the US who are rightly credited for reviving the breed in England.

A MATTER OF BLACK OR WHITE

Black and tan is the only color combination acceptable for the Manchester Terrier. However, this wasn’t always the case. In the mid-1800s, there was some interest in different color variations, including white, blue and red. These never gained favor with hunters, who preferred dogs to be black or white, so as not to be mistaken for their fox-red quarry. Eventually the English White Terrier also lost favor, due to significant health problems in the breed.

THE MANCHESTER IN AMERICA

In November 1877, at the Philadelphia Grand National Dog Show, there was the first class for Black and Tan Terriers. All of the dogs that participated that day weighed less than 10 pounds. The breed was next represented at the Gilmore’s Garden Westminster Show in 1878. It wasn’t until 1887 that the first Black and Tan was registered. The dog’s name was “Lever,” and he would later become the first recognized Manchester Terrier. For the next 40 years, the Toy Manchester Terrier was registered in the classification “Toy Terriers other than Yorkshires.” The breed was known as the Toy Black and Tan up until 1934 when it officially became the Toy Manchester Terrier. A dog named “Harvester Lassie,” owned by H. T. Thompson, was the first true Manchester Terrier registered.

An excellent head and ears of a Standard Manchester Terrier. Attractive button ears are a desirable trait in the Standard variety, but not acceptable in the Toy.

TINY THE WONDER

A Toy Manchester named Tiny the Wonder had the distinction of slaying 300 rats during a pit contest in record time, just under 55 minutes. A historic moment for Manchesters, and a sad one for the rat fancy!

In 1883, Mrs. G. Campbell Schmidt imported the first Black and Tan to America. This was the beginning of the Campbell breeding empire that would continue for many, many years. Campbell kennels were responsible for many leading strains in America. Many of today’s winning Manchester bloodlines can still be traced to some of these influential dogs.

In 1923, the Manchester Terrier Club of America was founded and the breed name was officially changed from Toy Black and Tan Terrier to Toy Manchester Terrier. In 1938, the American Toy Manchester Club was accepted by the American Kennel Club. Up until 1959, the Manchester Terrier and the Toy Manchester Terrier were registered as two separate breeds, although interbreeding between the two breeds was permitted. Since then, the breed has been registered as one, with two varieties, the Toy and the Standard. In the UK, The Kennel Club registers the breed as the English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan). The American Manchester Terrier Club was formed in 1958 and remains as the parent club for both varieties of the breed.

Many top American kennels developed before and after World Wars I and II. Mrs. Ruby Owens from Aurora, Illinois was the breeder-owner of one of the finest Standard specimens of the breed. The dog’s name was Ch. Kricket of Kent. The dog was one of the first to earn a Best in Show. Ch. White’s Black Prince, bred and owned by Dr. Howard S. M. White of Sioux City, Iowa, and Ch. Evan’s Clipper, stamped themselves as superb representatives of the breed during this era.

Although the list of influential American Manchester Terrier breeders and dogs is numerous, it would be unfair not to list some of the more noteworthy establishments. Many of the kennels listed have held their own for decades and continue to operate strongly, thus showing no signs of diminishing any time soon. Others are no longer in operation, but will forever be remembered for helping to keep the breed strong. They include Russell (R.D. Clark of Glen Allen, Virginia), Cawdor (G. Calder Little of Fullerton, Maryland), Dempsey (Mrs. Dixie Dempsey of Houston, Texas, Carrman-Kent (Mrs. Ruby Owens of Aurora, Illinois), Kay Ess (Mrs. K.S. Waters of La Porte, Indiana.), Dusky (Mrs. A.H. Reiman of San Francisco, California), and White (Dr. H.S.M. White of Sioux City, Iowa.). Some of the early influential sires and dams included Ch. Dempsey’s Tippy Tin, Ch. Russell’s Sport of Harford, Ch. Johnny Zero of Kent, Ch. Bell Boy, Ch. White’s Black Midas, Ch. Tony’s Zkay and Ch. Lady Blondin.

The Toy Manchester Terrier enjoys moderate popularity around the world, including the US, where the Toy and Standard varieties are registered as the same breed but are shown in separate classes and Groups.

The breed was a relatively popular dog in Canada around 1950, though today the breed has become only rarely seen. The fairly newly formed Canadian Manchester Terrier Club, established in 1998, seeks the recognition of the Canadian Kennel Club and exists to promote the breed’s best interest in that country.

Meet one of the world’s most easy-care dogs: easy to train, easy to groom and easy to transport!

IS THE TOY MANCHESTER RIGHT FOR YOU?

Such a handsome small dog, with a distinctive black and tan coat that sheds only minimally, the Toy Manchester Terrier holds the distinction of being the dog world’s best kept secret. While similar—but inferior—breeds have sparked the public’s interest and led towards damaging popularity, the Toy Manchester has never been more than the companion of the well-informed dog fancier. Toy Manchester owners are a very selective group of dog lovers, who do not succumb to the estimable charms of breeds like the Toy Fox Terrier, the Miniature Pinscher or, heaven forbid, the Rat Terrier! The Toy Manchester Terrier arguably is the most elegant, sophisticated and gifted Toy dog in the Group!

A TRUE FAMILY COMPANION

The Toy Manchester Terrier is extremely bright and active. His stable temperament and handsome looks have made him a choice companion and alarm dog. For a family that welcomes a small dog, the Toy Manchester makes an excellent companion for almost every household. They are virtually odorless and adapt very well to their environment. However, the breed’s intelligence can be very challenging to his new owner. Toy Manchester puppies can be very demanding. They require constant attention and cherish family interaction right through adolescence. They can be sensitive and should always be trained using positive reinforcement. If you choose a young puppy, expect him to chew anything that is accessible. Like other breeds, all new puppies should be carefully supervised at all times, and safely crated when left for extended periods.

A Toy Manchester Terrier is not for everyone—only the most discerning of dog lovers. This tiny dog is delicate and charming, and makes a bright and active family member.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

The Toy Manchester Terrier has moderate exercise requirements. Daily exercise is not an absolute necessity for the breed, but they do enjoy daily walks or runs and welcome the opportunity to be outdoors. They do equally well in a apartment settings, averagesized houses and large farms. They are not picky eaters and will accept most any diet.

The Toy Manchester is a quick learner. This is the reason why the breed has done very well in all types of performance sport activities, including agility and obedience. They love to please their owners and will go to extremes to do so. They are energetic, affectionate and loving to their families, and thrive on human attention and interaction. They bond very easily. Despite the Toy Manchester’s loyalty to his owners and immediate family, he can be reserved with strangers. In fact, he makes a good watchdog and will bark to alert his owner of possible danger. Frequently, the breed’s bark is a lot louder than its bite.

The Toy Manchester does very well with children and other pets (even cats, though never small rodent types), provided the pets are properly introduced and socialized. Their dynamic personality will keep children busy for hours while enjoying each other’s company.