This breed is a true terrier, meaning it has the instincts of a good watchdog and is very vocal. Toward people it knows, it is friendly and affectionate, especially towards members of its family, whom it loves and protects. It devotes absolute loyalty to one specific family member but also listens and is loyal to other family members. It is playful, highly intelligent, and learns quickly, including habits. However, it has its pride and dislikes when others try to be overly dominant. It prefers spending time with its owner but can be independent when needed. It is well-balanced, fearless, and self-assured.
It gets along well with other dogs but has a tendency to chase rapidly moving objects, including cyclists and cars. It is advisable to provide it with the company of other dogs. It loves children and enjoys playing with them. However, it is crucial to teach children to respect it from an early age.
MANCHESTER TERRIER
ORIGIN : Great Britain.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 24.06.1987.
UTILIZATION : Terrier.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 3 Terriers.
Section 1 Large and medium-sized Terriers.
Without working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Compact, elegant and sound with substance.
BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT : Keen, alert, gay and sporting ; discerning and devoted.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Long, flat and narrow, level and wedge-shaped, without showing cheek muscles.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Jet black.
Muzzle : Well filled up under eyes, tapering.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws level, with perfect and regular scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Lips : Tight.
Eyes : Small, dark and sparkling. Almond-shaped, not prominent.
Ears : Small and V-shaped, carried well above top line of head and hanging close to head above eyes.
NECK : Fairly long and tapering from shoulder to head and slightly arched at crest ; free from throatiness.
BODY : Short, slightly arched over the loin.
Ribs : Well sprung.
Underline : Cut up behind ribs.
TAIL : Short and set on where arch of back ends, thick where it joins body, tapering to a point, carried not higher than level of back.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs quite straight, set on well under dog ; proportionate length to body. Front narrow and deep.
Shoulders : Clean and well-sloped.
HINDQUARTERS : Strong and muscular. Hindlegs neither cow-hocked nor with feet turned in.
Stifle : Well bent.
FEET : Small, semi-harefooted and strong with well arched toes.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Straight, free and balanced with good-reaching forequarters and driving power in hindquarters.
COAT
HAIR : Close, smooth, short and glossy, of firm texture.
COLOUR : jet black and rich mahogany tan distributed as follows :
on head, muzzle tanned to nose, nose and nasal bone jet black. Small tan spot on each cheek and above each eye, under-jaw and throat tanned with distinct tan V. Legs from knee downward tanned with exception of toes which shall be pencilled with black, a distinct black mark ( thumbmark) immediately above feet. Inside hindlegs tanned but divided with black at stifle joint. Under tail tanned, vent tanned by markings as narrow as possible so that it is covered by tail. A slight tan mark on each side of chest. Tan outside hindlegs, commonly called breeching, is undesirable.
In all cases black should not run into tan or vice versa, but division between colours clearly defined.
SIZE :
Ideal height at shoulders : dogs 40-41 cm (16 ins) ; bitches 38 cm (15 ins).
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.