The Manchester Terrier
An Analysis of the Breed Standard (Parts I-3)

By Rodney Herner
The Ratter's Review, February/May/September 2004

We are extremely pleased to be able to present the first in a series of articles written by Mr. Rod Herner (Renreh Kennels) regarding the Manchester Terrier.  In this series, Mr. Herner will describe and elaborate on key characteristics of the Manchester Terrier.  Mr. Rod Herner has been a Manchester Terrier fancier for over 40 years.  During this time he has produced many wonderful examples of the breed, in particular in the toy variety, including the only Toy Manchester Terrier ever to win the Toy Group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.  Mr. Herner is also a well-respected AKC judge.

We all have our own mental picture of the per4fect Manchester Terrier, albeit this specimen will undoubtedly elude us forever.  This image is conceived by our own personal interpretation of the standard of perfection.  Since we are only mere humans, interpretation will vary among us.  After owning and breeding Manchesters for over 40 years and judging the breed for over 10 years, I have developed a precise image, at least in my mind, of the perfect Manchester Terrier.  the standard of perfection for the Manchester Terrier serves as the blueprint of my mind's image.  It was requested that I share my interpretation of the Manchester standard with you via The Ratter's Review newsletter.  I'll attempt to divide the discussion into three sections to be published in three consecutive issues, inasmuch as the Canadian Kennel Club standard and the American Kennel Club standard are--how should I put this using diplomacy--not the same.  The CKC provides two separate standards for the Toy Manchester and the Manchester Terrier.  It appears that they are considered two separate breeds.  Suffice to say, my discussion will be an elaboration of both the Canadian and American standards.

When I chaired the Breed Standard Revision Committee for the AMTC back in 1991, the standard took on a whole new format.  Since then this outline has been followed by all breed standard revisions at the request of the AKC.  This change has resulted in a favourable continuity that includes not only the description of the conformation desired, but also addresses general appearance and movement, two very important topics that were not included in the previous AKC standard of the Manchester.  I have found that general appearance and movement play a large part in my decision of placement while judging.  I'll explain more about that during the discussions to follow:

In this issue I will discuss those sections of the standard that describe General Appearance, Size, Proportion, and Substance.

General Appearance

The CKC Standard has no mention of General Appearance for the Toy Manchester, but does state that the Manchester Terrier is "calculated to take his own part in the rat pit and should not be of the whippet type." Although only one sentence is used here, it does conjure up thoughts of a dog with a muscular body that possesses great power and agility, both prerequisites for getting the job done in the rat pit, barn, house, etc.

Except for size, the Toys and Standards should have the same general appearance.  The very first thing I look for when a Manchester Terrier, either Toy or Standard, enters my ring is a dog that is sturdy yet elegant.  He should not be so massive as to appear coarse.  I want to see the sleek, clean look of an athletic dog that can excel in both killing vermin and in coursing small game.  The coat should be full and lustrous; the dog should be in optimum weight with no hipbones showing.  If these conditions are lacking, the entry already has two strikes against him.

Size

Basically, the CKC and AKC agree that the Toy Manchester should not exceed 12 pounds.  CKC disqualifies any entry over that limit.  AKC asks for an oversize Toy exhibit to be excused from the ring.  Since the AKC considers the Manchester Terrier one breed with two varieties, that dog weighing over 12 lbs, may be later entered as a Standard Manchester Terrier and carries any points already earned towards his championship [Editors: The same is true in Canada].  Only the AKC calls for any Standard Manchester over 22 lbs to be disqualified.  I urge any judge to take the time to weigh any exhibit that appears to be oversize.  Remember that dogs should be shown in optimum weight.  Dogs exhibited under optimum weight may weigh in, but they would not be in optimum condition.  No preference should be given to size alone, however, is all things are nearly equal (a condition that rarely occurs) the dog of more moderate size should be rewarded.

Proportion

The CKC standard does not address substance.

The AKC Standard calls for bone and muscle to be of sufficient mass to ensure agility and endurance.  Bone should be neither too fine nor too coarse.  Of course, the Toys will have smaller bones that the Standards, but they should still have substance.  Adequate bone should be evaluated proportionately to the size of the dog.

Substantial muscling should be felt in the thighs, but keep in mind that coarseness would impede both agility and endurance.

Head

The AKC Standard calls for a keen and alert expression.  This expression exists only if the eyes are dark, almost-shaped and set moderately close together, slanting upwards on the outside.  Excessive white showing in the eye, lack of eye rim pigment, or eyes that are light in colour would certainly detract from a keen and alert expression, as would eyes that were too round or protruding.

The AKC standard allows three ear types for the Standard variety of the Manchester Terrier--the naturally erect ear, the cropped ear, and the button ear.  No preference should be given to any ear type.  The naturally erect ear and the button are described as wider at the base tapering o pointed tips and carried well up on the skull. Wide, flaring, blunt-tipped or "bell" ears are a serious fault.  Cropped ears should be long, pointed and carried erect.

The cropped ear is the most prevalent in the show ring in the USA.  Ears that are cropped too short can destroy the elegant appearance, but remember to consider the entire package before completing your evaluation.  The naturally erect ear and the cropped ear must both be totally erect, with enough thickness to the leather to prevent them from tipping or flapping during movement.  Ears that have been torn due to altercations should not be faulted.

In England, or any other country that bans ear cropping, the only acceptable ear is the button ear.  A correct button ear, in my mind, is the most striking.  To be correct they must break evenly above the skull creating a small V-shaped ear that hangs close to the skull above the eyes, pointing to the outside corner of the eye.  Button ears that appear "houndy" with tips that hang below the eye level are not correct.

The AKC Standard calls for only one correct ear type for the Toy--the natural erect ear.  Cropped ears disqualify in Toys.  Ears that do not stand erect and ears that flap in the breeze are faulty.

The AKC standard describes the head as follows: The head should be long, narrow, tight=skinned and almost flat with a slight indentation up the forehead.  I should resemble a blunted wedge in frontal and profile views.  There should be a visual effect of a slight stop.  The muzzle and skull are equal in length with the muzzle well-filled under the eyes and no visible cheek muscles.  The underjaw is full and well-defined and the nose is black.  Tight black lips lie close to the jaw, which should e full and powerful with full and proper dentition.  The teeth are white and strongly developed with a true scissors bite.  Level bite is acceptable.

The full underjaw is important, for it provides the strength to kill vermin.  Unfortunately, this requirement is missing from many of today's exhibits.  The teeth, which should appear large for the size of the dog, should meet in a scissors bite, which enables the dog to more firmly grasp and hold their prey.  Although the level bite is acceptable, the scissor bite is definitely more functional.  Although the standard calls for full dentition, a large majority of Manchesters do have missing premolars.  this should not be considered a serious fault, however I do fault missing incisors and, unfortunately, there are many Toys being shown today with two or more missing incisors.

Neck

The AKC standard calls for a slightly arched neck of moderate length that is slim and graceful.  It gradually becomes larger as it approaches and blends smoothly with the sloping shoulders.  throatiness is undesirable.

The neck should certainly have enough arch to appear graceful, adding to the picture of elegance.  It should blend, without interruption, into the properly sloping shoulders.  A neck that is too short, too long, too think or ewe necked should be faulted.  Throatiness would certainly detract from the elegant look.

Topline

The AKC standard calls for the topline to show a slight arch over robust loins, falling slightly to the tail set.  A flat back or roached back is to be severely penalized.

The slight arch over the robust loins is in the lumbar area extending from the end of the rib cage to the start of the pelvis, the upper section of the coupling region.  A arched loin is symptomatic of strength and agility in that area.  This is due to the muscular development over the spine and minor differences in the angles of lumbar vertebrae and pelvis.  If the rise is forward of the loin area, a roached topline exists.  If the rise is behind the loin area, a topline that is high in the rear exists.  Both of these toplines are faulty as is a topline that is level.  The true topline shows itself when the dog is in motion.  It should be judged only during gaiting, never during examination on the table.

Body

The AKC standard calls for the chest to be narrow between the legs and deep in the brisket.  The forechest is moderately defined.  The ribs are well sprung, but flattened in the lower ed to permit clearance of the foreleg.  The abdomen should be tucked up extending in an arched line from the deep brisket.

Manchesters are "diggers" who work the soil.  Accordingly, they were bred with generally narrow fronts and straight legs placed relatively close together s that when digging, the loose earth could be propelled between their spread rear legs.  Spring of rib is a reference to the shape of ribs after their emergence from where they join with the thoracic vertebrae.  The spring of ribs has a direct influence upon chest capacity.  The more pronounced the arch or spring (within reason), the greater the restriction of lung and heart development and consequently, the less the anticipated stamina.  A dog with correct rib curvature and development is said to be well-sprung, rounded, or arched in rib.  The tuck-up is the appearance produced by the abdomen's underline as it sweeps upwards into the flank or hindquarters.

Tail

The AKC standard calls for a taper style tail which 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.  The tail is carried in a slight upward curve, but never over the back.

The tail is set on at the end of a slightly sloping croup, which is the muscular area just above and around the set on of the tail.  This slope occurs just behind the slight rise over the loin.  Faults include a tail set on at the end of a flat croup resulting in high carriage like a Min Pin or Fox Terrier or tails carried up over the back like a tea pot handle.  The tail may be carried in an upward curve which can rise higher than the topline level when the dog is very attentive or while in motion.  It should never curve over the back.  The tail should be covered with thick black hair.

Forequarters:
 
Shoulders – The CKC Standard for the Manchester Terrier states “The shoulders slope off elegantly”, while the CKC Standard for the Toy Manchester Terrier calls for “Shoulders sloping”. The AKC Standard requires that “The shoulder blade and upper arm be relatively the same length with the distance from the elbow to the withers being approximately the same as the distance from the elbow to the ground. Elbows should lie close to the brisket and the shoulders are to be well laid back.”
 
Basically, both the CKC and AKC Standards call for sloping ( well laid back) shoulders. The shoulders must have enough slope and the upper arm enough length to ensure sufficient reach during movement. A common fault in the breed is a short upper arm which results in a high stepping (goose step)  action rather than the correct reaching form. This faulty gait would not provide the agility and speed required for one of its functions- small game coursing.  
 
Forelegs- The CKC Standard for the Manchester Terrier requires “Legs perfectly straight, and well under the body; strong, and of proportionate length. Feet compact, split up between toes and well arched, with jet black nails; the two middle toes in the front feet rather longer than the others.”  The CKC Standard for the Toy Manchester Terrier agrees with the standard for the Manchester Terrier except that the term “split up between the toes” does not appear.  The AKC Standard calls for “Straight forelegs, of proportionate length, and placed well under the brisket. The pasterns should be almost perpendicular. The front feet are compact and well arched with the two middle toes being slightly longer than the others. The pads should be thick and toenails should be jet black.” 
 
All agree the legs must be straight and placed well under the brisket. Legs should be neither too short and coarse nor too long and thin. Ample bone and muscling is required for coursing and rodent killing. Any bowing of the legs should be considered a serious fault. Ideally, the pastern should have a 20-25% slope from the perpendicular. Some degree of pastern slope is essential for normal function. 
 
The middle toes of the front feet should be only slightly longer than the others and not so long as to give the appearance of a hare foot. The foot must be tight and compact. Ample padding provides cushioning for the foot during coursing activity. Length of nails is not mentioned in any of the standards. I strongly object to any exhibit with nails so long that they spread the toes and eliminate the compact, well arched appearance.
 
Hindquarters:
 
The CKC Standard for the Manchester Terrier requires- “The hind feet shaped like those of a cat. The CKC Standard for the Toy Manchester Terrier agrees on the shape of the hind feet but adds- “Hind legs should not turn in or out as viewed from the rear, carried back; hocks well let down.”  The AKC Standard asks that- “ the 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. The hind feet are shaped like those of a cat with thick Pads and jet black nails.”
 
When you run hands down over the upper thighs, you should feel very apparent muscling. Anything less would indicate a dog out of coursing condition. Well turned stifles and well let down hocks provide the power of the correct driving rear gait. Well let down hocks are not more than 1/5 of the height of the dog at the withers. A cat foot is a round, compact foot with well arched toes tightly bunched or closely cupped. Again, the thick pads are required to provide ample cushioning.
 
Coat:
 
All three Standards call for basically the same coat- smooth, short, dense, tight, glossy; not soft.
 
I would like to mention that there should be no skin showing through the coat except on the inside of the ears and the abdomen. Thin coat on the chest, the back of the ears or on the flank is not acceptable. A coat of proper density will require thinning at the neck area and the tail. The back of the ears and the tail must be covered with short dense hair. A correct coat will feel rather coarse or hard to the touch. 
 
Colour:
 
All three standards describe very similar color requirements all very involved and precise. The 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 should 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 tanned. There shall be tan spots, called “rosettes” on each side of the chest above the front legs. These are more pronounced in puppies than in adults.  (These are not called for in the CKC Manchester Terrier Standard.) There should be a black “thumbprint” patch on the front of each foreleg at the pastern. The remainder of the foreleg shall be tan to the carpus joint. There should be 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 should be black. There should be 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 shall disqualify whenever the white shall form a patch or stripe measuring as much as one half inch at its longest dimension. (This disqualification is not included in the CKC Manchester Terrier Standard). Any color other than black and tan shall be disqualified. (This disqualification is applied ONLY in the AKC Standard. Also included ONLY in the AKC Standard- Color and/or markings should never take precedence over soundness and type. 
 
This is quite a complicated and involved section of the breed standard. Although color and markings are a very distinctive part of the standard we must remember that they should never take precedence over breed type and soundness.
 
The mahogany must be a rich dark color. Light straw colored or washed out tan is not correct. Demarcation of the black and tan must be definite. “Bleeding” black into the muzzle area or down the front legs is very untypical and must be faulted.
 
Chest  “rosettes” on adults may not be prominent. The “thumbprint” is a breed characteristic. It can be any shape or size, but must be surrounded by rich mahogany tan. It can be artificially produced and certainly has been! Scattered tan hairs on the outside of the hind legs is called “breeching” and is not correct. Tan under the tail is normally lighter in color than the rest of the tan markings, It is seldom narrow enough to be covered by the tail. Don’t be too concerned about this. White hairs may be found on the chest area. The white must be over one half inch at its longest dimension to disqualify. In the United States Blue Manchesters have been exhibited, although it has been many years since any have been seen. For this reason, the most recent AKC Breed Standard Revision for Manchesters has included a disqualification for any color other than black and tan. 
 
As mentioned earlier, color and markings are, indeed, a very distinctive part of the characteristics of the Manchester Terrier, the “icing on the cake”, so to speak. Of course, beautiful color and correct markings do not the small game courser or rodent killer make, but the combination of correct form, color and markings should not go unnoticed in the Group and Best in Show ring.
 
Gait:  
 
Gait is not addressed in either of the CKC Manchester Standards. The AKC Standard states- “The gait should be free and effortless with good reach of the forequarters, showing no indication of hackney gait. Rear quarters should have strong, driving power to match the front reach. Hocks should fully extend. Each rear leg should move in line with the foreleg of the same side, neither thrown in nor out. When moving at a trot, the legs tend to converge towards the center of gravity line beneath the dog.”
 
Reaching of the forequarters and driving of the rear quarters is necessary for the job of coursing small game. Hackney-like or “goosestepping” action results in wasted energy. This condition most likely indicates that the upper arm (humerus) is shorter than the shoulder blade (scapula). 
 
When moving at a trot, there is convergence of the legs, however, the Manchester is not a single tracking breed.
 
Temperament:
 
Temperament is not addressed in either of the CKC Manchester Standards. The AKC Standard states- “The Manchester Terrier is neither aggressive nor shy. He is keenly observant, devoted, but discerning. Not being a sparring breed, The Manchester is generally friendly with other dogs. Excessive shyness or aggressiveness should be considered a serious fault.
 
Aggression towards other dogs or people should not be tolerated. Any dog that is too shy to stand for examination should be excused, however, a heavy hand may disturb most Manchesters. 
 
Don’t expect Manchesters to spar in the ring. They are not a sparring breed. 
 
I wish to thank the Canadian Manchester Terrier Club for inviting me to elaborate on the Standard for my favorite breed- the Manchester Terrier. I do hope that I was able to help paint a more concise picture of the breed for you.