Toy Manchester Terrier facts for kids
Toy Manchester Terrier doing agility
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| Origin | United States |
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| Foundation stock | Manchester Terrier |
| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |
The Toy Manchester Terrier is a small, energetic dog breed. It is a type of terrier, which means it was originally bred to hunt small animals like rats. This breed was developed in North America from a larger dog called the Manchester Terrier. The Toy Manchester Terrier is known for being a fun and loyal companion. The American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club place it in their Toy Group. Other kennel clubs, like the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and The Kennel Club, do not recognize a separate Toy variety.
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History of the Toy Manchester Terrier
The Toy Manchester Terrier comes from a dog called the Manchester Terrier. This larger breed was created in the 1800s. It was made by mixing an old Black and Tan Terrier with the Whippet and other breeds. Their main job was to catch rats.
Around the same time in England, another small dog was developed in Manchester. This was the English Toy Terrier. It was a separate breed from the Manchester Terrier. The English Toy Terrier was very popular as a pet during the Victorian era. Some of these tiny dogs weighed as little as 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds).
The Toy Manchester Terrier breed was created by breeding smaller Manchester Terriers. In the United States in the 1920s, this breed was first called the Toy Black and Tan Terrier. Its name changed to the Toy Manchester Terrier in the 1930s. The American Toy Manchester Terrier Club was also formed then.
The American Kennel Club officially recognized the American Toy Manchester Terrier in 1938. However, by the 1950s, there were fewer of these dogs. The breed club even stopped existing. Because of the low numbers, the American Kennel Club changed how it viewed the breed in 1958. The Toy Manchester Terrier became a size division of the Manchester Terrier. The club's name also changed to the American Manchester Terrier Club.
In England, the very similar English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) also faced a decline. It is now listed as being in danger of disappearing. To help save the breed, the Kennel Club in England allows some North American Toy Manchester Terriers to be registered. These dogs can then be bred as English Toy Terriers (Black & Tan). However, the two breeds are not exactly the same. Their breed standards have different requirements.
Appearance of the Toy Manchester Terrier
The Toy Manchester Terrier in North America is a small dog. It has long legs and a short, smooth coat. Its coat is black with tan markings. It has a long tail and ears that stand straight up. The Toy Manchester Terrier looks very much like the larger Manchester Terrier.
However, there are some key differences. A Toy Manchester Terrier cannot weigh more than 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms). Also, unlike the larger Manchester Terrier, the Toy Manchester Terrier's ears should not be cropped. Cropped ears are a disqualification for the Toy Manchester Terrier. Their ears should be wide at the bottom and pointed at the top. Ears that flare out like a "bell" are considered a serious fault. This means they are not ideal for breeding, but it does not affect the dog as a loving pet.
Black and Tan Coat Color
The "Black and Tan" coat color is common in many dog breeds. It comes from specific genetic instructions in a dog's genes. Scientists can use genetic tests to identify this color pattern.
Similar Dog Breeds
The English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) is often seen as the same breed as the Toy Manchester Terrier. However, the English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) is usually a bit smaller. It also prefers wider ears than the Toy Manchester Terrier.
The German Miniature Pinscher is another small dog that some people think looks like the Toy Manchester Terrier. But these two breeds are actually quite different. They also have very different family histories.
The Russian Toy is another similar dog breed. It was developed in Russia from early English Toy Terriers. Russian Toys can have various coat colors, not just black and tan. This suggests they might have other breeds in their background.
See also
In Spanish: Manchester terrier miniaturas para niños
