Living with a Manchester Terrier
So what is life with a Manchester terrier really like? It’s never dull with these energetic little dogs, who want to be part of everything you do. They’ll go from chasing a ball in the backyard, to hunting mice in a field, to “helping” you put away the groceries, to cuddling on the couch, all during the course of a day. Manchester terriers need regular activity for both mind and body. They enjoy long walks, agility or obedience training, and interactive play with the owner. A tired dog is a good dog!
Life with a Manchester is not quiet. They are alarm barkers, which means they will bark if something is out there. It may be the mail carrier at the door or a cat in the neighbor’s yard or a motorcycle rumbling down the street – they will alert you to its presence. And if someone at the door actually comes into the residence, even if it’s a family member, there will be barking! The good thing is that although Manchester terriers are not particularly fond of strangers, they are very affectionate towards their families. The barking usually immediately subsides when they figure out the “intruder” is someone they know and love. If the guest is a stranger, they may remain suspicious for a while, then decide the stranger is uninteresting and go about their terrier business.
Manchesters are discerning, and won’t greet strangers like a long-lost friend. They may politely greet if the stranger has food, accept the cookie, then loose interest. Or they may enjoy a good petting before directing their attention elsewhere. For this reason, Manchester terriers may or may not make good therapy dogs. If they don’t want to be petted by a stranger, it’s best not to push it.
Manchester terriers respond really well to positive, rewards-based training. If you make whatever you want to teach them worth their while, then they will be happy to comply. I’ve had several people tell me that Manchester terriers are “stubborn and difficult to train.” Nothing could be further than the truth. I suspect the “stubborn” myth dates back to the days when dogs were trained with collar corrections, and food rewards were forbidden. Many breeds of dogs and individuals were considered stubborn or impossible to train with these techniques. The problem was the technique, not the dog or its breed! Manchester terriers have a sense of fairness, and correction-based training does not jive with them. Take the time to reward the behaviors you want, such as lying quietly on a dog bed or sitting instead of bolting out the front door, and they will be repeated. Learn to use a clicker to shape other useful behaviors, and the dog will be happy to comply. But using collar corrections and a “you MUST do this” attitude will cause the terrier to dig in his heels and say, “No way!” Treat your Manchester with respect and as a teammate, and the two of you will go far.
Life with a Manchester is not quiet. They are alarm barkers, which means they will bark if something is out there. It may be the mail carrier at the door or a cat in the neighbor’s yard or a motorcycle rumbling down the street – they will alert you to its presence. And if someone at the door actually comes into the residence, even if it’s a family member, there will be barking! The good thing is that although Manchester terriers are not particularly fond of strangers, they are very affectionate towards their families. The barking usually immediately subsides when they figure out the “intruder” is someone they know and love. If the guest is a stranger, they may remain suspicious for a while, then decide the stranger is uninteresting and go about their terrier business.
Manchesters are discerning, and won’t greet strangers like a long-lost friend. They may politely greet if the stranger has food, accept the cookie, then loose interest. Or they may enjoy a good petting before directing their attention elsewhere. For this reason, Manchester terriers may or may not make good therapy dogs. If they don’t want to be petted by a stranger, it’s best not to push it.
Manchester terriers respond really well to positive, rewards-based training. If you make whatever you want to teach them worth their while, then they will be happy to comply. I’ve had several people tell me that Manchester terriers are “stubborn and difficult to train.” Nothing could be further than the truth. I suspect the “stubborn” myth dates back to the days when dogs were trained with collar corrections, and food rewards were forbidden. Many breeds of dogs and individuals were considered stubborn or impossible to train with these techniques. The problem was the technique, not the dog or its breed! Manchester terriers have a sense of fairness, and correction-based training does not jive with them. Take the time to reward the behaviors you want, such as lying quietly on a dog bed or sitting instead of bolting out the front door, and they will be repeated. Learn to use a clicker to shape other useful behaviors, and the dog will be happy to comply. But using collar corrections and a “you MUST do this” attitude will cause the terrier to dig in his heels and say, “No way!” Treat your Manchester with respect and as a teammate, and the two of you will go far.
