Manchester Terriers

[Stabs 3]

I looked into these dogs many, many years ago due to my fascination with the old baiting sports. I looked up the various clubs that were about at the time as well as reading as much of the breeds history as I could lay my hands on. When I mentioned about the possibility of working them, I was either met with absolute silence, or on the odd occasion, I was told that “old Rover†works because he chases squirrels down the local park. It has been a long, long time since these dogs were workers and then their forte was the rat pit and the rabbit enclosure. They are a “minister without portfolio†these days, like so many of the breeds that were used for the outlawed baiting sports. That’s not to say you couldn’t have fun with one, but then most dogs will rat and chase bunnies. Cupid and I saw one once that was a terror at fly-ball! There’s one local to me and the lady owner was astounded when I knew what it was as most folks thought it was a Doberman puppy. Nervy, weak back-end and frail. These dogs share an ancestry common with the bull-terriers yet they are a world away these days. The famous Billy, often regarded as the founder or progenitor of the breed/type was a bulldog/bull-terrier cross, although I think equally famous Tiny is missing out on the credit here. They once nearly died out, like their cousin the English White Terrier, due to the ban on ear cropping (1898 I think?) which made them no longer the thing for fashionable young types to have at heel. Good luck to anyone who has a crack with one though. You’ll need money and patience I think.

[hogdog 61]

Thanks for the info Stabs, very interesting.

 

I think their downfall could be that they are too specialist being ratters because as you say most terriers will do that job and the other terriers will do other jobs too. Maybe one day when I have the money, space and time I'll put some effort in to breeding them as they should be, I'd hate to see them go the way of so many other breeds.

[fielder 18]

Thanks for the info Stabs, very interesting.

 

I think their downfall could be that they are too specialist being ratters because as you say most terriers will do that job and the other terriers will do other jobs too. Maybe one day when I have the money, space and time I'll put some effort in to breeding them as they should be, I'd hate to see them go the way of so many other breeds.

It would be good if someone did. There was a litter on Epupz a while ago, advertised as being bred for soundness and working ability, and very much cheaper than mentioned earlier.

[fielder 18]

Read the (slightly confusing) ad in this weeks Countrymans.