How to Groom a Manchester Terrier

The Manchester Terrier comes in two varieties: Toy and Standard. They are small, athletic, strong dogs with an eagerness to learn and an independent streak. Although strong-minded, they are very loyal to their owners. They have a short, sleek coat that usually comes in black and tan. They need a full grooming every 10 to 12 weeks and a general grooming once a month.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Rubber brush
• Natural bristle brush
• Cotton balls
• Coat conditioner

1. Brush out the coat first with a rubber brush and then a natural bristle brush before giving the dog a bath. The Standard Manchester Terrier sheds an average amount of hair and the Toy Manchester Terrier sheds very little.
2. Put cotton balls in the ears of this breed when bathing to keep water from getting into them. The ears are spiked and triangular and have virtually no way of keeping foreign substances out of them.
3. Bathe when necessary. The Manchester Terrier has no special bathing requirements. After the bath, work a small amount of coat conditioner into the dog's coat to give it an extra glossy look.

Tips & Warnings

• The earliest written reference to the Manchester Terrier was in the 1500s, making this quite an antiquated breed. The American Kennel Club recognized the first Manchester Terrier in 1887, three years after the club's formation.
• The life expectancy of the Manchester Terrier is at least 15 years.
• John Hulme developed the modern version of this breed in Manchester, England during the 1800s to work as rat-catchers. Around this time, people considered them the best vermin-killers around.
• Some Manchester Terrier lines are susceptible to a blood problem called glaucoma and a bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand's disease, but this is rare and wounds heal quickly. This breed may develop heat bumps if they are left too long in the sun.