FAQ
What do you mean when you say Manchesters are not for everyone?
Dogs are a long-term commitment, and each household has a different lifestyle. Potential dog owners should first assess whether they are ready to make a commitment to any dog before moving on to breed selection.
While Manchesters are small, clean dogs who shed minimally, they are also dogs that require a great deal of training and socialization. The keys to a properly trained and socialized Manchester Terrier are TIME, COMMITMENT, and CONSISTENCY.
If you don't have much time, have trouble following through, or have a great deal of chaos in your life, a Manchester puppy is not for you. A young adult or adult may work out, but we would strongly recommend against a puppy. Manchesters are smart -- often too smart for their own good, and they require an owner with the patience and tenacity to nip bad behaviors in the bud while reinforcing proper social skills in a puppy.
While 'softer' than many terriers (likely due to the influence of sight-hounds in the breed), Manchesters are terriers and as such they are naturally wary of strangers and alert to noises. A well-bred Manchester terrier should have an underlying good temperament; however, each dog still requires attention and socialization.