Toy Manchester Terrier vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison

The Toy Manchester Terrier comes from Manchester and came about by breeding the Manchester Terrier with smaller dog breeds.

Looking like a Doberman Pinscher, the American Toy Manchester Terrier Club was formed in the 1930s and the dog was recognized in 1938 by the American Kennel Club.

It is believed that the Black and Tan Terrier was also possibly crossed with Whippets. The dog is categorized as a Terrier or as a Toy breed.

The Poodle is no stranger to the dog world and has been a familiar face in Western Europe for hundreds of years. Though they have lived in Europe for centuries, their origins are unsure, with some saying they hail from Germany and others say France.

The Miniature Poodles have been used in both countries as gundogs for water birds.

They have always been admired for their intelligence, and Miniature Poodles are believed to have been bred from Standard Poodles. It is interesting to note the 3 official sizes of the Poodle are Toy, Miniature and Standard – all considered one breed and judged according to the same written standard, just with different size requirements.

Looking much like a small Doberman Pinscher, the Manchester Terrier is the miniature version of the standard Manchester.

He weighs in the region of 2 to 5kg and stands at between 25 and 30cm in height. He has a sleek, short coat which is black and tan. He is lithe and muscular, bred back in the day to kill vermin. He has large, broad erect ears which taper to a point.

Temperament:

The Toy Manchester Terrier is a gentle but energetic dog, a great choice for an active family. Throw a ball and you’ll see how he loves to give chase, and he’ll also love his walk every day.

They’re adaptable too, so if you live in the countryside or the city, he can be your friend and companion there.

Training and socialization are excellent for all dogs, particularly ones with a stubborn, independent streak such as with this dog. He is intelligent and will learn quickly. They’re alert too so you can expect him to be a good watchdog.

With good care the lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is 14 – 16 years of age. This purebreed dog is small, standing at 28 – 38cm in height and weighing 7 – 8kg.

The coat is typically curly, springy and dense. Colors of the coat can be cream, beige, silver, black, brown or apricot. They are low shedding dogs and are regarded as being hypoallergenic. The ears are floppy and the tail is usually docked to give the dog a nice, compact look.

Temperament:

The Miniature Poodle is intelligent and learns easily, so you won’t have any trouble with training him and having him socialized.

He is a lively dog and loves a game and a walk, loving as much time as possible spent with his human family. He gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are not overly-friendly with strangers, and therefore make excellent watchdogs. They’re the kind of dogs who need both physical and mental stimulation though, and he won’t be content to be left and ignored – after all he counts himself as a member of your family! They make wonderful pets, being playful and energetic and loving water, always ready to swim with you.

The Toy Manchester Terrier is full of beans and will provide you with lots of fun. They're sociable and love being in the presence of their human family.

They get on well with kids and pets in the home and are brave, alert and feisty. He may be small, but he is full of personality and he’s just waiting to fill your home with his bright charm, promising to be a loyal, loving pet.

When you take a Miniature Poodle into your home and your heart, there are many wonderful positive aspects that come with him.

You won’t have any trouble training him as he is clever and bright. He is such a loving, loyal pet and he takes his job of guarding you seriously too.

Because they aren’t aggressive, they're easy to keep in the city or the countryside, so long as he receives plenty of love, companionship and exercise. Perhaps the only thing that may require a little bit of effort on your part is the fact that his coat will require quite a bit of upkeep to keep it looking good and healthy.

In exchange for looking after him, you’re going to benefit from having a wonderful canine friend and family pet in your life for many years.

The Toy Manchester Terrier is a healthy dog breed and can reach anything between 14 and 16 years of age. Good food and exercise can stave off illness, but there are some common dog illnesses that any dog can succumb to.

Some of these are cancer, bloat, ear infections, skin allergies, and parasites.

Hypothyroidism:

This occurs when there are problems with the thyroid hormone. You might find skin problems with your pet, lethargy and even hair loss. Your vet might suggest hormone replacement, but there are always natural products for dogs too.

Leggs-Calves Perthes Disease:

This is when there is degeneration of the head on the femur bone so that there is also joint inflammation.

It is thought that the condition is brought on by problems with blood supply to the femoral head. Lameness sets in and then your vet will want a medical history of your pet’s health.

Dog’s thrive on good nutrition and exercise, and if your Miniature Poodle gets both of these combined with plenty of love, he can live to be up to 16 years of age and even older.

They are robust little dogs, but even so, they can get sick. Ear infections, joint diseases, obesity, dental disease and bloat are common dog diseases to look out for -

Bloat:

This is a life-threatening condition where your pet’s stomach fills with gas. The swollen stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm and the dog battles to breathe. The dog could also vomit, be drooling and lethargic.

The stomach can also twist putting the dog in shock. This bloating can occur with any dog breed and efforts can be made to avoid it by feeding the dog smaller more frequent meals as opposed to one larger meal which he gobbles up.

The dog shouldn’t exercise immediately after a meal either. You also want to avoid obesity at all costs.

Mitral Valve Disease:

When the mitral valve malfunctions, blood isn’t being pumped out of the heart to the rest of the body. If the mitral valve weakens or leaks it can lead to endocarditis.

Quite a number of dogs develop some form of heart disease during their lifetime, with a high percentage being due to mitral valve insufficiency, which is more common in smaller dogs.

Your dog may have a cough, be lethargic and lose weight. The first signs of a leaking mitral valve is a heart murmur. At first MVI doesn’t have obvious clinical signs, but with time the efficiency of the heart is reduced and congestive heart failure develops. Your veterinarian will evaluate your pet and suggest treatment.

Sebaceous Adenitis:

A skin problem sounds fairly mild but it can cause havoc in your pet’s life, causing him to be constantly licking and scratching himself. The hair becomes dull and brittle, and breaking the skin from continuous scratching invites bacterial infection. These skin infections will require veterinary intervention.

Make sure you provide your pet with yard space and that he is well exercised and occupied. Provide him with exercise and give him attention.

Provide him with a dry, quiet resting place. If he spends time outdoors, he must have shade and sun as well as shelter from the rain.

Provide him with good food in his own special bowls. If you feed him dry kibble, make sure to give him a quality one with vitamins and minerals. The food’s labeling will guide you as to what to buy, but your vet is also a good source of useful information. Try to give him some home-made food too. Boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes and spinach for instance, are excellent examples. Dont add in exotic spices and curries that can give him an upset stomach. Make sure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Get your Manchester to the vet if he is ill. Make sure his vaccines are up to date.

He has short hair and is a low maintenance dog. Brush him once or twice a week to keep his shiny coat healthy. Check inside his ears for redness and give him a good check-over to make sure he doesn’t have any odd looking lumps or sores on his body.

Grooming:

If you opt to keep your Miniature Poodle’s coat long, it will actually require regular brushing – every day in fact, if you want to avoid matting and tangling. Most people don’t like the work this involves and they have their Poodle’s hair cut short all over, then he only needs a brush once or twice a week. Your Miniature Poodle just loves the time you spend with him grooming him. It’s your time to feel for any unusual lumps and to also check for fleas and ticks. Some people take their pet to the doggy parlor to have the coat clipped.

The dog’s nails should also be trimmed regularly, and their ears also need to be checked for wax buildup and debris which can lead to an ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked over too because dental disease won’t only lead to loss of teeth but it could be toxic for important body organs too.

Wipe around your pet’s eyes as tear stains can form under the eyes.

Make sure to feed your pet a top quality diet full of vitamins and minerals. Get to know the foods which can be toxic for your pet and cause stomach upsets. Dogs appreciate simplicity and consistency with their diets, and apart from dry kibble, home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables can be excellent for your pet.