Wheaten Terrier vs Manchester Terrier - Breed Comparison

The Wheaten Terrier hails from Ireland, some 200 years ago.

The dog was bred to be a useful dog to have around the farm. He was needed to help with the guarding and herding of livestock and to keep the rat population down.

This little dog has a long history, but in spite of this, he wasn’t recognized as a breed in his home country by the Irish Kennel Club until 1937.

It was in 1943 that the Wheaten was recognized by the British Kennel Club. They were exported to the United States in the 1940s and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973.

Looking much like the Black and Tan Terrier, the Manchester Terrier is a dog that was actually developed from the Black and Tan, which is the oldest known breed of terrier.

In the United States there are 2 varieties of the Manchester Terrier — the Toy and the Standard but in the UK the 2 sizes are classified as different breeds - the English Toy Terrier and the Manchester Terrier.

The dog was first bred in the 19th century to wipe out rats and mice, originating from Manchester, England. This is an old dog breed, gaining the nickname of the Gentleman's Terrier because of its dignified looks and personality.

After the 2nd World War, the numbers of the dog dropped and this spurred the kennel club to list it as a vulnerable native breed, in danger of extinction. It was in 1937 that the British Manchester Terrier Club was formed.

The Wheaten Terrier is a robustly built, medium-sized dog with males and females standing at between 43 to 50cm in height and weighing between 13 to 20kg.

The soft, single coat is a silky texture and a wheaten, gingery color. A bonus is that the coat doesn’t shed much. Puppies are born with darkish coats of a reddish-brown color but the coat lightens significantly as the puppy grows older.

Most Wheaten Terrier owners opt to have the dog professionally groomed. Their tails have always been docked.

Temperament:

Your Wheaten Terrier is a smart dog, albeit headstrong and stubborn. His intelligence makes it easy to have him trained.

They love their human family and aren’t known for any aggression issues. They’re energetic, playful dogs and are sometimes even looked upon as being hyperactive. They’re able to get along well with other dogs and cats in the house. They generally make great family pets.

These dogs are well suited to life in the city as well as the countryside just so long as he gets his daily walks and other forms of exercise.

The Manchester Terrier is a small, smooth haired dog with a black and tan coat and a head with a fairly long muzzle, small bright eyes, largish erect ears and a deep chest.

The body is lean and muscular and the tail, where once docked, now tends to be left long. In the toy sized dog you will find him standing at roughly 25 – 30cm in height and he will weigh between 2 to 4kg. The standard sized dog will be slightly taller and heavier and weigh in the region of 8kg.

You can expect between 2 – 4 puppies from a breeding pair.

Temperament:

Feisty, energetic, alert and intelligent are some of the words which describe the Manchester Terrier. Like any other dog, training and socialization will make him a splendid pet, obedient and amicable among people.

He is loving and loyal, courageous and feisty and guaranteed to make you an eager-to-please pet. He can adapt to life in the city or countryside, but is going to need plenty of exercise wherever you keep him as a pet.

The Wheaten Terrier is such a bouncy, lively little dog that he brings joy into any home.

He is energetic, playful and full of the joys of living but you don’t want to take advantage of his good nature.

Don’t leave him stuck in your back yard but include him in all your family activities. He’s your best friend, providing you with unconditional love that few humans can equal.

The Manchester Terrier has so many good qualities that make him such a good pet. Low maintenance, he is clean and well groomed to look at. He is also a healthy dog breed, nice and active and low maintenance.

This little dog is willing to come into your home and heart. He will make you a wonderful pet and friend for as long as 15 years if you take special care of him.

Your Wheaten Terrier is a dog breed that can live healthily with you for a good number of years.

Just like most other dogs, they are prone to some heritable diseases. Perhaps a condition to look out for with this particular dog is protein wasting conditions - protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE).

Both of these diseases are actually fatal but if caught early enough, they can be managed with dietary changes and medication.

Your dog produces proteins known as enzymes, one group being digestive enzymes that help with the breakdown and digestion of food. When your pet battles with malabsorption, digestive enzymes don’t absorb protein and it passes through the large intestine into the faeces. Your dog will have inflammatory bowel disease.

Dogs with PLE for instance, will have vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss.

This dog breed is fairly healthy and can reach a good age if looked after well. Every dog though, can be affected by a number of inheritable genetic disorders.

Glaucoma is a common genetic condition in Terrier breeds, including the Manchester Terrier. Secondary glaucoma, which is known as lens luxation is brought about when there is excessive pressure in the eyeball. The lens of the eye is put out of alignment. Most times surgery is the solution.

Von Willebrand's Disease is a blood disorder that affects the clotting process. A dog with this disease will have bleeding gums, continuous bleeding after surgery and sometimes blood in the stool. It’s a disease which can’t be cured but it can be managed with treatments.

Brush your pet’s coat twice a week to keep it healthy and have him professionally trimmed to keep him looking nice and groomed.

Dental disease is a common problem with dogs, and more specifically small dogs. Dental problems start with tartar build-up on the teeth and then infection of the gums and roots can set in too. The teeth have to be kept in good condition as rotten teeth can have a negative impact on other important body parts like the heart and kidneys.

Have your pet vaccinated against bacterial and viral infections such as rabies and parvo.

Speak to your vet about the many worms and other parasites that can invade your pet’s body.

Have your Wheaten spayed or neutered if you want to avoid unwanted puppies.

Provide your Wheaten with the best food there is to encourage good health and longevity. Keep his meals simple and consistent and always go for high-quality foods that are in keeping with your dog’s age, Kibble as well as home-made food are good choices. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Provide your Wheaten Terrier with good exercise. Remember though that these dogs are sensitive to warm temperatures, and you don’t want to have him exercising in hot weather because of the fear of heat stress.

Grooming:

Low maintenance, the Manchester Terrier will only require a brushing once or twice a week. Check his eyes and ears for infections, clip his nails and brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week.

Diet:

The Manchester Terrier is a lean, muscular dog and you want to be sure to keep him that way. If you feed him commercially manufactured food, make sure that it is one of the high quality brands – food which is packed full of vitamins and minerals to ensure the health of your dog.

Any packaged food you buy should be appropriate to the dog’s age and his activity levels. You won’t be doing your dog a favor by feeding him treats that you enjoy such as chocolate, coffee, peanuts, raisins, grapes and onions.

Dogs want simple food that don’t change much. Keeping things simple prevents upset stomachs. Give him some wholesome home-made food occasionally to add into his dry kibble. This can be boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked or raw vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and spinach. Some raw meat added in from time to time can also do wonders for your dog. Make sure he has access around the clock to fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

The Manchester Terrier wants lots of exercise, and apart from him having his regular daily walks, he will need runs off the leash in the park. If you go cycling for instance, he will readily run beside you.