Canis lupus familiaris
Toy Manchester Terrier
Featured phototoy-manchester-terrier.jpgThe Toy Manchester Terrier is a late-19th-century English Toy version of the Manchester ratter. The Toy Manchester Terrier was developed in late-19th-century England by selectively breeding the smallest specimens of the Manchester Terrier.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Toy
- Origin country
- England
- Origin period
- Late 19th century
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Black and Tan only — coal black with rich mahogany-tan markings above each eye, on the muzzle, throat, chest, legs, and below the tail
- Average lifespan
- 14-16 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1886 · UKC 1948
Origin
The Toy Manchester Terrier was developed in late-19th-century England by selectively breeding the smallest specimens of the Manchester Terrier (the Black-and-Tan ratter developed by 'Damper' John Hulme of Manchester from a Black-and-Tan Terrier × Whippet cross). The Toy Manchester became extremely fashionable in late-Victorian England and was for several decades the smallest breed of dog in the world (with adult dogs often weighing under 2 kg). The AKC initially registered the Toy Manchester as a separate breed in 1886, then merged the two as a single breed (Manchester Terrier) with two size varieties in 1959: the Standard (Terrier Group) and the Toy (Toy Group). The FCI does not recognize the Toy variety as a separate breed.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1886, the United Kennel Club followed in 1948.
Standard
The AKC standard describes a small, sleek, sinewy, smartly-built terrier — a smaller version of the Standard Manchester, with the same rich black-and-tan colour pattern and short, glossy coat. The defining feature distinguishing the Toy from the Standard is the natural, erect ear (Standard ears may be cropped or naturally erect, button, or tipped). The Toy weighs up to 5.5 kg (under the AKC standard); the Standard weighs 5-10 kg.
Sources & further reading (2)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
What is the Toy Manchester Terrier's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Toy Manchester Terrier in the Toy Group. The Toy Group gathers small companion breeds historically kept as lap dogs and household companions, including the Pug, Pomeranian, Maltese, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breed's foundation working role was as a late-19th-century English Toy version of the Manchester ratter.
When was the Toy Manchester Terrier officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1886; the United Kennel Club followed in 1948.
What is the average lifespan of a Toy Manchester Terrier?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Toy Manchester Terrier's average lifespan in the 14-16 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
