Manchester terrier, breed of sleek, alert terrier developed in England in the 19th cent. There are two varieties, the standard and the toy (see toy dog). The standard variety stands from 14 to 16 in. (35.6–40.6 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 16 lb (7.3 kg). The toy Manchester, bred down from the standard, weighs from 5 to 12 lb (2.3–5.5 kg) and stands about 7 in. (17.8 cm) high at the shoulder. The only distinction other than size between the two varieties is in ear carriage; when not cropped, the ears of the standard are semierect, while the toy's natural ear carriage is erect. The dense, short, smooth coat is glossy and is a combination of jet black and mahogany tan in color. Believed to have been the product of breeding a whippet to a famous brown crossbred terrier, the Manchester was originally used in destroying rats and in the widely popular sport of rabbit coursing. Today it is raised chiefly as a house pet. See dog.
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