Why Not Consider The Manchester Terrier Dog

The Manchester terrier is one of those dogs that puts a lot of personality into a fairly small package. A remarkably attractive pet with a convenient smooth and short-haired coat, this terrier is one of those breeds with an interesting background stemming from the early, “working dog” days.

These terriers derive from the old black and tan terrier breed in England. Back in those days, terriers weren’t known for their beauty — to put it kindly — but they were tireless, muscular, and keen. In fact, they were widely known as the best rat killers around, regardless of the terrain. Their skill and enthusiasm easily overcame any objections to their physical appearance, and the breed grew very popular.

At some point, a black and tan fancier crossed one of his terriers with a whippet, a far more graceful-looking dog resembling a Greyhound. The result was a beautiful dog retaining all the terrier prowess, and this new variety made quite a splash. Even so, the new dogs were also called Black and Tans until the Manchester Terrier Club finally formed in the 1920s, changing the breed name to Manchester terrier.

Despite all they have to offer, including a wonderful suitability for today’s urban environments, the Manchester terrier isn’t nearly as well known as it ought to be. In fact, although it enjoyed a surge in popularity sometime back, the breed is practically obscure these days, with only a few dedicated breeders sustaining it.

Yet despite our neglect, the Manchester terrier is a gorgeous breed in its own right that has contributed its beauty and brains to much more well-known breeds, like the Doberman Pinscher. Even better for urbanites, it comes in two varieties — standard, which ranges from 12-22 pounds, and the toy breed, which is typically about 10.

It’s surprisingly we don’t see more of them around. Not only is the Manchester terrier a refined, alert dog boasting a rich mahogany color and an attractive, Doberman-style tan patch over each eye, he’s also playful — he’ll sport for hours on end with the kids — and happily long-lived. Like all terriers, however, this one is a natural digger, and will need some kind of outlet for his energy and keen mind.

This terrier is a much better choice for a boisterous family than the single working person who must crate his dog for most of the day. Just make sure that your children are old enough to show your terrier some respect for his “person” and not manhandle him. Finally, brainy dogs like terriers need to be taught they don’t rule the roost. If you don’t have a background in obedience training, you’ll want to take him in for classes.

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Beyond Blackey Smokey 10 Great Ideas For Naming Black Dogs

How can you look the dog in the eyes ever again? Every time you call his name, he wallows in shame. You’ve banished him to the lowest level of dog name hell – you’ve named your Lab “Blackey.”

Any four-year-old can explain that a dog’s name should reflect something about him – the way he looks, the way he acts, what he likes to eat… something. So most four-year-olds will take the next most obvious step – naming a black dog Blackey… or Smokey… or something equally inane.

The thought that so many grown adults were not able to muster more creativity could undermine our society’s basic faith in democracy. So let’s hope that the over-abundance of such uninspiring monikers is the work of children – parents’ having left the honor of naming the family pet to junior or sissy. While common, this type of delegation is rarely a good idea. Remember: Dogs can last half a generation; your little tyke will be mighty embarrassed in college to own up to a dog named Blackey.

So to help inspire you – or your little one – here are some more unique names – and naming ideas – that might help you side-step the pit of pet name remorse:

1. Dirty Stuff: Grunge, Pitch, Soot (or Sooty), Spade

2. Darkness: Dusky, Midnight, Shade (or Shady), Twilight

3. Black / Dark Clothing: Patch, Sable, Suede, Tux (or Tuxedo), Velvet

4. Black Food: Gumbo, Goulash, Meatball, Meatloaf, Molasses, Mushroom, Plum, Rib-eye, Roux (Avoid Pepper)

5. Coffee Derivatives: Chicory, Latte, Mocha

6. Dark Beers: Guinness, Porter, Stout, Xingu

7. Small Black Dogs: (Also cute for very large dogs.) Scrap, Smudge, Smidgeon, Speck, Splotch, Wisp

8. Black as Evil: (These can be particularly cute for very large or very small dogs.) Cujo, Darth, Jezebel, Katrina, Lilith, Mordor, Reaper, Smut, Snitch, Sorrow, Vader, Vice, Wicked

9. Traditional or Famous Black First Names: (Most appropriate for African-American families.) Tanika, Aisha, Oprah, Bionce, Latifa, Snoop

10. African Geography: Congo, Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda

Newfoundland The Aristocrat Among Dogs

The dogs which take their name from the island of Newfoundland appeal to all lovers of animals.There are now two established varieties, the black and the white and black. There are also bronze-coloured dogs, but they are rare. The black variety of the Newfoundland is essentially black in colour; but this does not mean that there may be no other colour, for most black Newfoundlands have some white marks. In fact, a white marking on the chest is said to be typical of the true breed. Any white on the head or body would place the dog in the other than black variety. The black colour should preferably be of a dull jet appearance which approximates to brown. In the other than black class, there may be black and tan, bronze, and white and black. The latter predominates, and in this colour, beauty of marking is very important. The head should be black with a white muzzle and blaze, and the body and legs should be white with large patches of black on the saddle and quarters, with possibly other small black spots on the body and legs.

Apart from colour, the varieties should conform to the same standard. The head should be broad and massive, but in no sense heavy in appearance. The muzzle should be short, square, and clean cut, eyes rather wide apart, deep set, dark and small, not showing any haw; ears small, with close side carriage, covered with fine short hair (there should be no fringe to the ears), expression full of intelligence, dignity, and kindness.

The body should be long, square, and massive, loins strong and well filled; chest deep and broad; legs quite straight, somewhat short in proportion to the length of the body, and powerful, with round bone well covered with muscle; feet large, round, and close. The tail should be only long enough to reach just below the hocks, free from kink, and never curled over the back. The quality of the coat is very important; the coat should be very dense, with plenty of undercoat; the outer coat somewhat harsh and quite straight.

The appearance generally should indicate a dog of great strength, and very active for his build and size, moving freely with the body swung loosely between the legs, which gives a slight roll in gait. As regards size, the Newfoundland Club standard gives 140 lbs. to 120 lbs. weight for a dog, and 110 lbs. to 120 lbs. for a bitch, with an average height at the shoulder of 27 inches and 25 inches respectively; but it is doubtful whether dogs in proper condition do conform to both requirements.

When rearing puppies give them soft food, such as well-boiled rice and milk, as soon as they will lap, and, shortly afterwards, scraped lean meat. Newfoundland puppies require plenty of meat to induce proper growth. The puppies should increase in weight at the rate of 3 lbs. a week, and this necessitates plenty of flesh, bone and muscle-forming food, plenty of meat, both raw and cooked. Milk is also good, but it requires to be strengthened with casein. The secret of growing full-sized dogs with plenty of bone and substance is to get a good start from birth, good feeding, warm, dry quarters, and freedom for the puppies to move about and exercise themselves as they wish. Forced exercise may make them go wrong on their legs. Medicine should not be required except for worms, and the puppies should be physicked for these soon after they are weaned, and again when three or four months old, or before that if they are not thriving. If free from worms, Newfoundland puppies will be found quite hardy, and, under proper conditions of food and quarters, they are easy to rear.