How long does a Manchester Terrier (Toy) live?

The listed lifespan for a Manchester Terrier (Toy) is 15–17 years.

How tall is a Manchester Terrier (Toy)?

The listed height for a Manchester Terrier (Toy) is 10–12 in.

Is a Manchester Terrier (Toy) good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Manchester Terrier (Toy) is 4 out of 5.

When is a Manchester Terrier (Toy) full grown?

The growth size band for a Manchester Terrier (Toy) is 8–12 months.

Toy Group

Manchester Terrier (Toy)

Manchester Terrier (Toy) is a toy dog in the Toy Group. Adult weight is up to 12 lb, height is 10–12 in, and the listed lifespan is 15–17 years. AKC describes the temperament as Intelligent, Agile, Spirited.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Manchester Terrier (Toy) dog — Photo: User Coneslayer on en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan15–17 years

Weightup to 12 lb

SizeToy GroupToy Group

Height

10–12 in

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

4 / 5

The breed record

Across 21 single-size toy breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 16 years is about 1.9 years longer than the 14.1-year average.

The listed origin is England. The coat is described as smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.7 points above the group average of 3.3 for the Toy Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 4 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 131 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Thyroid Evaluation, Legg-Calve-Perthe Radiographic, Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (JDCM) - DNA Test, Von Willebrand Disease I (VWDI) - DNA Test, and Xanthinuria, Type II - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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