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I frequently get asked a lot of the same questions.  I want to try and answer some of those here for you.  I want you to be an educated puppy owner, whether it be one of my dogs or a dog from somebody else.  I want you to understand the issues with this breed, and know what to look for when shopping for a dog.  If you don't see your question here--by all means ASK!  I will be adding to this page as other questions come along.  The things that are discussed here are just my opinion.  Some folks don't agree with my views on things, and that's ok too. 

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Question: I just want a pet.  Are Champions in a dog's pedigree really all that important?

Answer:  I think so.  Even tho your dog is going to remain a companion, you will want the dog to look like the breed that you are purchasing.  With Champion bloodlines, you are sure that at least some or all of the dog's ancestors have been evaluated by an AKC judge and deemed to be a worthy representative of the breed.  To become a champion, dogs must allow strangers to touch them, and behave themselves in the midst of a lot of strange dogs.  Several generations of Champions in the pedigree, would indicate years of dedicated responsible breeding programs have gone into the puppy you are considering.

Question:  Other than the word Champion, what does all that other "stuff" like BOV and WD, WB mean on your website?

Answer:  I will let the AKC answer that one.  This link takes you to a great informational page on their website which is recommended reading if you are interested in perhaps showing your dog. http://www.akc.org/dic/events/conform/begnshws.cfm

Question:  Why is it SO HARD to find a Toy Manchester puppy?

Answer:  This is somewhat of a rare breed.  Breeders are located in "pockets" throughout the country and are not readily available.  Litters are generally small, with more males than females.  Which also means if you are dead set on a female, be prepared to wait even longer.  Responsible breeders would NEVER sell their dogs in pet stores or flea markets. 

Question:  I have read about vWd, but what does all that really mean, and how important is that for my companion puppy?

Answer:  vWd is a bleeding disorder in several breeds of dogs, including the Manchester.  It is important that your breeder test their dogs and that you can obtain proof that your puppy is not affected by this disease.  Responsible breeders should be able to provide you with a copy of BOTH parents vWd test, and prove that your puppy is not affected.  There have been 2 cases of affected dogs reported to me, in the last 2 months alone, by concerned pet owners, in dogs they have purchased from irresponsible breeders.  Believe me they ARE out there, despite what some people will try and have you believe.  Just because they don't bleed much when their toenails are cut, does NOT mean the dog is not affected.  Demand proof!  The only test, in my opinion that is 100% accurate is the DNA test.  Blood assay tests are highly inaccurate and can be influenced by a number of factors.  You cannot fool DNA!  Vet Gen currently owns the patent for the DNA test, and expert information on vWd can be found here.  http://www.vetgen.com/canine-strategies.html  The DNA test costs about $150 which is a small investment in a healthy breeding program.  Breeders that are too cheap to invest in the breed's future should not be breeding Manchesters.

Question: The dog I have could be a carrier.  How concerned should I be?

Answer:  Carriers do not have the disease nor can they suddenly develop it.  Since a companion dog is not used for breeding, it's not a problem.

Question:  Other than vWd, what other health concerns are there in Manchesters?

Answer:  Manchesters have been reported to have hip dysplasia, legg calve perthes, PRA, hypothyroidism, night blindness,  patellar luxation, and alopecia.

Question:  What can I do to ensure that my puppy does not have any of these problems?  What testing should the breeder be doing?

Answer:  Testing of all dogs used in a responsible breeding program is very important.  Hip x-rays, thyroid testing, manual examination by a licensed veterinarian for luxating patellas, and CERF for eyes will help to rule out most of the genetic problems.  Results should be made to you upon request by the breeder.

Question:  I live 2000 miles away, how could I get a puppy from you?

Answer:  We can fly your puppy to you, or you can fly here and hand-carry the puppy back on the plane with you.  Most major airlines allow you to carry a dog onboard and that will cost you (price of the plane ticket) plus $50-$80 depending on the airline..  I prefer using Continental to ship a puppy alone.  They offer 100% climate control for the dog, and hand-carry them inside the terminal if there is a delay.  They don't fly everywhere, so sometimes Delta is an option also.  Either way, it will add about $200 to the price of the puppy to fly them.

Question:  Isn't being flown alone REALLY stressful for a little puppy?

Answer:  You'd be surprised at how well puppies handle being flown.  They adapt and cope more easily than adults do for the most part.  Puppies are stressed simply by being taken to a new home.  Personally, I would rather get on a plane for a few short hours, than spend all day in a car!  Puppies are the same way.  They handle it very well, otherwise--no way I'd ship one!

Question:  Do you ever have adults available?

Answer:  Yes.  On occasion, I do place young adults.  My goal with my dogs is to breed them sparingly, maybe 2 or 3 times, and then place them in loving homes while they are still young dogs.  I feel every dog deserves to be loved and cherished forever and not over bred or kept in a multi-dog environment for the rest of their lives.  Before I place an adult dog, they will be altered, and fully up to date on vaccines. 

Question: Why is it so important that I buy a dog from a reputable breeder?  All I want is a pet.

Answer:  This is a crummy analogy, but the only one I can think of so bear with me.  All I want is a car.  Now, the average person is not a mechanic and doesn't really know much about cars either.  Would you rather buy one from an ad in the newspaper--"as is", or a dealership with warranties and 12 point inspections?  All too often, people buy into health and temperament issues when they buy dogs from ads in the paper.   Before I got involved in purebred dogs, I did that one myself.  We all have.  Sometimes you get lucky and never have a problem.  But more often than not--you end up with all sorts of problems and a breeder who will not accept any responsibility for the dogs.

Question: So how can you tell if they are a reputable breeder or not anyway?

Answer:  I wish there were a really easy way to tell, but it's a combination of things.  Are their dogs AKC Champions with several generations of Champions in their bloodlines?  Do they personally show their own dogs, or pay handlers to do so?  Can they provide you with DNA vWd testing for both parents?  Will they provide you with references from people who have purchased their dogs-not just recently but have had dogs for over a year?  (and it's up to you to actually CONTACT those people and ask THEM tons of questions also).  Do their dogs live in the house or do they have a kennel?  Are they a member in good standing of the American Manchester Terrier Club (AMTC)? If not why?  Will they take a dog back if you are unable down the road to care for the dog?  Do they answer all of your questions, or just the ones they want to answer?  Can you visit their home (if you are close enough) and meet their dogs?  Can you meet them perhaps at a show?  Do they answer your e-mail in a timely fashion?  Do they answer all kinds of "silly" questions or just brush them off?

Question: What is your best advise for me in finding the right breeder for a companion dog?

Answer:  First of all patience!  Most of us just don't have lots of puppies available all the time.  I would ask for references, and I would contact them--ask them lots of questions.  Were the breeders there for them AFTER the sale?  Do they have any temperament or health issues with their dogs?  Ask a potential breeder a lot of questions, even if you know the answers.  Then ask more.  If they seem bothered, or evasive then move on to somebody else!!  You should be able to easily weed out the people more interested in the money than the dogs this way.  Also--how many questions do they ask YOU?  Are they just willing to sell a dog to anybody with the money--or do they ask you almost as many questions as you are asking them?  I would be cautious with any breeder that  a) always has a lot of dogs available or  b) states at the onset, they aren't interested in producing show quality animals, just companions  c) Cannot provide documentation of prior health testing of parents.

Question:  Why is this so important anyway?  I just want a little pet to love.

Answer:  You are potentially going to spend a lot of money and 16+ years with this animal.  It's much better to be cautious, and do a lot of work at the onset to ensure many trouble-free, healthy years for you and your pet.