Toy Manchester Terrier vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

There are different varieties of the Belgian Shepherd Dog – but these all differ only in color, length and texture of coat. The interesting aspect of the names of the different Belgian Shepherds, is that the names of the different varieties are taken from the individual towns in Belguim from which each variety comes from.

This breed dates back to the middle ages, but it was only in 1891 that Professor A. Reul of the Cureghem Veterinary Medical School established standards for the types and actually separated- and distinguishing them. In the UK they are shown as one breed.

The Toy Manchester Terrier comes from Manchester and came about by breeding the Manchester Terrier with smaller dog breeds.

Looking like a Doberman Pinscher, the American Toy Manchester Terrier Club was formed in the 1930s and the dog was recognized in 1938 by the American Kennel Club.

It is believed that the Black and Tan Terrier was also possibly crossed with Whippets. The dog is categorized as a Terrier or as a Toy breed.

Different Varieties

The Belgian Shepherd is a well proportioned, muscular medium-to-large dog breed. There are the different varieties but they generally stands at 56 – 66cm in height and weighs anything from 25 to 30kg. You get the short haired Malinois and then you also get the Belgian Tervuren and the Groenendal which are fairly long-haired varieties. Their colour shades vary so you can find black with white markings on the chest and feet, you can find light to dark brown and some are even inclined to be brown.

Not Aggressive but a Great Guardian

All the varieties have long tails, pointed, fully erect ears and black noses. While the Belgian Shepherd isn’t an aggressive dog, he makes an excellent guard dog, being alert, highly energetic and intelligent and easy to train. As with most other dogs, you’ll want to see to it that he is trained and socialized because then he makes a super pet suited to life with a family where there are children and other pets. He has an independent nature and is loyal and protective with his human family.

Looking much like a small Doberman Pinscher, the Manchester Terrier is the miniature version of the standard Manchester.

He weighs in the region of 2 to 5kg and stands at between 25 and 30cm in height. He has a sleek, short coat which is black and tan. He is lithe and muscular, bred back in the day to kill vermin. He has large, broad erect ears which taper to a point.

Temperament:

The Toy Manchester Terrier is a gentle but energetic dog, a great choice for an active family. Throw a ball and you’ll see how he loves to give chase, and he’ll also love his walk every day.

They’re adaptable too, so if you live in the countryside or the city, he can be your friend and companion there.

Training and socialization are excellent for all dogs, particularly ones with a stubborn, independent streak such as with this dog. He is intelligent and will learn quickly. They’re alert too so you can expect him to be a good watchdog.

Energy is a big factor with this beautiful dog, so before you consider one as a pet, be sure that you can take care of his exercise needs. He belongs to the working group of dogs so he won’t enjoy just lazing around day after day. He is wired to be herding livestock and that natural instinct doesn’t disappear once he becomes a pet in your home. With so much energy, he wants a nice sized garden and wouldn’t do well cooped up indoors at all.

He is a strong, loving dog, and in exchange for your care of him, he will be a loyal, loving, protective friend who will love you to the end.

The Toy Manchester Terrier is full of beans and will provide you with lots of fun. They're sociable and love being in the presence of their human family.

They get on well with kids and pets in the home and are brave, alert and feisty. He may be small, but he is full of personality and he’s just waiting to fill your home with his bright charm, promising to be a loyal, loving pet.

The Belgian Shepherd is a hardy dog so if you do your part to provide him with good quality nutrition from the food he eats and you exercise him, he’ll reach the 10-14 years allotted to him. Just like with any dog, there will be some minor concerns that you need to watch out for -

epilepsy, eye problems, cancer, skin allergies and hip dysplasia.

remember to check his teeth and for ticks and parasites as both, if just left, can jeopardise his health seriously.

see that he get his first puppy vaccinations at 6 to 8 weeks of age.

The Toy Manchester Terrier is a healthy dog breed and can reach anything between 14 and 16 years of age. Good food and exercise can stave off illness, but there are some common dog illnesses that any dog can succumb to.

Some of these are cancer, bloat, ear infections, skin allergies, and parasites.

Hypothyroidism:

This occurs when there are problems with the thyroid hormone. You might find skin problems with your pet, lethargy and even hair loss. Your vet might suggest hormone replacement, but there are always natural products for dogs too.

Leggs-Calves Perthes Disease:

This is when there is degeneration of the head on the femur bone so that there is also joint inflammation.

It is thought that the condition is brought on by problems with blood supply to the femoral head. Lameness sets in and then your vet will want a medical history of your pet’s health.

Exercise

Your Belgian Shepherd is an energetic dog breed who is social and who wants to be included in your family activities. You can’t just keep him cooped up in your back yard and expect him to do well. He’ll need daily exercise – walks, swims if there is water close by, chasing the ball as well as your companionship.

Grooming and shedding

These dogs are shedders so you’ll certainly be needing to watch your clothes for hairs. You will need to give them a good brush at least twice a week to get rid of all that loose hair and to keep his coat shiny and in tip top condition. Also, he likes the closeness the brushing provides between him and his human caretaker.

Feeding your Belgian Shepherd

The Belgian Shepherd is a robust, healthy breed of dog, but many ill dogs are brought to veterinary clinics because they are suffering with itchy skin problems, they have digestive problems and they’re generally run down. This is because they aren’t provided with a varied and balanced diet plan. Apart from eating a quality dry- or wet dog food as recommended by your vet, he’ll most certainly need some raw meat in his diet too.

Make sure you provide your pet with yard space and that he is well exercised and occupied. Provide him with exercise and give him attention.

Provide him with a dry, quiet resting place. If he spends time outdoors, he must have shade and sun as well as shelter from the rain.

Provide him with good food in his own special bowls. If you feed him dry kibble, make sure to give him a quality one with vitamins and minerals. The food’s labeling will guide you as to what to buy, but your vet is also a good source of useful information. Try to give him some home-made food too. Boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes and spinach for instance, are excellent examples. Dont add in exotic spices and curries that can give him an upset stomach. Make sure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Get your Manchester to the vet if he is ill. Make sure his vaccines are up to date.

He has short hair and is a low maintenance dog. Brush him once or twice a week to keep his shiny coat healthy. Check inside his ears for redness and give him a good check-over to make sure he doesn’t have any odd looking lumps or sores on his body.