Maggie (or "Maggie Moo" as we love to call her) is a Standard Manchester Terrier, known as the "Gentlemen's Terrier". Maggie comes from Tina Sandford of Kreuzritter's Manchester Terriers, Fredericton, N.B. We met our first Standard Manchester Terrier several years before Maggie came into our lives and fell in love with the look and personality. When Maggie became available to us, we had her flown down from Canada and picked her up in Northern Virginia. She got to ride home in a crate with Raven...she curled up inside Raven's blanket and went to sleep! Guess that's why she thinks she's a Weimaraner!
This breed is not bred for sparring purposes - their history takes them back to the 1800's in Manchester, England where they were initially bred to hunt vermin, ridding both homes and ships of rats and mice. While Manchester Terriers do not typically hunt in the fashion of a Weimaraner, we are very proud of Maggie in her hunting abilities. Since a young puppy, she has always wanted to do whatever the big grey dogs do! If we're training or playing in the field with birds, Maggie is right there wanting to have her turn!! She has retrieved both pigeon and quail to us without any damage! Quite a feat for a Terrier!
With a personality unlike any other dog we have ever owned, Maggie welcomes all dogs (no matter their color) into our home and teaches the puppies the ropes and the rules of the house. If we have puppies in the house, she can be found in the whelping box cleaning their ears, playing with them and correcting them when they get too rough with each other. If we are out doing "dog things" she can be found running right along with the big dogs. At dog events, Maggie can be found running the shores of the pond, waiting for a Weimaraner to come in from the water so she can try to steal their duck or bird!
Most days Maggie can be found sleeping on top of the heat register in the kitchen in the cooler weather or sleeping outside in the grass in the warmer weather and her evenings are spent curled up under a blanket on the couch.