Picky Eater

I want to preface this post by saying that this may be specific to my Toy Manchester. I haven't read anything that states that the breed, as a whole, have this problem. My little Nyxi is a very picky eater! When I first brought her home, I followed the breeder's recommendation and fed her the exact same food that she did. This worked fine for a couple of months. She then, suddenly stopped eating all together. I took her to the vet and everything seemed fine. I tried the food that the vet recommended. Again, everything was fine for a few months. She suddenly stopped eating once again. I tried several different dog foods and this pattern continued. I finally started making all of Nyxi's food (basically 60% ground beef, 20% rice, and 20% veggies). She seemed to really enjoy this and this worked for close to a year...then, once again, she suddenly refused to eat.

After trying many different foods, I found a brand of all natural organic food called Organix Canine Adult Formula Dry Dog Food. She has actually eaten this dog food consistently for about 2 years. It is a little pricey but it isn't a big deal because a bag lasts her for so long. I also know that Nyxi is eating enought because one of my daughter's favorite things to do is feed Nyxi her kibble. Nyxi will wait patiently while Gina digs around in her dish and fishes out a piece. She'll then gently take it from Gina and eat it. This seems to entertain both of them so Mommy can get some work done! :)

Is a Toy Manchester Right for You: Part 2

Is intelligence important to you in a dog? If your answer is 'yes,' you may want to reconsider getting a Toy Manchester. I love Nyxi with all of my heart but, honestly, she is about as smart as a popsicle stick. I have had several breeds of dogs during my life (collie, German Shepard, lab, Great Dane) and I have never had trouble training a dog. Until I got my little Nyxi.

I know that Toy Manchester are often used in agility trials so I'm guessing that other people have had better luck in the training department than I have had. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I am simply used to working with fairly intelligent dogs who learn quickly. Perhaps a qualified dog trainer or someone used to training popsicle sticks would have better results.

At any rate, what she lacks in intelligence, she makes up for in disposition. She is a sweet little dog who does not have a mean or aggressive bone in her little body. Because I have a one-year old daughter (and another baby on the way) that is far more important to me than intelligence.

Special Delivery From Nyxi!

I got a really nice surprise today. A delivery from 1800Flowers!! I just assumed that they were from my husband but it turned out that they were actually from Nyxi and Gina thanking me for taking such good care of them and for being such a good Mom (my husband is incredibly considerate and caring…I’m just not supposed to tell anyone!).

So apparently, my Toy Manchester Terrier and my 14 month old daughter got online, found a 1800Flowers coupon and ordered me a beautiful flower arrangement. Honestly, this really made my day! I’m almost seven months pregnant and it has not been an easy pregnancy. Flowers are truly one of my favorite things and getting such a beautiful and unexpected gift from my husband…I mean from my child and dog, really lifted my spirits and made me feel great!

Toy Manchesters and Kids

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I have to admit that I was concerned as to how a baby/toddler would get along with a Toy Manchester. I have heard many negative stories about interactions between terriers and kids. Well, it turns out that my concerns were unwarrented. My daughter is 14 months old and she is absolutely in love with Nyxi. Nyxi basically ignored Gina's excistance for the first year but now that Gina is getting old enough to play, Nyxi is beginning to show some interest. I, of course, keep a very close eye on them. More because I am concerned that Gina will accidently hurt Nyxi than anything else. I have found over the past three years that Nyxi does not have an aggressive bone in her body. She doesn't even mind when Gina takes food out of her dish. She will then feed Nyxi her kibble one piece at a time! :) They are starting to cuddle and snuggle with each other. I really think that they are going to be best buddies...which makes me very happy!!!

Is a Toy Manchester the Right Dog for You? Part 1

Toy Manchester Terriers are pretty energetic. The good news is, is that they are tiny. To qualify as a toy, a manchester terrier must weigh less than 12 pounds. They typically weigh 6 to 8 pounds. Unless you live in a van down by the river, any home or apartment that you live in will provide your manchester with plenty of room to zip around in. I know that Nyxi will play fetch for about 20 minutes before crawling under her blanket and passing out. A toy manchester would be perfect for someone who lives in the city or in a small apartment.

Finding a Toy Manchester Breeder

If you are thinking about buying a Toy Manchester Terrier, be aware that finding a breeder may not be easy. There are only about 450 Manchester Terriers registered per year in the U.S. This includes BOTH the Toy and Standard. Because they are a relatively rare breed, many puppy mills and untrustworthy breeders are popping up on the internet. You should expect to pay about $800 to $2000 for a purebred dog from a quality breeder. The price will depend upon whether you want a puppy or an older dog, a male or female, and whether or not you intend to show your dog.

The breeder where we purchased Nyxi is located very close to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She obviously cares about her dogs very much and is always more than happy to answer any questions that I may have for her. Click here to check out Velvet Firefly Kennel

Bringing Nyxi Home

The day we got Nyxi was very exciting, of course! I was also very nervous. What on earth was I going to do with a 2 and a half pound puppy? I was used to German Shepards and Great Danes!! She basically sat in my hand and cried and shivered the entire way home. I was terrified. I just knew that I was going to step on her or lose her somewhere. But, that was over 2 years ago and we both made it through just fine. It is a huge adjustment, getting used to little dogs when you grew up with big ones. And, we really did have to be VERY careful not to stomp on her. This was particularly the case for me when I was making dinner as she loved to fall asleep on my foot!