Manchester prey drive fascinates me. The Manchester acts on fearless instinct to kill their quarry. I have humanity’s free will. Free will that interferes with and makes itself know as my consciousness, or more accurately, my own insecurity. My insecurity stopping me, questioning me, doubting my right to be fearless and speak up for myself when I feel someone has spoken out of turn to me. While I overcome my insecurity and make my choice in that moment to speak up and either react or act, my interpersonal skill level, mood at the time, the person I’m speaking with, etc., complicates the already tense moment. So at any given time I may fearlessly assert myself appropriate to the situation with empathy, grace and tact. Other times I may stick my foot in my big fat mouth regretting every single word that comes out of it, unable to stop the insidious words from relentlessly sputtering forth or say nothing at all then behave with passive aggressive behavior toward that person because I didn’t speak my truth. The Manchester’s ability of instinctual prey drive action resulting in the same end result of dead vermin seems so much easier than human free will. Even so, nothing in life is black or white. I’ve heard of young or inexperienced Manchesters leaving their unfinished kill screaming in agony and fear. Other Manchesters are unaware they have this instinctual prey drive within them as they peacefully watch a mouse run right past them. However, Manchesters who have inexperienced or repressed prey drive eventually come around when encouraged or watch another Manchester in action. I wish I have prey drive instinct like a Manchester. No, I don’t want to jump down on all fours and kill a mouse. It’s the simplicity of a recurring instinct triggered by the event.

The event created the instinct’s purpose, therefore my actions are consistent, ensuring I deal with this recurring event to a predictable and successful outcome. I don’t have to think because I know my end result. I only have to act. I want my prey drive manifesting itself as my ability to instinctually have empathetic, graceful and tactfully assertive behavior every time someone speaks out of turn to me, with the same end result being that I have empowered myself and the other person in a win-win situation. Impossible, yes. But the point here is my admiration of the consistent innate and fearless action, not reaction, and end result of prey drive in Manchester temperament.

Watching this in action amazes me.

I have both a pair of finches and budgies. When the budgies or finches fly about their cage, Garbo and Marlow run as fast as they can to the cage. Their regal faces turned upward with a burning and unwavering gaze at the birds. Their pupils dilated into black saucers, ears sharply taking in every flutter of wings and their tails frozen at attention. I’m used to this aspect of Garbo and Marlow’s prey drive. To me, I don’t watch hunters in action because I’ll never allow it. What I do see is a constant reminder to keep my winged domestic pets safe. My respect for Manchester prey drive happened the moment Marlow saw a mouse in my apartment. For me that was when she transformed into a hunter. A predator tracking its prey to its death.

Late one evening this same mouse was behind the radiator located in my bedroom, making these scratching sounds. With an excited voice I prompted Marlow to find the mouse. The scratching sounds perpetuating her hunt. A hunt that lasted until 3:00am that morning, Marlow’s focus unyielding! Garbo had yet to see this mouse, so she didn’t understand the fuss and was quite upset at being kept awake all hours of the night. I found myself really curious to watch Marlow kill this mouse. At the same time appalled for wanting to see a mouse killed. This is my dilemma. I hate the thought of any animal being killed. Yet, I’m fascinated to see Marlow kill a mouse - her prey drive in action. I spoke about this on our eGroup. Also wondering what Marlow would do with the mouse when she got hold of it. Would she eat it? What do Manchesters do with their dead pursuit?

Member Jo Ann Emrick replied to my pondering of what Manchesters do with their catch. Jo Ann lives in Pasadena Texas, has been involved in the sport of dog for 32 years, her breeding program is Wilane Standard Manchesters, and is President of the American Manchester Terrier Club. Jo Ann has been very successful in the show ring with her Manchesters as well as competing and gaining titles in Agility and Flyball. Her Manchesters have also been active in Herding Instinct and Earth Dog Testing.

Jo Ann says, “My dogs do hunt and kill. I had some that would catch a mouse and eat it whole. I've had others catch one and just run around with it in their mouth until we retrieved it! Now for rats, squirrel, possum, birds and snakes, the dogs just kill them and run around the yard with them in their mouth doing a ballet with them, as the dogs are happy and proud of what they accomplished! Sometimes I've seen them toss their kill in the air, retrieve and start running around the yard again! I usually have a hard time getting them to drop their kill and come into the house! I've had 8 week old puppies catch mice!”

Jo Ann Emrick

I laughed out loud as I read this, imaging a Manchester Ballet! Thank you Jo Ann for this lively and hilarious account of your Manchester’s prey drive; all the way from puppies to adults! It’s been my experience that those who don’t have dogs with high prey drive aren’t able to understand the awesome aspects of it. Jo Ann’s description of how her Manchesters play with their kill beautifully demonstrates the lighter side of prey drive. I’ve attempted to explain, as animated as I possibly can, how exciting it is to watch Marlow hunt a mouse to non-dog people. This has been disastrous for me. The grimace on their face while they attempt to change the subject to something they find more pleasant is frustrating. Or they don’t say anything at all. I’m left wondering what to say.

Then it happens.

No doubt I put my foot in my mouth.

My dog walked into my room last night,

Where I sat in my favorite chair,

And he laid a soft paw upon my lap

Just to tell me that he was there.

I reached out to stroke his silky head,

And I heard his trembling sighs;

I saw the love that he felt for me

In his deep brown, soulful eyes.

I knew there was something he wanted to say,

As he laid his dear head on my knee;

Then he held his breath, and he closed his eyes,

And he said, “ Will you marry me?”

Well! You could have heard a pin drop!

There was no sound in the place

As I gazed at the deep and earnest look

That he wore on his trusting face.

“But I can’t”, I said with a nervous laugh.

“I’m engaged already, you see.”

He said, “Yes, that’s true, but between us two,

I can love you much better than he.”

He said, “Haven’t I always been there

When you needed a paw to hold,

When the days seemed long and things went wrong,

And life was too hard and cold?”

“And didn’t I sit and lick your hand

Even when you were lost in thought,

And remembered to kiss your cheek goodnight

When everyone else forgot?”

So I thought for a while, and I had to smile:

Everything that he said was true.

But I knew this just wouldn’t do.

“There’s a different kind of love,” I said,

“The kind you share with a man,

That a canine pal, though he’s loyal to his gal,

Just never could understand.”

Then a pained look wandered across his face,

But he carried his thought to the end:

He said, “Human passion always goes out of fashion.

What you need is a real Best Friend!”

He was right, I knew, and his words were true;

For I’d heard many times in my life

That a man will woo till you say “I do”,

Then forget to keep courting his wife.

So I said, “But where would you wear the ring?

For your toes are much too short,

And it just wouldn’t look right around your tail.”

Then he let out a little snort:

“I have worn your ring, O my one true love,

Ever since we have been together,

With so much pride I could burst inside:

It’s this little band of leather.”

“And sometimes you’ve tied a string to me

To bind me more closely still,

But I’ve never strayed from your side, my love,

And you know that I never will.”

“Remember, you’ll always be my girl!

I have never looked at another.

I have always thought you are beautiful,

(And I get along well with your mother.)”

“I listen with true amazement

To every word that you say.

I simply can’t look away.”

“I don’t care to watch the football game,

I would much rather walk with you.

And I love every meal that you cook for me….

So I glanced across at the La-Z-Boy,

Where the man I had planned to wed

Was in lala land, a remote in his hand,

And a pillow over his head.

His eyes were shut, and his mouth was open;

His snoring rang loud and clear.

‘Twas the most he’d said since he got out of bed.

(I admit that I shed a tear.)

So I said to my dog, “But, your life’s so short!

We have so little time together.

It wouldn’t have quite the same meaning

To say we will love forever.”

“It’s true,” he answered, “Dogs don’t live long.

But let me just ask you this:

Would you take a lifetime of misery

Over fifteen years of bliss?

“And after I’m gone, your life goes on.

And when you get past the pain,

If another good dog should come your way

You have time left to love again.

“ Yes, I know I can’t give you children,

But maybe we can adopt.

And if we do…........ I will love them too!”

Then, just for a moment, he stopped.

A look of great sadness clouded his eyes

As he glanced at the easy chair;

“In a perfect world, a dog and a girl

Would be the most logical pair!”

With a deep, sad sigh he lay down at my feet,

And he said no more that night.

And all the next day, as I went on my way,

I began to see he was right.

Still! A wedding was out of the question.

He couldn’t just “give me his paw”.

The world wouldn’t see what his love means to me…

But yet………we could live common law!

It was legal in any country.

No social taboos were in sight.

It could be the most splendid arrangement!

It just couldn’t be more right.

So I told him, “I’ll be here forever!

I will love you ‘til death do us part.

I’ll be tender and true! It’s the least I can do

For a dog with a dear, selfless heart.

I will honor and cherish your friendship,

And be kind all the days of your life.

I will hold you and feed you. I always will need you;

I’ll be just as good as a wife!”

And I know you might howl with laughter,

But I knew it was true when I said “I do”

We’d live happily, ever after.

Connie Sanders

2005

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