Meet the Rat Terrier
Best Fur Friend

Best Fur Friend

High Doggy I.Q.

High Doggy I.Q.

Low-Maintenance Looks

Low-Maintenance Looks

Looking for a feisty and fun-loving family pet? Then I’m the breed for you! We Rat Terriers are small dogs with big hearts and boundless energy. I do best in a home with high-energy humans who want to play as much as I do. I get along great with kids – and can learn to get along with your other furbabies – but if you have small animals like hamsters or mice, I’m not the pup for you. I was bred to hunt vermin and don’t want to hurt your furry friends by mistake! If you do happen to have a rodent problem, though, I’d be more than happy to help you out, and I make a great watchdog, too! I’m very smart (some humans might say I’m TOO smart), so while an experienced human can train me, first-time dog parents will need patience and persistence. I can’t help that I’ve got that classic terrier ‘tude: I’m independent, bossy, and too clever for my own good! But while training me may be frustrating, grooming me is a breeze. Even though I can be stubborn sometimes, I promise to always make you laugh and give you love!
My Many Looks

My Many Looks

 My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

 Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

 As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

 History of My Breed

History of My Breed

 Care Tips

Care Tips

 Training Tips

Training Tips
关于我

Personality

Feisty

Loving

Smart

Group

Terrier Group

Origin

United States

Life Span

12-18 Years

Breed Popularity

#83 of 195

Height Range

10-18 Inches

Weight Range

19-25 Pounds

Coat Details

Type

Short

Texture

Dense and Smooth

Features

Colors

Solid White, or Pied (large patches of 1 or more colors combined with white) including Black, Tan, B

Hypoallergenic

Cost to Buy

$500-$1,100

Lifetime Care Cost

$17,285

My Many Looks

My Many Looks

Black & White

Black, Tan & White

Red & White

Apricot & White
My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

Training Ability：
Intelligence：
Exercise Needs：
Health Issues：
Affection Level：
Grooming Effort：
Pet-Friendly：
Shedding：
Kid-Friendly：
Barking：
Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

Many humans think there used to be a Rat Terrier in President Theodore Roosevelt’s White House – and that he gave us our name – but that’s not actually true. While Teddy Roosevelt was a dog lover and had many White House pooches (including a Manchester Terrier and a mixed-breed feist), there is no record of him having a Rat Terrier. Even so, the humans decided to name my cousin the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier after the former President – and in 1999, the Rat Terrier Club of America decided that my cousin (who’s a shorter, more muscular version of me) should be its own breed. I’m also closely related to the American Hairless Terrier and the Decker Rat Terrier.
As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

As you can see, we Rat Terriers age pretty gracefully. Here are a few key milestones in my growth and development to be aware of as I grow up from a pupper to an adult and senior!
Puppy 3-12 Months
I need early socialization and obedience training, especially in homes with other pets. I can be stubborn, so pawlease be patient!
Adult 12-15 Months
Make sure that I get daily walks and have a securely fenced yard – I’m an escape artist with a high prey drive, and I can dig under basic fences in no time!
Senior 10-12 Years
I’m prone to joint problems – switch to a senior-friendly dog food so I can maintain a healthy weight.
History of My Breed

History of My Breed

We Rat Terriers are a young breed and an American original, with many different ancestors all mixed together. We were first bred in the United States in the early 20th century. The earliest Rat Terriers were a mix of Smooth Fox Terriers, Bull Terriers, Manchester Terriers, and Old English White Terriers. As our name suggests, we were bred to be hardworking farm dogs, and we helped our humans keep their barns free of nasty vermin that could spread disease and wreck their crops. Because we were so beloved by American farmers, we were one of the most popular dogs in the US in the 1910s and 1920s. After we established ourselves as America’s best ratters, farmers in different regions of the country began to breed us with other dogs to meet their specific needs. In the Midwest, they mixed my ancestors with Italian Greyhounds and Whippets – the farmers needed us to be faster to deal with jackrabbits. Other farmers mixed us with Beagles to make us better at scenting and working in a pack. With
Care Tips

Care Tips

from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1

Pay attention to your Rat Terrier’s joints.

Like many small dogs, Rat Terriers are prone to luxating patellas which is a condition where the kneecap shifts out of place. Rat Terriers can also be prone to Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, which can cause a lack of blood flow to the femoral head. If you ever notice any kind of gait abnormality, it’s best to schedule an exam with your veterinarian for an orthopedic workup.

2

Be ready for a high-energy pup.

Rat Terriers are high-energy dogs that need vigorous daily exercise to stay healthy and mentally stimulated. Fetch is a favorite but most Ratties will be up for any kind of interactive game. All this energy has to go somewhere, and if you don’t make time for regular exercise, your Rat Terrier may take on some destructive behaviors.

3

Monitor your Rat Terrier’s teeth and start a brushing routine.

Small dogs are more prone to dental disease and tartar build-up. Brushing your Rat Terrier’s teeth regularly can help reduce dental disease and improve the overall health of your pup. Start as early as possible to not only get your Rat Terrier used to the process but also to get ahead of tartar build-up.

Training Tips

Training Tips

from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1

Make your training sessions fun.

Rat Terriers aren't interested in pleasing you, so they would be distracted easily and won't pay much attention to training if it isn't fun. The best time for training sessions is after they have played and before they have eaten.

2

Establish limits with your Rat Terrier.

Rat Terriers tend to fill the place of the Alpha if you don't establish limits soon enough. Training them to do things like coming in after you, sleeping on their own bed and not in yours, and moving out of the way when you walk by are key.

3

Crate-train your Rat Terrier puppy.

This breed is a master of escapism, so you must crate-train Rat Terriers from a very young age. Make your Rat Terrier’s crate a comfortable place and teach them to be in there when they're not around you.

My Many Looks

My Many Looks

 My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

 Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

 As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

 History of My Breed

History of My Breed

 Care Tips

Care Tips

 Training Tips

Training Tips
关于我

  • Personality

    Feisty

    Loving

    Smart

  • Group

    Terrier Group

  • Origin

    United States

  • Life Span

    12-18 Years

  • Breed Popularity

    #83 of 195

  • Height Range

    10-18 Inches

  • Weight Range

    19-25 Pounds

  • 动物皮毛

    Type

    Short

    Texture

    Dense and Smooth

    Features

    Colors

    Solid White, or Pied (large patches of 1 or more colors combined with white) including Black, Tan, B

  • Hypoallergenic

  • Cost to Buy

    $500-$1,100

  • Lifetime Care Cost

    $17,285