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Breed Characteristics
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Rat Terrier
| Other Names | American Rat Terrier, Ratting Terrier, Decker Giant, Feist |
| Nicknames | RT, Rat, Rattie, R-pooble |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Weight | Standard: 12 - 35 lbs. (5½ - 16 kg) Mid-sized: 6 - 8 lbs. (3 - 3½ kg) Toy: 4 - 6 lbs. (2 - 3 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Standard: 14 - 23 in. (35½ - 58½ cm) Mid-sized: 8 - 14 in. (20 - 35½ cm) Toy: 8 in. (20 cm) |
| Coat | The coat is dense and close, like a beagle. Rat terriers may have very sensitive skin and they sometimes develop patches of red scaly skin where the hair falls out, though this is rare. They do shed, unlike many terriers, but have a very trouble-free grooming schedule as a result. There is also a single gene mutation that formed a line of hairless rat terriers that have been recognized as a separate breed by the AKC in 2004. |
| Colour | Most are dual or tri-coloured with white as the base colour. This may include several colours of brown, tan, yellow and black. |
| Litter Size | 5 - 7 puppies |
| Life Span | 12 – 15 years. Although many have been known to live much longer . |
| Origin & History | The earliest known record of a rat-catching dog is that of "Hatch", whose remains were recovered from the Mary Rose, the flagship of Henry VIII, sunk in 1545 and re-raised in 1982. Hatch is thought to have been a mongrel, and was brought on board to control the rat population. The breed name comes from the occupation of its earliest ancestors brought to the US by working-class British migrants as the dogs were used in rat-baiting. However they were, for the most part, bred for speed. Their speed is used for controlling vermin and hunting small game such as squirrels and hares. After the 1890s, as the breed type became popular in America, Beagle, Italian Greyhounds and Miniature Pinschers were bred in. Many of the foundation Rat Terriers were indistinguishable from small mixed-breed hunting dogs known as "feists". The smaller varieties diverged from the Rat Terrier line very early on, with UKC registration for the Toy Fox Terrier beginning in 1936. Rat Terriers were cherished as loyal hunting companions and efficient killers of vermin on 20th century American farms: as a result, they were one of the most popular dog types from the 1920s to the 1940s. However the widespread use of chemical pesticides and the growth of commercial farming led to a sharp decline in the breed from the 1950s onwards. Breed loyalists maintained the bloodline, leading to the modern Rat Terrier. The genetic diversity of the Rat Terrier has contributed to the overall health, keen intelligence, and soundness of the breed. Most modern breeds were developed from a few founding dogs and then propagated from a closed gene pool. In contrast, the Rat Terrier has benefited from a long history of refinement with regular outcrosses to bring in useful qualities and genetic variability. |
| Personality | The Rat Terrier is an intelligent, alert and loving dog. It is very inquisitive and lively. This affectionate dog makes an excellent companion for those who will enjoy an energetic dog. They are good with children, especially if they are raised with them from puppyhood. They are, for the most part, friendly with strangers. Rat Terriers make good watchdogs. These dogs are quick, very playful and are not yappers. The temperament of these dogs is pure terrier. The lively, feisty, fearless nature can be found in the best of terriers. They are eager to please and respond and pick training up faster than most dogs. The Rat Terrier is a very well-mannered, well-rounded dog. It is easy to train, very eager to learn and to please its owner. They love to go with you and to do what you do. They are also very good swimmers, not bashful or afraid and have no problem with the water. They make good farm dogs as well as excellent family dogs for pets and companionship. This hardy dog is used for hunting expeditions as well as terrier work. Adult dogs can adjust easily into families with or without children. Make sure you are this dog's firm, confident, consistent pack leader to avoid Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behavior problems that can include territorial issues. Always remember, dogs are canines, not humans. Be sure to meet their natural instincts as animals. |
Care Requirements
| Health | Rat terriers are extremely long-lived dogs, with few Health Problems. They are also prone to Chemical sensitivity, and you should be very careful when using any scented shampoos or flea and tick treatments, including collars and dips. You should probably check with your vet first before using sub-dermal insecticides. Unscented baby or puppy shampoos should be used. Mange susceptibility: There is a single gene defect that has appeared in some rat terriers that causes a susceptibility to the parasite that causes the mange. There are treatments available to keep the condition at bay, but it cannot be eliminated, and such dogs should not be bred. |
| Grooming | The Rat Terrier is easy to groom. An occasional combing and brushing to remove dead hair is all it needs. |
| Exercise | The Rat Terrier needs a good amount of exercise. This breed needs to be taken on a daily long walk or jog. It should have at least 20-30 minutes a day, but would enjoy much more. The breed enjoys challenging games and outdoor romps. |
| Other Considerations | Rat Terriers will do okay in an apartment so long as they get at least 20-30 minutes of exercise a day. They are fairly active indoors and should have at least a small to medium-sized yard. Rat Terriers love to dig, and they can get out of a fenced yard relatively easily. Provided they have the proper protection, they are able to spend a good amount of time outdoors. They love to be inside the house and outside to play. In popular culture; U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was given a black and tan feist-type dog named Skip by John Goff during his 1905 hunting expeditions in the west. Many have claimed this dog to be a rat terrier but in reality he more closely resembled the old black and tan terrier or Manchester. An often-recited story is how this terrier helped rid the White House of rats in 1906 but in fact, two dogs and some ferrets owned by local pest exterminator Mr. Barclay were utilized. This story was so often recited that when the Rat Terrier Club of America wished to separate the short legged variety from the longer legged they named the short legged variety the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier in honor of Mr. Roosevelt's supposed participation with the breed. Eleanor Powell trained a little dog named Buttons for a tap dance scene in Lady Be Good. A Rat Terrier was mentioned in Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Shirley MacLaine's rat terrier, Terry, is featured in her 2003 book Out on a Leash. Best-selling author John Sandford is a Rat Terrier owner, and has been known to refer to them in his novels. William Faulkner owned several rat terriers, and his short story "The Bear" featured a "fyce" (feist), or Rat Terrier, named "Nip" who bravely attacks a ferocious bear until his master pulls him back. Charles Trippy's rat terrier, Marley, who is featured in the popular YouTube series "Internet Killed Television". |
