Rat Terrier

The Rat Terrier is an American breed that descended from the terriers brought over by English miners and other working class immigrants. It is thought that crosses between the Smooth Fox Terrier, the Manchester Terrier and the now extinct white English Terrier were used in the early creation of the Rat Terrier. These dogs were used as ratters, and gambling on their prowess in killing rats was a favorite hobby of their owners. Some of these dogs were crossed with Whippets or Italian Greyhounds (for speed) and Beagles (for hunting ability). Eventually, these tough little terriers evolved into the Rat Terrier that we know today.

The Rat Terrier is a muscular, active, small-to-medium hunting terrier. Ears are V-shaped, set at the outside edges of the skull, and may be erect or button. Both varieties may have a natural tail carried in an upward curve. The Coated variety may have a docked or natural bob tail. The Rat Terrier comes in solid white, other solid colors with markings, and white with a variety of colored patches.

They are energetic and alert-their curiosity and intelligence make him easy to train. The Rat Terrier has sometimes been described as having a dual personality. They are fearless, tenacious hunters with unlimited energy and are an exceptionally friendly companion-getting along well with children, other dogs, and even cats. Rat Terriers enjoy human companionship immensely and will enthusiastically share any activity with their owners.

It is strongly recommended that you do not get more than one puppy at a time, as they may tend to bond with each other rather than with you. Get one, and give yourselves some time to get settled in. Concentrate and work on your socialization skills and bonding first, before bringing another dog into your home.

Coated Variety: The coat is short, dense, and smooth, with a sheen. Solid white; tri-colored (white with patches of black and tan); or bi-colored (any combination of black, tan, chocolate, red, orange, lemon, or blue with white), with or without tan or rust "Manchester type" markings on the cheeks and over the eyes. Hairless Variety: Puppies are born with a soft, vestigial down that generally covers the body. This "down" gradually diminishes until age 6 to 8 weeks, by which time the pup should be completely hairless. A mature Rat Terrier, Hairless variety, is free from hair except for whiskers and guard hairs on the muzzle, and eyebrows. Short, very fine hair may be present on the body of a mature dog. There are two sizes for the Rat Terrier- Miniature and Standard. The Miniature should not be taller than 13 inches, the Standard should be 13-18 inches tall. Weight should be proportionate.

Health Concerns:
Hip & elbow dysplasias and eye problems are rarely seen in this breed, while Allergies (contact, inhalants and foods) are of the highest reported incidents, along with crooked or retained puppy teeth, and varying degrees of bad knees or luxating/patellas. These problems generally occur in small and toy dogs of any breed under 12".

Other problems have been connected with chemical sensitivity/allergies (Hives, swelling etc.) Certain insecticides, wormers, flea & tick dips, soap products, shampoos & colognes and reactions to serums, such as lepto (allergies to eggs?) and some individuals may be sensitive to certain anesthesia's, presumably due to their lack of body fat.

Another problem that may occur, are those associated with Demodex Mange. Although topical salves, dips and drug therapies can usually resolve the problem, which is generally seen when a dog is under stress during teething etc. This is thought to be an inherited auto-immune T-cell defect which allows this type of mite to proliferate, and depending on the severity, the individual may not be a suitable candidate for breeding. Consult with your veterinarian if your dog has any patches of skin redness or hair loss to check for this condition.