Rat Terrier Breed Guide and Pet Insurance

Introduction to Rat Terriers

One of the numerous forms of terriers is the rat terrier, a curious and lovable dog that is available in two official sizes. There are standard and miniature rat terriers, and each varieties have a chic look, happy-go-lucky attitude, and versatile demeanor. Originally bred to hunt small animals, rat terriers are popular household pets which are highly trainable and excellent companions.

In this Healthy Paws dog breed guide, you’ll learn all in regards to the rat terrier breed, including their physical characteristics, typical behaviors, and how one can take the very best care of their health.

Size of Rat Terriers

Rat terriers typically weigh between 10 and 25 kilos, depending on whether or not they are miniature or standard. Miniature rat terriers stand 10 to 13 inches tall, and standard rat terriers are 13 to 18 inches tall. Some breeders have created toy rat terriers which are smaller, weighing just 5 to 10 kilos, although this variation shouldn’t be recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). All rat terriers are considered fully grown by a minimum of 12 months of age.

Dogs of this breed are within the puppy stage until three months of age and undergo puberty from age three months to nine months. Male and female rat terriers mature at different rates, and dog researchers have found that males are inclined to be less susceptible to stress, while females may learn recent tricks more quickly.

Characteristics of Rat Terriers

Rat terriers are compact, smooth-coated dogs which are tough and playful. They are fun to be around and love a hardy day of labor or play. These dogs excel at canine sports and make excellent watchdogs. However, rat terriers like to dig and chase, and they aren’t as people-pleasing as other forms of dogs. Rat terriers are generally great with older children, although they could be too rowdy for younger kids. These dogs are also easy to groom.

As you get to know a rat terrier’s personality, here’s what you’ll be able to expect based on the breed characteristics:

Breed Characteristic	Level (High, Medium, Low)
Affectionate with People	Medium
Good with Kids	Medium
Good with Pets	Medium
Need for Exercise	High
Energy Level	High
Intelligence Level	Medium
Able to Be Trained	High
Amount of Barking	Medium
Amount of Shedding	Medium

History of Rat Terriers

Rat terriers were originally bred in America, and some historical records indicate that President Theodore Roosevelt selected their name. As their name suggests, these dogs were bred to kill rats. This was a necessary job on farms within the early 1900s, where rodent infestations could deplete grain supplies and put farmers out of business. Rat terriers have also been used to hunt other animals, function watchdogs, guard henhouses, and entertain children.

The rat terrier breed resulted from mixing bull terriers, fox terriers, Manchester terriers, and Old English white terriers. Some people have also bred rat terriers with Italian greyhounds and Whippets to hunt jackrabbits. They were also bred with beagles to create pack-oriented dogs. A breeder named Milton Decker created the Decker rat terrier to be larger than standard rat terriers and excel in water retrieval and other versatile hunting skills. A hairless rat terrier was born in 1972, which led to the event of the American hairless terrier. The American Kennel Club first recognized the rat terrier breed in 2013.

Rat Terrier Standard Information

The American Kennel Club has published breed standard information for the rat terrier to explain the best characteristics for this multipurpose companion dog able to hunting small game. The description details how the dog needs to be sturdy, compact, and small-to-medium sized.

Here is an summary of the breed standard information for rat terriers:

Head:

Smooth, blunt wedge-shaped head
Intelligent, alert expression
Eyes are small and set wide apart
Ears are set on the highest periphery of the skull
Skull is moderate in width
Muzzle is robust and shorter than the skull
Nose color corresponds with body color
A few broken teeth or scars aren’t faulted

Neck, Topline, Body:

Neck length is proportional to the pinnacle
Topline is smooth and blends from the back through the loin
Body is compact, strong, and flexible
Tail is normally docked between the second or third joint
Tail can be left naturally long or be a natural bobtail

Forequarters:

Shoulder blades are well laid back
Forelegs are straight and parallel
Feet are oval-shaped
Toes are compact and moderately arched
Front dewclaws could also be removed

Hindquarters:

Hindquarters are muscular and balanced with forequarters
Stifles are well bent with short hocks
Hind feet are barely smaller than front feet
Rear dewclaws needs to be removed

Coat:

Smooth, short, shiny, and short-lying coat
Texture could also be somewhat rough or wave along the back
No kinks or curls
Do not remove whiskers

Color:

Any pied patterning variation is appropriate
Large patches of a number of colours with white

Gait:

Efficient, ground-covering trot with good reach and drive
Legs converge toward the middle line with increased speed

Caring for Rat Terriers

Rat terriers are adaptable and versatile dogs that do well with apartment lifestyles. They fare higher in warmer climates than colder ones and have high energy needs. They’re easy to groom, easy to coach, and like to play greater than anything.

Here are some general suggestions for taking the very best care of a rat terrier:

Best Living Environments:

Excellent farm dogs
Well-suited for apartments
Homes with backyards are ideal to run around and dig
However, their small size makes them suitable for seniors and city living

Type of Exercise:

Playtime in a fenced backyard
Roaming around a farm or yard

Mental Enrichment:

Following members of the family across the house and yard
Playtime with children
Interactive dog toys
Dog sports and agility training

Training Strategies:

Generally easy to coach
Use rewards and games for training
Crate-train your dog to forestall unwanted chewing

Grooming Tips:

Low-maintenance grooming needs
Brush once per week
Bathe every 4 to 6 weeks
Use a rubber curry brush for seasonal shedding twice per 12 months

Common Health Problems of Rat Terriers

The average life expectancy of a rat terrier can vary greatly depending on the dog’s size, health conditions, and care. Most of those dogs live between 12 and 18 years. To be certain that puppies are healthy, breeders should provide health clearances for elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, von Willebrand’s disease, hypothyroidism, thrombopathia, and eye diseases.

These are a number of the commonest health issues that arise with rat terriers:

Patellar luxation
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (a disorder of the hip)
Hip dysplasia
Misaligned jaw structure
Allergies
Demodectic mange
Heart disease

Diet and Nutrition for Rat Terriers

Most rat terriers might want to eat ½ to 1 cup of food per day, although your dog’s ideal food intake will rely on their size and the caloric density of your pet food.

These high-spirited, energetic dogs can turn into underweight due to their activity level. To overcome this issue, some pet parents let their adult rat terriers free-feed with accessible food in any respect times of day. You may additionally try feeding your dog thrice per day as an alternative of two times. However, obesity can be a priority in some rat terriers, so it’s vital to watch your dog’s weight closely and adjust their food intake as needed.

Where to Adopt or Purchase Rat Terriers

One resource to start out with should you are keen on rat terriers is the Rat Terrier Club of America, which offers an inventory of breeders by state on its website. You may additionally consider adopting a rat terrier needing a loving home through a rescue group, reminiscent of New Rattitude or Ratbone Rescues.

If you might be drawn to the dimensions, temperament, and personality of rat terriers, you may additionally wish to study similar and related breeds of dogs before deciding to buy or adopt a recent pet. Here are another breeds to study:

Pet Insurance for Rat Terriers

One of a very powerful things you’ll be able to do to guard your rat terrier long-term is enroll your dog in a pet medical health insurance plan with Healthy Paws. We offer rat terrier insurance that covers accidents, illnesses, cancer, emergency care, genetic and hereditary conditions, breed-specific conditions, and alternative care. We’ve had the top-rated pet medical health insurance plan for seven years in a row and have flexible premium and deductible options to match your budget and assist you to avoid having to pay exorbitant veterinary bills out-of-pocket.