Rat Terrier Dog Breed Information:
The Rat Terrier dog breed are adorable, little, digging escape artists who are true terriers: feisty, funny, energetic, lively, vermin-chasing, and incapable of being boring. Stubborn as all get out, they are not big on pleasing people, but the people who love them laugh all the time.
Rat Terrier Dog Breed Group: Terrier Dogs.
Rat Terrier Height: 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder.
Rat Terrier Weight: 5 to 10 pounds.
Rat Terrier Life Span: 13 to 18 years.
More About This Dog Breed:
A Rat Terrier has lots of energy; you should be able to spend at least 40 minutes a day exercising your dog. If you do not, the Rat Terrier can become destructive as a way to release pent up energy. The Rat Terrier's compulsion to chase doesn't make him the best choice for an off-leash dog. Even the most well-behaved are likely to "forget" their training in the face of tantalizing prey. They need plenty of mental stimulation too. A bored Rat Terrier will resort to barking and chewing if he doesn't receive it.
Rat Terrier History:
The Rat Terrier is an American breed that is the result of working with the Fox Terrier, Bull Terrier, Manchester Terrier, and Old English White Terrier, to name a few. Being a farm dog and hunter, the need for the Rat Terrier to catch prey and pests drove breeders to start adding new strains to the breed in the 1910s and 1920s. A Rat Terrier appeared alongside Shirley Temple in the 1930s movie, "The Little Colonel."
Rat Terrier Size:
The Decker RatTerrier is slightly larger than the Rat Terrier and should range between 22 to 40 pounds. A male should be 16 to 19 inches in height while a female should be 16 to 17 inches.
The miniature Rat Terrier should weigh 10 to 18 pounds and should not be larger than 15 inches in height.
The toy RatTerrier is an even smaller version of the breed. His weight should range between 5 to 10 pounds and he should be no larger than 12 inches in height.
Rat Terrier Personality:
Intelligent, wary, and stubborn, this breed is a dynamo. Understand their general dislike of strangers and know that most warm up to visitors (although chances of that happening are slimmer if you're not there). If they're not properly socialized they will be fine with their family but they could become aggressive to strangers and other animals. They are also absolutely fearless, which can be a wonderful trait, though not if they are aggressive.
Also Read This : All Dog Breeds - Names and Pictures | Complete List of Dog Profiles
Rat Terrier Health:
Rat Terriers are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they're prone to certain health conditions. Not all Rat Terriers will get any or all of these diseases:
Allergies.
Incorrect Bites.
Patellar Luxation.
Demodectic Mange.
Rat Terrier Care:
Crate train your Rat Terrier if you wish to leave the puppy out when he reaches adulthood. Regardless of breed, puppies explore, get into things they shouldn't, and chew things that can harm them. It can be expensive both in fixing or replacing destroyed items and the veterinary bills that could arise.
Rat Terrier Feeding:
Recommended daily amount of high-quality dry food a day for your Rat Terrier: Less than 10 pounds: 1/4 to 1/2 cup per day. 10-15 pounds 1/2 to 1 cup per day. 20-30 pounds 3/4 to 1.5 cups per day. 30-40 pounds 1.5 to 2 cups per day.
Rat Terrier Coat Color And Grooming:
A Rat Terrier's coat is short and smooth with dense, shiny fur. You'll see it in several colors and combinations of colors, including white, black with tan or rust, white and black or tan, red, lemon, blue, chocolate and orange. Ticking (intermittent spots) and dark colors are seen too. Generally speaking, all Rats have white markings. Brush your Rat Terrier's teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it. Trim his nails once or twice a month if your dog doesn't wear them down naturally to prevent painful tears and other problems.
Rat Terrier with Children And Other Pets:
Although Rats who aren't used to children should be supervised, most Rats Terrier's are wonderfully patient with kids, even kids who aren't part of the family. If a Rat is raised with a cat, bird, chicken, or other animal in a household, they will generally get along as family members.