As you might already know, the Rat Terrier is a breed very popular in the North American culture. It is said that U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt gave the breed its name after his dog helped rid the White House of rats. It also appeared beside Shirley Temple in the film “The Little Colonel”, so its no wonder that the breed is so popular.
Although the breed is popular in the U.S., its origins are traced back to the old continent. It was born out of a mix between the Fox Terrier, English White Terrier and the Manchester Terrier amongst others. After it was introduced in the United States, the breed continued to evolve, as it was bred again with Smooth Fox Terriers, Beagles and Whippets.
At first the breed was used for good hunting companions and for their talent in exterminating vermin. After that, their intelligence, energy, and the ability of not being boring at all made them loved by most of the people.
The average size of the Rat Terrier is of 35 - 58 cm. They have a muscular chest, solid necks and powerful legs. The breed is characterized by the fact that at birth the dogs can have a full-length tail or a short one. The owners can choose to dock it to about 2 or 3 inches. Their coat is smooth and short haired and the combination of color vary, including white, black with rust or tan, white with black or tan, blue, lemon, red, orange and chocolate. Ticking or dark colors are also common, but the predominant color is white. The head is small, with a medium muzzle, a black nose and upright or tipped ears.
If you enjoy an energetic dog, then this is the perfect one for you. Beside the high amount of energy, the breed is also characterized by high intelligence. The “Rats” are very good with children and are not shy towards strangers. Their permanent awareness can also make them very good watchdogs as well. They are good family pets, being perceptive, always in the mood to please and respond well to training.
The breed is generally healthy, but like any other dog, they can become ill at one point in life. The most common are allergies especially those concerning skin and coat, incorrect bites or patellar luxation.
To what living conditions are concerned, these canines can very well adapt to indoor living, as long as they get at least 20-30 minutes of exercise every day. Because of their intelligence, they will love any constructive game or task which will keep them stimulated. If they get all the attention they need, no problems like furniture chewing or aggression will come into question.
The grooming process will not be so complicated, because of the short coat, so just a weekly ritual will do the trick.
If you love a dog that is smart, full of energy and devotion, the perfect breed for you is the Rat Terrier.
