An American dog breed, rat terrier was popular due to its hunting and farming skills. The name of the dog breed, rat terrier was invented by Teddy Roosevelt. Feists, the small hunting dogs and the dog terriers had somehowthe similar ancestors. Rat terriers are friendly, inquisitive, compact, muscular, and smooth- coated dogs. Rat terrier is a rare breed and is recognized by American (AKC) and United Kennel Clubs (UKC).
Let’s explore more about the breed, its characteristics, history, diet, health, and care.
Characteristics of the Rat Terrier
Rat terriers are graceful, powerful, and muscular dogs. They have erected ears with alert face expressions to follow the commands instantly and to take action. They weigh between 10 to 25 pounds.They come in two sizes that are miniatures with height ranges from 10 to 13 inches, while standards stand up-to 18 inches. Meanwhile, miniature rat terriers are more common as pet dogs which make good companionship with the humans and are also used as hunting dogs.
They have smooth and glossy coats with several pied patterns means, their coats have large patches of different colors along with white patches. Their coats come in variety of colors like black color with piebald spotting or black tricolor. Other coat colors are pale gold, chocolate, tan, blue, apricot, lemon, and mahogany.Their muscular bodies are constructed for the heavy work and trainings for the whole day.
Personality and Temperament of Rat Terries
Rat terriers are intelligent, smart, and stubborn at the same time and how to get what they want at that time. They are very friendly, social, and lively dogs which enjoy the company of their owners and family members. They need to have early socialization at young age to become more social as adults.
They have high energy levels and require more exercises and trainings per day otherwise they will get exhausted and bored. You must have a sufficient time to play with your puppy if you want rat terrier as a pet. They also have a strong prey drive, so, avoid allowing them to wander alone until their proper recall training is done.
History of the Rat Terrier
Rat terriers were first record as rat-catching dogs called as Hatch and were used to control the rat population, from where they get their name, rat terrier. Once during a competition in England, a rat terrier killed about 2500 rats during a time duration of seven hours which means within ten seconds, a rat terrier killed one rat in that competition.
Rat terriers were originally bred to perform functions like hunting preys or pests. They were also used as farm dogs and watchdogs due to their robust figures. They were bred to get the traits of several dog breeds including Old English White Terrier, Fox Terrier, Manchester Terrier, and Bull Terrier.
From 1910 to 1920, they remained popular and were common as American farm dogs. But since 1950s, their existence became endangered as the farmers started to use herbicides and pesticides rather than the dogs to kill the pests. Them became famous again in 1970s and came in two varieties that were decker rat terriers which came in larger sizes while the other one was hairless rat terrier which came in small size.
Now, rat terriers are not only used as working dogs as farm and hunting dogs but also make good family bonding and are considered lovable and loyal pets. Due to their loving and gentle nature, they are helpful in the assisted living for the treatment of depression and human care and are famous as service dogs.
Because of their high intelligence level and small sizes, they also work with police departments as search dogs.
Diet and Nutrition of the Rat Terrier
Dietary needs of a rat terrier depend on its age, weight, size, health status, and lifestyle. However, provide your rat terrier puppy with a high quality and a high protein dog food whether home-based or commercially prepared.
Consult your veterinarian to get the customized meal plan for your pup and don’t give it high-caloric foods to prevent overweight and obesity. Also give treats to your rat terrier to get good performance in trainings but don’t exceed the limit that is 10% of the total daily food requirement.
Health Concerns of the Rat Terrier
Rat terriers are healthy dogs but some can prone to health conditions hip dysplasia, heart abnormalities, and pancreatic issues. Other health issues which are common in rat terriers are
Allergies
A rat terrier can get several allergies like airborne, foodborne, or contact allergies. Consult the veterinarian to properly treat and manage the symptoms of the allergic reactions.
Incorrect Bites
Some dogs may have deformed jaw bone which can cause incorrect bites. Three types of incorrect bites are common in rat terriers which include overshot bite, undershot bite, or twisting of the mouth.
Demodectic Mange
It is characterized as low immunity and weaken immune functioning caused by demodex mites. They symptoms like itchiness, redness, or baldness are common in this condition.
Consult the veterinarian as soon as possible if you feel any unusual behavior or symptom in your rat terrier puppy.
Care and Grooming of the Rat Terrier
Rat terriers need less care and grooming due to their smooth, short, and thick coat which is easily manageable. Once a month bathing, and once a week brushing is enough to keep their coat shiny and smooth. Brushing their teeth daily is good to prevent dental diseases. Trim their nails once a month. And clean their ears once per week to remove dirt and debris.
Exercise and Training
Due to their high energy levels, more exercise and trainings are needed to keep them alive. Exercise for at least one houra day is necessary for them. Engage them in indoor and outdoor activities like daily walks, tennis ball chasing.
They can compete and win in sports and competitions like obedience, rally, and other canine sports.
Lifespan of the Rat Terrier
Lifespan of the rat terrier ranges between 16 to 19 years.
How to Buy a Rat Terrier?
You can easily buy a rat terrier from a local pet shop. You can also adopt it from any pet rescue or pet shelter but make sure it is free of congenital diseases.
Conclusion
Rat terrier is a strong, muscular, and determined dog which was bred as hunting and farm dog. Is has high energy levels and need more exercise and trainings on regular basis otherwise is will get bored. It is also very affectionate, loving, and loyal towards pet owner making it a good pet option. Moreover, it is considered a healthy and clean dog which needs less care and grooming as compared to others. Its caloric and protein needs are also more due to its high activity levels. Consult a veterinarian to get customized feeding plan for your canine friend.
