About the breed

Characteristics of miniature rat terriers

HEIGHT: Generally, 10 to 13 inches for miniature Rat Terriers

WEIGHT: 12 to 18 pounds

COAT: Smooth, shiny, and short coat

LIFE SPAN: 12 to 18 years

TEMPERAMENT: Intelligent, inquisitive, affectionate, lively, alert, loving

HYPOALLERGENIC: No

ORIGIN: United States

ENERGY LEVEL: High (40-60 minutes of exercise per day)

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History

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An American breed that was developed by breeding the fox terrier, bull terrier, Manchester terrier, and old English white terrier—among others—the rat terrier was originally bred to catch prey and hunt pests, such as rats, on farms, which is how they got their name.

Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, rat terrier breeders worked to propagate certain skills, resulting in several new lines in the breed. In the Midwest, rat terriers were bred with whippets and Italian greyhounds to produce quick dogs that could help control jackrabbit populations. In Central and Southwest America, they were bred with beagles to improve upon their hunting skills and to create more pack-oriented dogs. In the 1920s, toy fox terriers that were too large for their breeding programs were bred with rat terriers, resulting in toy-sized, or miniature, rat terriers.

The rat terrier was common on American farms, but populations began to decline in the 1940s and 1950s when farmers began to use poison to control pests and vermin. A small number of breeders maintained the breed until they came back into popularity in the 1970s.

Two other types of rat terriers were developed during this time, including the decker rat terrier and the hairless rat terrier. The decker rat terrier is a slightly larger dog that excels in hunting and will retrieve from water, while the hairless rat terrier is a smaller, hairless dog that comes in miniature and standard sizes.

Rat Terrier Care

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Although rat terriers are low-maintenance in terms of grooming, they are high maintenance in the exercise and training areas. It should come as no surprise that this working dog is highly energetic and has extensive and high daily exercise needs, which makes this dog an excellent pick for active families. Rat terriers also have a propensity to dig, so it's important to provide your rat with a designated digging spot in the backyard.

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