The Rat Terrier received its name from Teddy Roosevelt who was pictured by Life Magazine with 3 black and tan terriers of this variety. They come from Britain and were originally developed as a mixture of Smooth Fox Terriers and Manchester Terriers in 1820. They were crossed again with Beagles and Whippets, and the very small ones were crossed with Chihuahuas. They are excellent vermin hunters and can easily clear a major infestation in just a few days. They are fast and ferocious in the hunt with plenty of agility. They need approximately 30 minutes of exercise every day, but will be relatively happy if living in an apartment without outdoor space if they receive this daily exercise.
Appearance
The Rat Terrier is small but well muscled. It has strong shoulders and a solid neck and sits on very strong legs. They have ears that can be either straight or tipped, although they are always straight when the dog is alert. The tails on these dogs also vary in length from quite short to fairly long. Sometimes tails are docked when the puppy is 2 days old. They come in a variety of colours including pearls, chocolates, red and white, tri-spotted and red brindle. A good summary of the appearance of this breed of dog would be small but powerfully built. They have short coats that are easy to groom - a quick brush to remove dead hair every now and again is all that is required.
Temperament
Rat Terriers make delightful pets as they are eager to please, very obedient, not to mention lively and energetic. They usually are very friendly with strangers and they get on very well with children, especially when introduced to them from a young age. The terrier nature is feisty and fearless, and there is no exception to this rule with Rat Terriers. They do not tend to bark frequently and their high intelligence means they can be trained quite easily and respond very well to it. They absolutely love companionship and want to go wherever their family goes. They swim well and aren’t afraid of jumping straight in. Rat Terriers are well mannered and very lively, making them wonderful pets.
Working and Tasks
Rat Terriers are excellent hunters, capable of clearing a rat or other vermin infestation quickly and easily. This makes them excellent farm animals. They are lively and energetic and do well when taken hunting. With good stamina they don’t tire easily and can keep going for hours on end. They make very good watchdogs too. Always make sure they know who the pack leader is, but this will be rewarded with obedience, good manners and a willingness to learn and to please. They enjoy a challenge which is why training them is important to keep them mentally stimulated.