Rat terriers are lovable, playful dogs full of energy. Once the most common farm dog in America, rat terriers are now popular family pets due to their social nature and rapport with children.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to take home a rat terrier — President Teddy Roosevelt, author William Faulkner, and singer Carrie Underwood have all chosen rat terriers as companions.
Characteristics of Rat Terriers
As small to medium-sized dogs, the average rat terrier size ranges from 10 to 18 inches in length and from 8 to 35 pounds in weight. Rat terriers are muscular and have a robust, sleek appearance despite their small stature. They have short coats that come in a mix of colors, typically a pied pattern with large areas of both white and colored hair. Rat terriers have slightly elongated bodies and V-shaped ears that often stick up.
Rat terriers have great personalities and are highly social, affectionate dogs. Typical rat terrier personality traits include:
- Eagerness to please
- Curiosity
- Intelligence
- Playfulness
- Stubbornness
- High energy
Most rat terriers are very friendly and social with everyone, including strangers. However, some are more reserved around new people. Like all pets, rat terrier temperament can vary somewhat depending on the individual dog.
Caring for Rat Terriers
Grooming Rat Terriers
Rat terriers are relatively low-maintenance dogs. Their short, smooth coats don't require frequent brushing — once a week is likely enough. Rat terriers shed seasonally, and you can use a brush designed to reduce shedding during those times. As for bathing rat terriers, a monthly bath is typically enough for most.
Rat terrier care should include nail trimming monthly or as needed, You should brush their teeth daily with a toothpaste formulated for dogs.
Exercise for Rat Terriers
As high-energy dogs, rat terriers need at least 20 to 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking or jogging, each day. Rat terriers also love to roughhouse and play fetch, tug-of-war, and other social games. They need consistent attention during daily exercise — simply being let outside to play in a fenced yard won’t be adequate. If you live in an apartment, a rat terrier can do well without a yard as long as they get plenty of dedicated exercise time.
Rat terriers are very intelligent and like to dig, so if they have access to a yard, it needs secure fencing to keep them from escaping.
Feeding Rat Terriers
Small dogs like rat terriers generally do best on small-breed dog foods which have a higher protein and fat content than foods for larger breeds. Like all dogs, rat terriers need dog food labeled “complete and balanced,” which is required to contain the minimum nutrients necessary for dogs.
Rat terriers should have access to clean, fresh water at all times.
Medical Care for Rat Terriers
Like all dogs, rat terriers need regular veterinary care. All rat terriers need to receive core vaccines, which include:
- Parvovirus
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Rabies
Depending on your rat terrier’s exposure risk, your veterinarian may recommend additional, non-core vaccines such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Leptospira bacteria.
To prevent heartworms — parasitic worms that are transmitted through mosquito bites and infest the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of dogs — you’ll need to start your rat terrier on a heartworm preventative medication. Heartworm preventatives are prescription medications that come in oral or topical forms. Your veterinarian can help you choose the best heartworm preventative for your rat terrier.
You can protect your rat terrier from fleas and ticks by using a flea and tick preventative like a topical medication or a flea and tick collar. Flea and tick preventatives come in both over-the-counter and prescription formulas. Talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions about what flea and tick preventative is right for your rat terrier.
Health Problems to Watch for With Rat Terriers
An average rat terrier's life expectancy is 15 to 18 years. As generally healthy dogs, they typically don’t require special treatment. However, the Rat Terrier Club of America recommends that breeders screen for a few possible rat terrier health problems.
Hip Dysplasia. Occurring in 3 to 4% of rat terriers, hip dysplasia can cause pain and leg stiffness. Treatment options range from over-the-counter joint supplements to surgery.
Cardiac disease. Heart failure is the leading cause of death in rat terriers, though this typically doesn’t occur until old age. Valvular disease is a common cause of heart failure, and it usually has no symptoms. Your veterinarian may detect valvular disease if your dog has a heart murmur that gets worse over time. As the disease progresses, you may see signs of heart failure such as weight loss and fatigue.
Patellar luxation. Patellar luxation, where the kneecap shifts sideways out of its normal alignment, is common in small dogs. Most dogs with patellar luxation return to normal with conservative treatment — rest, pain medication, and physical therapy. In advanced cases, rat terriers may need surgery.
Legg-Calve-Perthes. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is a rare disease that affects small dogs like rat terriers early in life. The disease causes the top of the femur to break down due to a lack of blood supply. The only treatment is surgery.
Primary lens luxation. A genetic disease, primary lens luxation causes the eye lens to shift out of alignment spontaneously. Lens luxation can lead to inflammation, glaucoma, and, if left untreated, blindness.
Special Considerations for Rat Terriers
While rat terriers are fairly calm for a terrier breed, they’re still very high-energy dogs that require lots of exercise and attention. Rat terriers do best in homes where they’ll have plenty of company, daily walks, and lots of time to play. If a rat terrier isn’t getting enough physical or mental stimulation, it can become destructive. Digging, chewing on furniture, and excessive barking are all rat terrier characteristics that signal a need for more attention.
Rat terriers can be stubborn dogs, but they’re clever and highly trainable. Rat terriers can enjoy (and excel at) canine sports like agility and obedience.
Rat terriers were initially bred to hunt rats, so they have a strong prey drive. Homes with small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds may not be a good fit for a rat terrier. Due to their instinct to chase after prey, rat terriers need to be leashed while walking or any time they’re not contained in a fenced area.
Rat terriers are often excellent dogs for families with children due to their playful, affectionate nature. However, parents should supervise small children and rat terriers. Due to their smaller size, rat terriers can be injured by rough handling.
History of Rat Terriers
Rat terriers were once very popular as farm dogs. They were bred from at least seven different breeds of dogs to create the best possible pest catcher, helping to eliminate rats, rabbits, moles, and other farm pests. The breed remained a popular working farm dog until commercial pesticides became widespread in the 1950s.
An American breed, the rat terrier is said to have been named by U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt, who had his own pet rat terrier named Skip.
