Rat Terrier

The Rat Terrier, an American dog breed originally used as a farm dog to kill vermin (one report shows on a single Rat terrier that killed well over 2,000 vermin in a rat infested barn in a period of around 7 hours time), is now used as a house helper or family pet. Therefore it’s an added bonus of the Rat Terrier if your house happens to have vermins that needs to be cleared.

Rat terriers come in many different types of colors and multiples of colors for you to choose from such as: black tan point with piebald spotting (black tricolor), also common are blue and brown tricolors as well as red, sable (orange-red), pearls, brindle and lemon. Ticking in the coat can occur (light flecks of color) and they are known to be brindle (black and brown).

Rat Terrier is Not a Jack Russell

A Rat terrier’s weights usually ranges around 12 – 35lb (5.5 – 16kg) and are 14 – 23in. (35.5 – 58.5cm) in. In terms of appearance, the Rat terrier is often mistaken for Jack Russell terriers even though their temperaments and profiles are completely different. Rat terriers always have a short single coat, making them very simple to groom, it only requires occasional brushing (about once per week). They are cheerful dogs by norm and at times calmer and more sensitive.

They are an ideal pet for almost any living situation as long as they get their daily exercise which is a short 30 minute walk.

If they have a fenced in yard for a play area, this breed of terrier have been known to be diggers so extra caution is necessary if you are leaving your Rat terrier outside unsupervised.
The Rat terrier has an average lifespan of 13 – 16 years, and has been known to live an excess of 18 years if well taken care of.