Rat Terriers - General Information

Watch Out

Breeders and buyers should be on the guard for pet puppies. Pet quality dogs are not recommended for breeding and should come with a spay/neuter contract. It is also important to watch out for pet stores and puppy mills that damage the bloodlines of Rat Terriers.

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Rat Terriers Breeders - Rat Terriers can be said to have started their history in Great Britain. Yet, the true motherland of the breed is America. The Rat Terrier is one of America's native breeds due the efforts of breeders who tried to improve the quality of dogs brought by settlers to the New World.

Interesting enough, Britain has produced the majority of terrier breeds due to a centuries long tradition, hunting. This favorite sport and consequently a great demand for good hunting dogs allowed breeders to experiment in producing dogs for various purposes. Long-legged terriers were good in hunting game around a farm or an estate. They kept up with horses and were suited for hunting the otter.

Rat Terriers Information - Rat Terriers are small dogs that have preserved their working qualities over time. Bred to be ratters and hunting dogs, Rat Terriers were considered second to none in destroying vermin. Therefore, they were frequently seen on farms.

With the development of agriculture and various means of controlling the population of vermin, the number of Rat Terriers diminished some. This was accompanied by a heightened interest in purebred dogs. Hence, Rat Terriers lost a lion's share of their popularity.

Rat Terriers Pictures - Rat Terriers were bred in America as vermin dogs and hunting companions. Their ancestors originated in Great Britain and were brought by emigrants to the New World to help them manage the hardships of life. Terrier dogs were found mostly on farms and served their owners as devoted companions and watchdogs.

The Rat Terrier was bred by the means of crossing the Fox Terrier and the Manchester Terrier. Their traits can still be traced in the modern Rat Terrier. The breed was developed later through crosses with the Beagle, the Italian Greyhound, and some other breeds. As the result, breeders have produced a good hunting dog with a wonderful sense of smell, very agile and hard working.

Rat Terriers Puppies - Rat Terriers are wonderful companion dogs even though their original function was hunting. The breed is the descendant of the Manchester Terrier, the Smooth Fox Terrier, and some other breeds. It was bred as a vermin dog and was often seen on farms, especially at the beginning of the 20th century. By the 1950s, their numbers decreased significantly. Yet, interest in the breed was revived in the 1990s and the UKC accepted the Rat Terrier. It approved of the official breed standard coined by the Rat Terrier Club of America in 1994.

According to the standard, the Rat Terrier can come in two varieties, a coated Rat Terrier and a hairless Rat Terrier that is often referred to as the American Hairless Rat Terrier. American Hairless Rat Terrier puppies are born with some fluff on them that is gradually reduced by the age of 6-8 weeks old. When full-grown, hairless Rat Terriers should be bare except small areas on whiskers.

Rat Terriers Rescues - Rat Terriers are known for their amiable personality and good working qualities. These dogs have been bred for ratting and hunting small game such as the fox. They originated in America and entertain close ties with the Fox Terrier, the Manchester Terrier, the Beagle, the Whippet, and some other breeds of dog.