About Rat Terriers Health Rat Terrier Standard
Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ page). Below, we have tried to answer the most common questions visitors to this our Web site may have. If you find that your question is not answered on this page, please email us sunsetpetcare@earthlink.net or call us at 817-444-8058.
QUESTION: "HOW ARE THEY AROUND CHILDREN?"
Answer: Although some dogs that are not raised around children may wish to stay away from children and should be supervised, most are extremely patient and tolerant of children. Especially those raised with children, and the can commonly be found playing and sleeping together. (Under the covers!) Well-adjusted Rat Terriers may be reserved and somewhat aloof with strangers, but most will "warm up" socially accepting and enjoying visitors almost as much as their own family as long as you are there.
QUESTION: "WHAT IS THEIR TEMPERAMENT LIKE?"
Answer: Rat Terriers can be very loyal, active and extremely playful. Activity slows down as the dog ages, but dogs generally remain playful throughout their lives. They are highly intelligent and are generally easy to train and housebreak.
Many love agility and obedience, and excel at it, as they are so eager to please their owners and are very quick. After a puppy is proper inoculated, a puppy obedience course is highly recommended for every (owner and dog) to help train and be properly socialized. In today's society, ALL dogs should be socialized at an early age. Start early and keep it up.
Rat Terriers are smart and can get bored. (It is recommended that your puppy "meet" 100 people by the time it is 4-5 months old). An obedience course provides professional help for both the owner and their dog, while aids in bonding and the development of good social skills that will remain a lifetime. (Be careful, as they tend to be easily over-corrected. A sharp verbal admonition/scolding is enough for a young puppy.)
Rat Terrier's were considered a "strain" of Fox Terrier. Infusions of both sight-hound (Italian Greyhound/Whippet) and scent-hound/Beagle has provided them with an even and outgoing temperament that sets them apart from many of the other traditional terrier breeds. Click on link to see the Rat Terrier family tree: http://www.ratterrierclub.com/family/index.html.
They are perfectly content to be near their owner and make great housedogs. They are not generally yappers or barkers, but they can be very demanding, using their paws and most are somewhat vocal, especially when ignored. They're naturally "real talkers" with plenty of growling and mumbling! They possess pack instinct and therefore do better with company (animal or human, or a dog of the opposite sex), and some dogs if left alone for long periods, may suffer from problems with "separation anxiety" or boredom. (Actual "Growling" with aggression should never be allowed! It's a dominance problem that can quickly escalate and requires professional help ASAP).
QUESTION: "DO THEY GET ALONG WELL WITH OTHER DOGS?"
Answer: YES... Although there may be family squabbles over food or sleeping arrangements, the Rat Terrier is not a sparring or dog aggressive breed and may actually find itself in trouble for being "too friendly". Many Rat Terriers' want to play with any dog they see, so the owner should be cautious when approaching strange dogs before allowing contact to avoid a fight from ensuing. After all, they are terriers and once a fight is provoked, they are size-blind and they will "fight" with any instigator no matter the size.
Want another Rat? It is strongly recommended that you do not get more than one puppy at a time, as they may tend to bond with each other rather than with you. Get one, and give yourselves some time to get settled in. Concentrate and work on your socialization skills and bonding first, before bringing another dog into your home. This helps to reduce pack order aggression and alleviate alpha dominance between dogs in your home.
QUESTION: "WE HAVE OTHER PETS. HOW DO THEY GENERALLY GET ALONG WITH OTHER ANIMALS?"
Answer: Rat Terrier's are generally happy-go-lucky, but they are good watchdogs and these territorial (pack rats) will defend "their" property and yours. (Most love their toys and chewies, and will hoard them.) They are also intuitive, instinctive hunters with strong pack and prey instincts. (Several have attainted "World Champion Squirrel Dog" titles.) They are not generally known as earth dogs, but being a Terrier, ANY small, quick moving animal; the neighbor's cat, pet hamster or rat, vermin or varmint, is "fair" game and the chase is on. Many are escape artists that can climb and jump too. Five to six foot perimeter fencing is recommended.
If you raise Rat Terriers with a cat, parrot/avian or other animals in a multiple pet situation, they will likely see them as a part of their family. Rat Terriers generally do get along very well with other animals and dogs, and being bred as a farm dog, most livestock too. They are used to guard chicken houses in the southern and Midwest states, to homes and apartments in the cities. City, country or suburbs, farm or condo, it matters not.
With their compact size (generally 10-18", 8-25#), willingness to learn, and their utter devotion to "their people", makes them one of the greatest of pets and an ideal and loving companion.
QUESTION: "HOW MUCH GROOMING IS REQUIRED? DO THEY SHED?"
Answer: Being a short-haired breed they DO shed. Living inside the home, (heating and extended periods of light further stimulates them to shed.) They'll require a frequent brushing with a soft brush or a rubber curry mitt to remove dead hair to help alleviate shedding, which is normally heavier in the spring and fall, or after whelping or seasonal heat cycles. If your dog does shed excessively, your vet can do a blood panel. Blood panels are now recommended once a year to help screen for heath problems, both real and potential. An occasional bath with a thorough rinse, along with the cleaning of the anal glands and a nail trim are occasionally necessary as with any other breed. (Bluing/brighteners are OK, and will brighten the white markings, but watch colognes. Hives are reported.)
It is recommended that you occasionally take your dog to a groomer to have this done. In the event you have to board your dog, it will be accustomed to being left there, knows the staff, and knows you'll be coming back.
When you do take your dog to the groomer, tell them to please "leave the whiskers"! They help aid the individual in many ways, just as a cat's whiskers do, and dog's that are "shown" in conformation, are done so "au naturel".
QUESTION: MALE OR FEMALE???
Answer: Both sexes make wonderful and loving pets. Females are generally priced slightly higher due to their preference as a housedog, but males, if neutered at an early age 4-6 months, make excellent companions and housedogs too! If you are buying a Rat Terrier strictly as a pet, with no intention of breeding, spaying or neutering at an early age is strongly recommended. Both MALE and FEMALE Terriers are territorial and are known to "mark", especially if left intact. Sterilization deters this in both sexes and the earlier the better as it prevents sexual habits from becoming habitual ones and helps alleviate or prevent the chance of certain cancers, not to mention accidental staining, fighting, roaming and/or unwanted suitors and certain sexual aggressiveness and dominance problems too.
QUESTION: EARS & TAILS:
Answer: "I've seen Rat Terriers with erect ears and some that have buttoned ears like the Jack Russell Terriers do. Both erect and dropped, (or buttoned) ear carriages are "acceptable" in our breed, without preference, and can often be found in individuals of the same litter. Ears should be "equal and uniform", or are to be "faulted" accordingly, but a Rat Terriers ears should never be cropped!
QUESTION: WHEN DO THE EARS STAND?
Answer: It is sometimes hard to determine what type of ear carriage each individual will eventually have. All puppies are born with their ears up and then they begin to drop as their eyes open. It may take several weeks or several months for the ears to stand, (they just pop up one day) or they may stay dropped. In the UKC conformation show ring, ear carriages are not faulted until a dog reaches one year of age.
QUESTION: DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR TAILS DOCKED? "How long should a tail be?"
Answer: Most Rat Terriers have their dewclaws removed and their tails docked when they are 24-48 hours old. This is done about the width of a fingertip, which will leave the pup's newly docked tail approximately 3/4-7/8" long. This produces a tail 1-3" long, which is shorter than that of a Jack Russell Terrier and more like that of a Schnauzer. (Docking tip: Look underneath the tail; the hair grows straight from the vent and then will start to wrap around the tail. Dock at this point...many dogs will have tan in this area and it will be visibly marked.)
QUESTION: A BOB TAIL?
Answer: Some dogs are born with a naturally bobbed or shortened tails, which may be surgically docked to an appropriate length, or left "as is". Although (medium) long natural tails are acceptable under the standard set by the United Kennel Club, long tails are not generally preferred nor favored, and are subject to be "penalized" in the AKC show ring if it distracts from the overall outline of the Terrier. Crooked, curled or any tails carried over the back are faulted.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The gene for bobtails/brachury is a "homozygous lethal", therefore two natural bobtailed individuals should NOT be bred together. (One parent should have been born with a full tail to avoid this T/T genotype.) It is therefore requested that the suffix "NB" be used on the registration papers in conjunction with the listing of the individual's color to denote this presence of this trait.
QUESTION: "WHAT COLORS AND COATS ARE ACCEPTABLE?"
Answer: Rat Terriers are a short-haired breed that predominately displays vivid spotted patterns; generally, "white with Black spotted markings with tan or rust trimming" (that is placed like that of the Manchester Terrier or Doberman). Unlike the TFT, JRT or Fox Terriers, which must be at least 51% white, RT's are "preferred to be 20-90% white", but are not required to have a specified percentage of white, other than "a patch of white" (about the size of a quarter on their body, excluding the feet and head) to be registered. This minimal patch of white helps preserve the genes that are necessary to recreate these spotted patterns.
Solid colored individuals, Black and Tan's or bi-coloreds without any white markings; or any albino, brindle or merle colorations are a "breed disqualification", as with any broken or wire coats, absence of coat or long haired coats. (Individuals displaying these RT disqualifications, with the exception of albinism, may qualify for single registration as one of the "FEIST" breeds. Short legged and/or benched legged individuals are NOT Rat Terriers. They are considered as a separate breed AND must be registered and bred as "Teddy Roosevelt Terriers").
Looking for a feist or a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier? Contact: United Kennel Club or Continental Kennel Club for these other breeds.
All colors are preferred to be darkly hued, clean and solid. Black is the "dominant" base or ground coloration and about 85% of our breed display black with their markings. Other "acceptable" colorations (Red, Orange/Apricot, Tan, Chocolate, Lemon, & Blue) are "recessives" and are therefore naturally produced in limited numbers. Double recessives, (very light coat colors) such as pale silver and creams are discouraged (since they make it difficult to see the color patterns in the coat) and are thus faulted, and a dark eye (black to hazel) is preferred. Nose and eye rims should correspond with the coat color and blue or amber eyes are faulted except in blue colored dogs, where a gray eye is preferred. (Check the standard for ideals and faults.) http://www.ratterrierclub.com/standard/index.html
QUESTION: "BEWARE OF DESIGNER COLORS AND SIZES AND FADS!!"
Answer: Rat Terrier's are a "Rare Breed" and you may find yourself on a breeder's waiting list in order to obtain a quality pup. IF a so-called "Rare" feature is advertised, ask questions. TRUE ethical and reputable Breeders care about the welfare of the breed and take pride in their stock and diligently try to correctly follow the official standard of their breed.
QUALITY and not merely being a "rare" color should affect the overall pricing of any individual dog. Please read the breed standard!!!! Not all "Rare" traits are wanted and in some instances, weight or height or a certain coloration may actually be a breed disqualification, forbidding the registration of this individual, and some colorations and/or physical feature/s may adversely affect the individual's overall health.
(Brindle, merle, albinism and solids or bi-colors or Black and Tans and/or individuals "without a specific and required patch of white" ARE disqualifications.)
QUESTION: "WHY AREN'T RAT TERRIERS AN AKC BREED?"
Answer: It takes time and a certain protocol must be strictly adhered to. The RTCA filed a petition several years ago and we are actively seeking an AKC "miscellaneous" status. We have listed many thousands of RT's in our database, but due to the lack of sufficient quantities of three generation pedigrees, RT's are currently designated as a "Rare Breed".
WANT TO SHOW??? See our website for known AKC matches in which rare breeds are invited, or let us know if you find one and we'll post it. We DO encourage everyone to get their AKC Canine Good Citizen/CGC certificate. For more information click on the link below
http://www.akc.org
QUESTION: "IF NOT AKC, WHERE ARE RAT TERRIERS REGISTERED AND BY WHOM?"
Answer: Rat Terriers are registered by numerous registries, about 10 at the last count, the majority of which are "pedigree services" which record the lineage/pedigree of an individual dog, but does not offer nationally sanctioned competitions, events or titles.
Rat Terrier's are not yet an AKC officially recognized breed, and may only be shown where "Rare Breeds" are specifically invited. Rat Terriers and the shorter legged, Teddy Roosevelt Terrier were officially recognized (01/01/99) by the:
United Kennel Club/UKC
100 Kilgore Rd.
Kalamazoo, MI. 49002-5584
(Want to try a UKC event? Call (616) 343-9020 for a temporary number.)
RT's and TRT's that fit the UKC standard UKC may be "single registered" if they are currently registered with: Continental Kennel Club (Walker, LA), Universal Kennel Club/UKCI (Nanuet NY), Animal Research Foundation (Quinlan, TX), World Wide Kennel Club, Ltd., Continental Working Terrier Assn.(OK.), or the American Canine Assn./ACA etc., and your dog should have a solid 3 generation pedigree.
Still "unable to trace" some ancestors? All applications will be considered and color photos are required, but all applications must be made on a UKC form. Once registered with the United Kennel Club, you and your RT/TRT can then participate in 1,000's of numerous UKC events held nationwide with full privileges. (There are numerous UKC Champions and Grand Champions and other with various working titles too. Rat Terriers are also reported as going BIS in multiple breed shows too!)
PLEASE NOTE: When an AKC FSS status for RT's is approved, only UKC registered dogs can be considered. AKC does NOT recognize ANY other registries. We therefore strongly recommend you list your dog with us if you would possibly like to participate in an AKC event in the future.
For the past 6 years we have been re-recording all Rat Terrier pedigrees as known/recorded in their current registry/association, living or deceased. If you haven't already done so, please send us a copy of your RT's pedigree and registration certificates. You do not have to become a member and there is NO cost for "listing" and we'll send you a complimentary "RAT TALES" newsletter.
QUESTION: DON'T HAVE PAPERS? Or have a severely limited or Unknown Pedigree?
Answer: You can still get your Rat Terrier registered and show at sanctioned matches in agility, obedience etc., events other than conformation. "Sterilized pets" are eligible for UKC registration with "Limited Privileges" regardless of pedigree and/or breed faults.
QUESTION: "HOW MUCH DO RAT TERRIERS GENERALLY SELL FOR?"
Answer: If you live in a large metropolis, an RT will of course cost more than if you live in a rural area. Breeders with registered Rat Terriers with "good solid, complete three-generation pedigrees" generally guarantee and sell them for amounts that are comparable to most AKC/American Kennel Club or UKC/United Kennel Club breeds that are advertised in your local newspaper. Others, being advertised as being "purebred" or lacking pedigree/papers are generally priced lower, while those offered in retail Pet Stores are usually significantly higher regardless of having papers or not, as there is often a commission to be compensated for, or a middleman involved.
QUESTION: TOY, MINIATURE, STANDARD or GIANT?
Answer: The Standard by which our breed is judged by both the AKC and the UKC separates the varieties by height at the shoulder: "Over 13 inches", and "up to and including 13".... BTW: These same measurements are used in the Bull Terrier, Beagle and American Eskimo breeds for the separation of the varieties, and were also found to be the median height for our breed too. (10" to 19" are the acceptable and desired heights for our breed).
Rat Terriers are considered by weight to be a small to medium breed. Due to the many size variations found in the Rat Terrier, using height allows for the separation of the varieties, but includes most every size of our breed and therefore allows the opportunity for their development within a breeder's strain without individual's being disqualified. (Rat Terriers are officially part of the Terrier group, and not the Toy group. There are toys out there, but if you are looking for one of these smaller 3-7# toys, we suggest you check out the Toy Fox Terrier http://www.atftc.com. The TFT has been a recognized breed for over 60 years. Buyers Beware - so-called Toy (UKCI registered) RT's are not true purebreds and may have been hybridized by some breeders, having Chihuahua, Toy Fox Terrier and/or Manchester Terrier bloodlines added, of which, we do not condone the use of).
QUESTION: TYPE A or TYPE B?
Answer: Unlike most kennel clubs, the "Universal Kennel Club" (International) does not recognize the shorter-legged Teddy Roosevelt Terrier and has chosen to keep them as a "variety". As a variety, this allows them freedom to inter-breed short legged "Teddy" individuals to a long-legged Rat Terrier. Both types are "acceptable", but the selective breeding between Rat Terriers of these different leg lengths makes it hard to effectively breed a consistent "type" of Rat Terrier, whether it be a long legged or short legged. Therefore to discourage the interbreeding and mixing of these types, the majority of registries do now consider these (A and B) types as "two separate and distinct breeds". If a short-legged pup is produced in a litter of long legged Rat Terriers, it is disqualified. But it may then be properly "single registered" with the United Kennel Club as a "Teddy Roosevelt Terrier" and be bred as such, or shown in sanctioned events and breed classes with full privileges thereof for "official" titles. For more information about TRT's click on the link below.
http://www.ukcdogs.com
In any case, when buying a "registered and pedigreed dog", ask to see a copy of the pedigree. "Purebred" only means that both the sire and dam were assumed to be of the same "type"....Ask: ARE both of the parents currently registered? "Has this litter been registered?" Any warrantees or guarantees? BEFORE leaving the premises with the dog, be sure to get something in writing from the seller.
BUYER BEWARE: THE SELLER/BREEDER SHOULD NEVER tell you that you can buy the dog "without papers" for one price or another with them*, OR tells you, " YOU can get papers or your pedigree", by writing to this or that registry. A reputable seller/breeder should provide you with all of the necessary forms, (an application for registration) and will have their paperwork there for you to see and possibly take with you, or WILL guarantee them in writing. (*True "Pet quality" animals that are out of registered stock that are not thought to be of breeding quality are SOLD on a spay/neuter agreement. When your pet/dog is sterilized, and proof is provided, the papers should be given to the buyer "gratis" by the breeder).
If "papers" don't really matter to you, and you "BUY" a purebred dog of any breed whose parents ARE NOT REGISTERED, or are in question, don't expect to get papers later! You are buying this individual "AS IS". The purchase of "purebred" puppies purposely bred by backyard breeders contributes greatly to the pet overpopulation problem. If you buy one, you may or may not be getting what you hoped for, and you are encouraging them to BREED again.