Rat Terrier
- Origin
- United States
- Type
- Terrier
- Size
- Small
- Height
- 25–46 cm (10–18 in)
- Weight
- 4.5–11 kg (10–25 lb)
- Coat
- Single, smooth
- Colors
- White with black, tan, chocolate, blue, pearl, lemon or apricot
- Status
- Recognised by the UKC and AKC
The Rat Terrier is an American breed with a background as a farm dog and hunting companion. It shares much of its ancestry with the small hunting dogs known as feists.
History
Rat Terriers were common on family farms across the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. They are now considered a rare breed. The United Kennel Club recognized the Rat Terrier on January 1, 1999. The American Kennel Club allowed the dogs into its companion events, such as obedience, agility and rally, from January 1, 2006, and recognized the breed on July 1, 2010.
Appearance
The Rat Terrier stands 10 to 18 inches (25 to 46 cm) tall and weighs 10 to 25 lb (4.5 to 11 kg). The coat is single and smooth. It may be bi-color or tri-color, and one of the colors is always white; the others include black, tan, chocolate, blue, pearl (isabella), lemon and apricot. Tails may be natural or docked.
Care and health
Regular outcrossing through its history has made the Rat Terrier a very hardy breed overall, though some problems have become more common as it has grown in popularity. The Canine Health Information Center recommends testing Rat Terriers for patellar luxation, cardiac abnormalities, pancreatic issues, hip dysplasia and Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease.
Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.