Rat Terrier

The Rat Terrier is an American working farm dog — a compact, smooth-coated terrier bred to clear vermin from barns and farmsteads and to hunt small game. It comes in two AKC size divisions: Miniature (10-13 inches at the shoulder) and Standard (over 13 up to 18 inches), generally weighing 10-25 pounds depending on size. The buying decision hinges on understanding that 'small and low-grooming' does not mean 'low-energy lapdog' — this is a tireless, intelligent, high-prey-drive terrier in a small package. Physically the Rat Terrier is efficient and athletic: a short, dense, glossy single coat in a wide range of pied (white-with-color) patterns, a muscular compact body, and a quick, ground-covering gait built for a long working day. The coat is genuinely easy — a weekly brush — but it offers little cold protection, so northern owners should plan a coat in winter. Temperament is the part new owners underestimate. Rat Terriers are smart, alert, affectionate, and intensely bonded to their families — often described as having a sense of humor — but they are also driven, vocal, and strongly prey-motivated. They will chase cats, squirrels, and small pets, dig with enthusiasm, and alert-bark at activity. They are usually good with children and family dogs they are raised with, and can be reserved with strangers. Who the Rat Terrier is right for: an active owner who wants a clever, trainable, low-grooming companion, will provide daily exercise and mental work, and can manage a strong prey drive and a secure yard. Who it is wrong for: a household with free-roaming small pets the dog won't accept, an owner expecting a quiet low-energy dog because it is small, or anyone who won't fence and supervise a determined digger and chaser.