Rat Terrier
Puppy
Fully Grown
This handsome mid-sized dog is quite friendly and social with dogs and people. Rat Terriers will soak up any attention and affection they can get from humans, preferably from their owners and family. They are more reserved towards strangers and can make great watchdogs.
Rat Terriers are lively and want to live life to the fullest. They don’t seem to ever sit still, and this energy comes through in every life situation. Taking these dogs to different places and expecting them to sit still for long is nearly impossible. So if you are looking for a dog that lies still under a table in the coffee shop while you have your breakfast, look elsewhere. They prefer to rumble at the park for hours and getting them to come to to go home may not be an easy task.
These dogs love to be trained and to please their owners, so training them is easy, but also a necessity to keep them mentally stimulated. Keeping them entertained, on the other hand, can be quite a task, as they will look for new challenges all the time. A bored Rat Terrier will find its own entertainment and your garden beds might not survive. Enough stimulation and physical outings at the park are a daily must for this breed.
| Weight: | 4.5-11 kg |
| Health risk: | Medium |
| Life expectancy: | 15-18 years |
| Coat: | Short |
| Grooming intensity: | Low |
| Monthly cost (food): | low |
| Trainability: | Medium |
| Activity level: | High |
There are many sources to get your Rat Terrier from. Considering the number of homeless dogs without a future, we strongly encourage you to consider rescuing a dog. Your local shelter or rescue organisation can be a helpful place to start, or try contacting your local or national breed club or a reputable breeder and asking if they have pets available for rehoming. Many rescue organisations have active Facebook pages, which can also be a good place to enquire.
Here are some links that could be useful for finding a Rat Terrier to adopt:
To help your rescued Rat Terrier to settle into your home, our Rescue Dog Guide gives you tips and advice on bringing your rescue dog home.
If you decide you’d prefer to get your Rat Terrierfrom a breeder, the following guides will help you to find a responsible breeder:
The following organisations will be able to help you find breeders in your state in Australia. They will also be able to connect you with your local breed clubs, which are always a great source of information in regards to finding good breeders and rescue organisations.
