Rat Terrier Care

The Rat Terrier--sometimes called a Ratter for short--is a scrappy, friendly, active dog that has a true terrier temperament. Though Ratters are generally small in size, they can vary from Toys (seven pounds) to nearly medium-sized (25 pounds or more). And while their sometimes stubborn terrier temperaments can make them a handful, overall Rat Terrier care and maintenance doesn't take a whole lot of work.

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Rat Terrier: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more are all covered here. For answers to your questions about owning this spunky little breed, keep reading!

Rat Terriers are quite active and agile--but they're also pretty small, so their exercise requirements aren't too extensive. Since they were originally developed to be vermin hunters, Ratters are quick, intelligent, and task-oriented, so they'll do best with a variety of activities that stimulate them mentally as well as physically.

The typical adult Rat Terrier, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need about 45 minutes of proper exercise per day, which you can accomplish with a couple of walks and a moderate period of play. You can start exercising your Ratter puppy at 10-12 weeks old by taking it on short (5-minute) walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few things to consider when exercising your Rat Terrier: first, puppies younger than eight months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, all Ratters will need to be leashed when in public. These dogs have strong prey drives, and they have high compulsions to chase--be it birds, squirrels, cats, even small dogs--if given the chance; a leash will help you control your Ratter when it spies an interesting-looking critter. When exercising in your own yard, the area will need to be securely fenced--and even then, the dog should be closely supervised. Like other terrier breeds, Ratters are excellent escape artists, and will jump over, squeeze through, or dig under a fence to chase animals. And finally: Rat Terriers form close bonds with their human family members (especially those who train them), and will be much more willing to participate in activities their humans do along with them. Exercises you perform together, in other words, are best.

Precautions aside, it's important that you exercise your Rat Terrier every single day. To be blunt, these dogs are stubborn little busybodies, and a lack of activity will cause them to become frustrated, destructive, and disobedient--whereupon they'll bark, dig, and chase everyone and everything! Consistent exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind. A few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 20-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played indoors or out; use the dog's favorite toy
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Canine Sports: Rat Terriers can excel at agility and obedience trials and other competitions
• Blowing Bubbles: Your Ratter will love "attacking" the bubbles you blow
• Hiking: If the hike isn't too strenuous, makes an excellent bonding activity; bonus if in a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Ratter access to one or more balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need moderate care overall. Rat Terrier shedding is fair for most of the year, but heavier during the spring and fall shedding seasons; drooling isn't an issue.

Ratters have short, smooth, double-layered coats that shed moderately all year long--but when they "blow" their coats in the spring and fall, the Rat Terrier shedding problem is much more apparent. Owners will need to brush their Ratters weekly with a rubber curry brush to reduce the amount of shed hairs; during shedding season, brushing can be done daily, and the additional use of a shedding tool (like an undercoat rake) is recommended. Hair cleanup (vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture) will be necessary from time to time for owners of these dogs.

But a Rat Terrier almost never drools. If your Ratter is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is recommended.

Rat Terriers are active little dogs, so they love to eat--and their diet will need to be balanced and complete to keep them healthy. Like all breeds, Rat Terrier food will need to contain plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the most sensible food choice for these dogs is the premium dry kind, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed nutrients--ingredients your Ratter will require to maintain its health in the long term. Cheap, generic food is not recommended for these dogs, because it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that simply won't keep the dog healthy, and will even shorten its lifespan.

Blue Buffalo, Royal Canin, and Taste of the Wild are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium dry food.

Because this breed can have some variation in size, recommended daily food portions for individual Ratters can vary as well. On average, though, an adult Rat Terrier will need about 1¼ cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. (The amount may also vary depending on age and activity level.) Rat Terrier puppies, again depending on age, will need a bit less: about ¾ cup per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months old. For further details on feeding your Ratter from puppyhood through maturity, refer to this Rat Terrier feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

If possible, try and stick to the above-listed portions. Rat Terriers have a fairly high tendency for obesity, and will quickly become overweight if constantly overfed (and under-exercised)--and a fat Rat Terrier will have joint, breathing, and digestive issues, not to mention a shortened lifespan. You can help control your Ratter's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, thereby allowing it to eat anytime it wants. It's better to put your Ratter's bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up a few minutes after the dog begins eating.

If you're worried your Rat Terrier is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Reduce your Ratter's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.

Most veterinarians, breeders, and owners agree that the best food for a Rat Terrier is premium dry kibble. This high-quality food, while more expensive and harder to obtain, provides the nutrients your Ratter needs to live a longer, healthier, happier life. While some choose to feed their Rat Terriers a "raw" diet of fresh meats, fruits and veggies, eggs, and other protein sources, premium dry food is the most popular and sensible choice.

Three recommended brands are Royal Canin, Taste of the Wild, and Blue Buffalo, all of which are excellent.

Because these dogs are personable and social, they'll be much happier if they're allowed to live inside with their human family members--and for small breeds like the Rat Terrier, apartment living is fine. (Just make sure they receive daily exercise!) Note, though, that if a Ratter is left outside--even in a securely fenced yard--the dog is bound to escape. Close supervision is recommended at all times for these crafty little escape artists.

In regards to climate: Rat Terriers are fine in hot weather, but because of their small size and short coats they get cold rather easily--so it's best not to expose your Ratter to frigid temperatures for long periods.

Rat Terriers have no documented temperature restrictions. However, it is safe to assume with a short coat, this dog should not be left outdoors in very cold temperatures for longer than necessary.