Buying or Adopting a Rat Terrier

Should You Even Get a Dog? Are You Sure?
Important – I've been helping people choose and find dogs for nearly 40 years, and honestly, some people who decide to get a dog are making a big mistake... [read more]

The Truth About Purebred Dogs
Pros and cons... (most people don't know about the cons)

The Truth About Crossbred Dogs
Pros and cons... (don't get taken by breeder hype)

The Truth About Mixed Breed Dogs
Pros and cons... (are mixes inferior to purebreds and crosses?)

Is a Rat Terrier the right breed for you?

Rat Terrier Review
I'll tell you what's good about 'em, and what's bad about 'em... most honest review you'll ever find

Dog Breed Traits – Which Traits Are Right For You? In this brand new series, I'll help you decide which dog breed traits would best suit you and your family, your home and yard, and your lifestyle, so you can choose the best dog breed for your family.

Are YOU the right owner for a Rat Terrier?

Can you provide what this breed needs?

• Someone home most of the day
• Fenced yard (6-8 feet high, not an electronic/underground fence)
• No young children in the household
• Ample exercise after maturity – enough ongoing exercise that your Rat Terrier stays slim and is tired enough to sleep contentedly and not get into mischief
• "Mental exercise" – interesting activities that keep the mind stimulated, such as a challenging dog sport (agility, rally obedience, musical freestyle, tracking, flyball, earthdog); challenging dog toys; a homemade obstacle course; tricks and games such as Musical Toys and Hide 'n Seek; instructions in my training book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words
• An indoor lifestyle, except for exercise and bathroom breaks
• A meat-heavy diet, either homemade or commercial – meat is expensive, so people with less money should opt for a small dog
• An owner with enough money to treat the health problems Rat Terriers are prone to (pet health insurance can really help here!)
• Commitment to provide thorough socialization – introducing your Rat Terrier to lots of people and other animals, diligently correcting any signs of misbehavior or aggression
• Commitment to establish the right Leader-Follower relationship with your Rat Terrier, teaching him to listen to you and do what you say

Which sex? What age?

Male Dogs vs. Female Dogs
Which one makes a better pet?

Puppies vs. Adult Dogs
Should you get a young puppy, an older puppy, or an adult dog?

Where can you buy or adopt a Rat Terrier?

Rat Terriers are middle-of-the-road in popularity in the United States. Out of 189 breeds in the American Kennel Club, where 1 is most popular and 189 is least popular, Rat Terriers rank 96th. That doesn't all that popular, but many more Rat Terriers are registered with the United Kennel Club. The combination means that's it's not too difficult to find this breed.

Adopting From Dog Rescue Organizations
You might find a Rat Terrier available from a Dog Rescue group. Rat Terriers may be turned over to Rescue just because it has typical terrier traits such as liveliness, barking, chasing, digging, and stubbornness. Often the dog is simply not being provided with enough exercise and interesting activities to do.

Adopting From Public Animal Shelters and Humane Societies
Rat Terriers are sometimes found here. But Rat Terrier Rescue groups keep their eyes peeled on shelters and humane societies across the country. If a Rat Terrier turns up at a shelter, the rescue group typically moves in quickly to take the dog.

Buying From a Dog Breeder
You can buy a Rat Terrier from a show breeder, who breeds Rat Terriers to match a detailed standard of appearance for the dog show ring. Some breeders emphasize a Rat Terrier's performance as a hunting dog, not so much for "real" hunting as for simulated hunting events where the prey animals is never harmed.

You can also buy a Rat Terrier from people who "just breed pets" or "just had one litter." But should you? Be sure to read the article to learn more about these people.

Here's one difference between a responsible breeder and an irresponsible breeder – BOTH PARENTS of a Rat Terrier puppy should have:

• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America's CAER (Companion Animal Eye Registry) – dated within the past year – certifying the dog to be free of eye diseases
• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) or PennHip certifying the dog to be free of hip dysplasia
• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) certifying the dog to be free of the hip disease Legg-Calve-Perthes
• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) certifying the dog to have normal knees

Also, at least ONE PARENT of a Rat Terrier puppy should have:

• a DNA test proving they are Normal/Clear of a severe hereditary eye disease called primary lens luxation (PLL).

If a seller can't show you those certificates, the puppies are higher risk for health problems. You might choose to accept that risk. But then you need to be willing (and able) to pay a couple thousand bucks for future surgeries and lifelong meds if your Rat Terrier ends up blind and crippled.

Pet Shop Puppies: Buying a Puppy From a Pet Store
Rat Terriers are sometimes found in pet shops. I have plenty to say about buying a puppy from a pet shop!

Which puppy?

Choosing the Right Rat Terrier Puppy
How to test the temperament and personality of Rat Terrier puppies and pick the best puppy in a litter.

AKC Registered Puppies: Are AKC Papers Important?
Should you buy only an AKC registered Rat Terrier puppy? Do AKC papers and pedigrees really matter?