Welcome the Rat Terrier!

The alert and energetic Rat Terrier has recently joined the Breed Archive platform.

The Rat Terrier is an American breed descended from the terriers brought over by English miners and other working class immigrants. These terriers probably included crosses between the Smooth Fox Terrier, the Manchester Terrier and the now extinct Old English White Terrier.

These dogs were used as ratters, and gambling on their prowess in killing rats was a favourite hobby of their owners. After the 1890s, some of these dogs were crossed with Whippets or Italian Greyhounds (for speed) and Beagles (for hunting ability).

They were popularized by President Teddy Roosevelt, who frequently hunted with his Rat Terriers. This breed originated three now-separate breeds: the Rat Terrier, the American Hairless Terrier, and the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier.

The Rat Terrier is a compact, tough, smooth-coated exterminator dog coming in a variety of coat colours and in two sizes: miniature and standard. His curiosity and intelligence make him easy to train. He is a fearless, tenacious hunter with seemingly unlimited energy. Rat Terriers excel in multiple sports due to their drive, intelligence, athleticism, and biddability (for a terrier!).