Rat Terriers - Pictures - Breeders

Picture source: Double Diamond Standard Rat Terriers

First of all, breeding stock should be tested for possible health disorders and temperament. Tests can include the BAER test that proves the dog does not suffer from deafness, CERF test that reveals eye problems, and OFA examinations that make breeders exclude dogs experiencing bone disorders from breeding programs.

To determine if the Rat Terrier experiences any temperament problems, breeders can contact the Temperament Test Society. This test gives breeders a complete picture of their dogs' behavior in a variety of situations. During a walk, the dog is exposed to a number of visual and auditory phenomena. Its reactions prove either the dog's stability, or determine it has a poor temperament. When being tested, a Rat Terrier should not display any aggressiveness or shyness. Obeying all the commands of the handler is a must.

It goes without saying that personality traits of a Rat Terrier depend not only on good ancestry but also on the type of socialization puppies experienced. It is the task of the breeder to lay the basis for a Rat Terrier puppy's sound development. Puppies should not be parted with their mother in the early age. It will deprive them of the possibility to communicate with their littermates and will have some harmful effects on their temperament.

Picture source: Groups MSN com

Responsible breeders care not only about their litters but also about the breed. They aim at improving the breed by the means of excluding dogs that do not fully conform to the official breed standard from breedings. That is why responsible breeders sell such puppies with a spay/neuter contract. This practice is encouraged by the American Kennel Club, the organization whose recognition the breed is awaiting.

AKC recognition is rather instrumental in perfecting the Rat Terrier breed. It will allow the dogs to take part in AKC events and help breeders find Rat Terriers that come close to the standard.

Rat Terriers - Pictures - Breeders Links

ABC Kennel - Kennel information with photos. South Point, Ohio.

Blue Ribbon Kennels - Rat Terrier breeder in Ohio. Kennel history, litter announcements and photos.

Call Me Farms Rat Terriers - Breeder of Rat Terriers in Florida.

Diamond Rat Terriers - UKC registered puppies from breeders located in Tennessee.

Double Diamond Kennel - Kennel information with photos. Ohio.

Emerald Hill Rat Terriers - Breeder of UKC registered Rat Terriers of the 10-12 lb. size. Tri color puppies with heavy concentration of chocolate color. Ruckersville, VA.

Halls Kennel - Pictures of their dogs and brief information. Located in NY.

King Pen Kennels - Discover all about the kennel and their life with Rat Terriers.

KnD Kennels - Kennel and breed information, and profiles of their studs and females. Texas.

Picture source: Wishbone Kennels

Nunley Ranch Rat Terriers - Breeders of Toy and Miniature Rat Terriers offer a lot of pictures of their dogs. TN.

Rat Attack of North Carolina - Stories and photos of Pistol Pete the Rat Terrier.

Rat Terriers by the RD Ranch - California ranch breeds a variety of animals and offers litters of terriers once a year. View puppies and a birthing page.

Rat Terriers of Poochville - Information on Rat Terriers, puppies and dogs for sale. WA.

RatTime - Breeders of Rat Terriers offer breed information and Rat Terrier pictures. Have puppies occasionally. MO.

Rippin K Rat Terriers - Breeder of quality Rats for 9 years.

Vivian's Rat Terrier Kennels - Breeder with pictures.

Victorian Kennels - Information and pictures. TN.

Wishbone Kennels - Louisiana breeder with breed information, kennel history, care sheet, and pictures.

Wishbone Kennels - Professional kennels in Louisiana.

Rat Terriers - Pictures - Other Rat Terriers sites

Rat Terriers - Rat Terriers are medium-sized working dogs. They have a compact body build and a tiny head proportionate to the body. The head is slightly doomed with a pointed muzzle. The ears are erect or button. The Rat Terrier's tail is either docked or carried in a slight curve over the back. Although dogs with docked tails are preferred, natural bobtails are not a fault.

The Rat Terrier has a short coat that is easy to groom. These dogs come in solid white and other solid colors, white and red, white and blue, and other color patterns. There are three sizes of the breed. Breeders distinguish between Standard, Mid-sized, and Toy Rat Terriers. Their heights are 14-23, 8-14, and 8 inches accordingly. Rat Terriers weigh from 4 to 35 pounds.

Rat Terriers Breeders - Rat Terriers can be said to have started their history in Great Britain. Yet, the true motherland of the breed is America. The Rat Terrier is one of America's native breeds due the efforts of breeders who tried to improve the quality of dogs brought by settlers to the New World.

Interesting enough, Britain has produced the majority of terrier breeds due to a centuries long tradition, hunting. This favorite sport and consequently a great demand for good hunting dogs allowed breeders to experiment in producing dogs for various purposes. Long-legged terriers were good in hunting game around a farm or an estate. They kept up with horses and were suited for hunting the otter.

Rat Terriers Information - Rat Terriers are small dogs that have preserved their working qualities over time. Bred to be ratters and hunting dogs, Rat Terriers were considered second to none in destroying vermin. Therefore, they were frequently seen on farms.

With the development of agriculture and various means of controlling the population of vermin, the number of Rat Terriers diminished some. This was accompanied by a heightened interest in purebred dogs. Hence, Rat Terriers lost a lion's share of their popularity.

Rat Terriers Puppies - Rat Terriers are wonderful companion dogs even though their original function was hunting. The breed is the descendant of the Manchester Terrier, the Smooth Fox Terrier, and some other breeds. It was bred as a vermin dog and was often seen on farms, especially at the beginning of the 20th century. By the 1950s, their numbers decreased significantly. Yet, interest in the breed was revived in the 1990s and the UKC accepted the Rat Terrier. It approved of the official breed standard coined by the Rat Terrier Club of America in 1994.

According to the standard, the Rat Terrier can come in two varieties, a coated Rat Terrier and a hairless Rat Terrier that is often referred to as the American Hairless Rat Terrier. American Hairless Rat Terrier puppies are born with some fluff on them that is gradually reduced by the age of 6-8 weeks old. When full-grown, hairless Rat Terriers should be bare except small areas on whiskers.

Rat Terriers Rescues - Rat Terriers are known for their amiable personality and good working qualities. These dogs have been bred for ratting and hunting small game such as the fox. They originated in America and entertain close ties with the Fox Terrier, the Manchester Terrier, the Beagle, the Whippet, and some other breeds of dog.

The Rat Terrier has experienced some ups and downs in popularity in the course of history. The breed was rather common at the rise of the 20th century and was found practically on every farm. The dog was especially widely spread in southern parts of the United States. However, Rat Terrier numbers had declined by the 1950s, which was caused by an increased interest in purebred dogs. Besides, the improvement of industrial ways of controlling vermin population provided for diminished demand in Rat Terriers.