Rat Terriers - Breeders - Clubs and General Information

Rat Terriers - Breeders - Recognition

The first all-breed registry to accept the Rat Terrier was the United Kennel Club. This club is still one of the largest registries for the Rat Terrier. What attracts breeders and owners in the UKC is perhaps the ease of registration and the possibility to register Rat Terrier hybrids. Hybrid registration is not allowed in the Rat Terrier Club of America. The National club does not approve of such breedings since their aim is preserving the breed close to its standard.

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Rat Terriers - Breeders - Why Seek AKC Acceptance?

To be accepted by the AKC any breed should have a parent club that operates on a wide geographic area and has a considerable number of members. Work aimed at health perfection of the breed and organization of activities that promote the breed's best qualities are a necessary condition for the breed to get recognition.

In fact, the RTCA does have a number of affiliated clubs all of which strive to promote responsible breeding and ownership. Activities that are organized by these clubs also help to acknowledge the best representatives of the breed and continue its further perfection.

Thus, the Rat Terrier has some way to go before being accepted by the AKC. There is a lot of work to be done by breed clubs and breed owners. Only responsible ownership and close partnership of clubs and associations can provide for AKC recognition for Rat Terriers.

Rat Terriers - Breeders - Clubs Links

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American Hairless Rat Terrier Club - The club welcomes all who wish to help make the club grow and who wish to exhibit their dogs in the spirit of Good Sportsmanship.

American Hunting Dog Registry - Contains breed information, how to register, Rat Terrier care, and news.

American Rat Terrier Kennel Club - Offers resources for Rat Terrier fanciers worldwide. Find a breed history, registries, tips on care and links to other canine pages.

American Rat Terrier Society - Discover the organization dedicated to connecting the online Rat Terrier community. Read stories and articles.

American Working Terrier Association - Announcements, membership, message boards, trials, and more.

Central Florida Rat Terrier Society - A group of Rat Terriers and their owners who enjoy meeting others and frolicking in the Central Florida sunshine. Stories, links, advice on grooming and nutrition, and lots of pictures.

Feist/Rat Terrier Breed Clubs - Links to national and regional breed clubs.

National Rat Terrier Association - A wonderful resource for the Rat Terrier. Detailed breed history, standards with picture examples, photos of Rat Terrier sizes and colors, breeder links and Rat Terrier registry.

Rat Terrier Club of America - Become a member of the RTCA and have a look at the Rat Terrier breed standard, pictures and the calendar of events.

Volcano View Rat Terrier Club - Officers, events, breed information, pictures, and links.

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Rat Terriers - Breeders - Links of Interest

Breed Profile - Short outline of the breed.

Breed Statistics - General information on the breed.

Dog Breed Info Center - Rat Terrier - Get a description of the temperament and characteristics of the Rat Terrier breed, and find links to breeders and kennels.

How to Breed a Squirrel Dog - Article informs on what a squirrel dogs is, how to define a good squirrel dog, and how to breed it.

RareBreed Network - Rat Terrier - Gives an overview of the Rat Terrier breed of dog, and provides information about clubs and rescue organizations.

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

Rat Terrier Feist - Contains pictures and a story about adventures of one Rat Terrier.

Rat Terrier Guide - Breed description and its past and present functions.

Rat Terriers.Com - Browse information on locating breeders, veterinarians, find out about the latest training techniques, check out the show world, decide what organizations to join and view and leave messages on the Message Board.

Tinker's Rat Terrier Site - Site dedicated to Tinker, a Rat Terrier, and the breed. Learn more about the breed's habits and find pictures and useful links.

Rat Terriers - Breeders - 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 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 Pictures - Rat Terriers were bred in America as vermin dogs and hunting companions. Their ancestors originated in Great Britain and were brought by emigrants to the New World to help them manage the hardships of life. Terrier dogs were found mostly on farms and served their owners as devoted companions and watchdogs.

The Rat Terrier was bred by the means of crossing the Fox Terrier and the Manchester Terrier. Their traits can still be traced in the modern Rat Terrier. The breed was developed later through crosses with the Beagle, the Italian Greyhound, and some other breeds. As the result, breeders have produced a good hunting dog with a wonderful sense of smell, very agile and hard working.

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.