MediumTerrier Group

Rat Terrier

The Rat Terrier is an American farm terrier standardized in early-20th-century US farms from Smooth Fox Terrier × Manchester Terrier × Whippet × Beagle crosses for rodent control.

Calculate Rat Terrier age

Lifespan15 yrrange 12–18

SizeMediumTerrier Group

Weight10–25 lb4.5–11.3 kg

Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11

Gallery (3)

About

About the Rat Terrier

The Rat Terrier is an American farm terrier standardized in early-20th-century US farms from Smooth Fox Terrier × Manchester Terrier × Whippet × Beagle crosses for rodent control. President Theodore Roosevelt is credited with the breed name. AKC recognition dates to 2013.

Aging

How Rat Terriers age

Not in RVC VetCompass; breed-standard estimates indicate 12-18 years. Primary lens luxation and hip dysplasia are the defining inherited concerns on OFA screens; congenital deafness and atopic dermatitis round out breed-club tracked issues.

Lifespan deep-diveAvg 15 yr · range 12–18 Senior careSenior at 7 · geriatric at 11 Common health issues8 tracked conditions

Physical

Physical characteristics

Weight: 10–25 lb(4.5–11.3 kg)
Height: 10–18 in(25.4–45.7 cm)
Coat type: Short
Colors: Black & WhiteBlack White & TanBlack Tan & WhiteBlue White & TanRed White & SableWhite & ApricotWhite & BlackWhite Black & TanWhite & Blue FawnWhite & BlueWhite & ChocolateWhite, Chocolate & Tan

Temperament

How Rat Terriers tend to show up around their people, other dogs, and the world.

alertactiveintelligentfriendly

Energy
4/5
Trainability
5/5
Good with kids
5/5
Good with other dogs
3/5
Shedding
3/5

Health

Common health issues

Full health profile

Low prevalencetypical onset ~2 yr
Patellar Luxation
Description and veterinary guidance for Patellar Luxation land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Low prevalencetypical onset ~5 yr
Primary Lens Luxation
Description and veterinary guidance for Primary Lens Luxation land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Low prevalencetypical onset ~1 yr
Congenital Cardiac Defect
Description and veterinary guidance for Congenital Cardiac Defect land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.