Where the Rat Terrier came from
The Rat Terrier is an American farm dog. Terriers from Britain came to the US, and farmers mixed them with other breeds to get a dog that could keep rats out of barns and grain.
These dogs were also used to hunt small game and do other farm work. They were common on family farms in the 1920s and 1930s, and later the breed became rare.
Fans kept the breed going. The United Kennel Club recognized the Rat Terrier in 1999, and the AKC lists it as recognized in 2013. They come in several sizes and colors today.
- 1920s and 1930s Rat Terriers are common on American farms
- 1999 The United Kennel Club recognizes the Rat Terrier
- 2013 The AKC lists the Rat Terrier as recognized
The job a Rat Terrier was bred for
The work was patrolling barns and fields, killing rats, and hunting small game. The dog had to be quick, alert and tough. At home that shows up as an eager, vocal dog who notices small movements and loves to dig and chase.
Sports that fit a Rat Terrier
- Barn hunt. They were made to find rats in a barn.
- Scent work. Quick, curious and eager to use their nose.
- Agility. Fast and athletic.
- Flyball. They love fast ball games.
- Earthdog. A safe way to use their digging drive.
Training tips for a Rat Terrier
- Teach settle and an off switch. They are high energy.
- Reward and use food. They are smart and bounce back from mistakes.
- Secure fences matter. They dig and chase small animals.
- Teach a solid recall using high-value rewards.
Body and health
Rat Terriers are athletic, but watch the knees and avoid hard landings from big jumps, especially in the smaller sizes.
Fun fact. The American Hairless Terrier began with a hairless puppy born in a Rat Terrier litter in Louisiana in 1972.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Rat Terrier is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.