Why Rat Terriers Make Good Pets

Terriers are naturally spunky dogs that are well loved by families that own them, especially by the children. Rat Terrier dogs are an exceptionally well liked breed that not only act as great companions to children, are good watchdogs but in a departure from more traditional terrier characteristics, actually get along well with other pets in the family.

It is believed that the Rat Terrier was named so by President Teddy Roosevelt. They were initially a crossbreed between the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Manchester Terrier. When they were brought to America, they were again bred with the Beagle to further enhance their hunting instincts and improve their speed and agility. However, they are proving to be very popular as pets because of their great energy that belies their small size.

Rat Terrier Dogs can be found in many different colors. While they are commonly red and white in color you can also find solid red, black and tan as well as spotted Rat Terrier Dogs. Since their coat hair is fairly short these dogs are easy to groom. Plus they do not shed as much keeping the house fairly clean. Even brushing can be done just a few times a month or at the most on a weekly basis. Rat Terriers do not need to be bathed regularly and just wiping their coat with a wet cloth to remove stubborn grime is good enough.

The Rat Terrier is an aggressive dog and fairly fearless in its attitude. This makes it a difficult candidate to train and will require a patient and experienced owner to train it properly. Once they have been trained and have learnt the art of socializing, these terriers are great pets to have in a family. If you are not having an easy time training your terrier, you may consider enrolling your dog in obedience classes where trained instructors will know exactly how to teach and train your dog. However remember that terriers typically aim to please their owners and this should stand you in good stead as you try and teach it how to behave.

Because of their size, Rat Terriers are great to have in a small apartment or house. However, they still require stimulation and enough exercise. If they do not receive either of these in adequate measures, they tend to get a little destructive around the house. Ensure that there are enough activities around the house for your terrier to keep busy with.

One way of keeping these little dogs occupied is to find a good set of toys that they can play with. For example, there are toys that can be used to store some kibbles and your terrier has to work hard at getting these kibbles out which can then be their reward. There are other toys like chew toys that can keep your terrier engaged for hours. Ensure that your terrier is under your supervision at all times so that he does not destroy the toy and more importantly end up hurting himself.

With proper training and given adequate exercise, Rat Terriers can make great pet dogs.