Rat Terrier

The rat terrier is a small dog that was originally bred in the United States for controlling rodents and hunting small animals. The breed is intelligent and extremely active. They were officially recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1999.

Rat terriers are generally healthy dogs but do commonly have allergies, especially skin allergies. They are also known to have seizures.

Despite their small size, rat terriers are used as search and rescue dogs. They are not accepted by the American Kennel Club but can however compete in dog agility events. Most commonly, rat terriers are household pets. They are generally sociable and can live comfortably in smaller living spaces. They are however overly sensitive to noise and may bark often, making them less than a prime choice for apartments.