AKC Terrier Group
Rat Terrier
Intelligent. lively. Yours.
There's a moment every Rat Terrier owner knows, you're walking through the house and you hear a tiny, rapid-fire thumping. You look down and there's your Rat Terrier, tail going like a metronome set to allegro, entire body vibrating with the sheer joy of you existing in the same room.
♥
"There's a moment every Rat Terrier owner knows, you're walking through the house and you hear a tiny, rapid-fire thumping."
From our Rat Terrier field notes
The Rat Terrier collection
Handcrafted for Rat Terrier people
The Rat Terrier experience
You know you're a Rat Terrier owner when...
●Your Rat Terrier has a vertical leap that would make a basketball coach weep, straight up, eye level, no warning. our Rat Terrier has a vertical leap that would make a basketball coach weep, straight up, eye level, no warning
●They've appointed themselves head of household security and take the job extremely seriously, especially regarding squirrels. hey've appointed themselves head of household security and take the job extremely seriously, especially regarding squirrels
●That smooth coat sheds approximately one dog's worth of hair per week despite being a small dog. hat smooth coat sheds approximately one dog's worth of hair per week despite being a small dog
●They can be dead asleep under a blanket burrito and still hear a cheese wrapper from two rooms away. hey can be dead asleep under a blanket burrito and still hear a cheese wrapper from two rooms away
●You've watched them go from cuddly lapdog to full predator mode in the time it takes a lizard to blink. ou've watched them go from cuddly lapdog to full predator mode in the time it takes a lizard to blink
At a glance
alsoKnownAsRattie, RT, American Rat Terrier, Ratting Terrier, Decker Rat Terrier
size10–25 lbs (miniature and standard varieties)
temperamentIntelligent, lively, alert, loving, inquisitive, fearless, stubborn in the most charming way possible
lifespan12–18 years
energyHigh (a compact tornado of purpose who needs mental stimulation or will redecorate your garden)
goodWithFamilies, older kids, singles, seniors, excellent farm dogs, less trustworthy around hamsters
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Common Questions
Rat Terrier Gift & Decor — FAQ
Find the perfect Rat Terrier gift at WenderPets! Our handcrafted decor celebrates this intelligent and lively breed with breed-specific luminaries, sculptures, and more.
Last updated: 2026-03-17
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