The Rat Terrier Breed Standard

Presented by Darice Ragan – USA

Rat Terrier art illustrations property of the American Rat Terrier Association. Vintage graphics compliments of Rat Terrier Club of America.

History – In a Trademark

It has been claimed that Nipper was a Rat Terrier. He was born in 1884. Nipper’s original owner died in 1887, leaving his brothers to care for the dog. Nipper himself died in 1895. Three years after Nipper’s death, his owners painted a picture of Nipper listening intently to a wind-up phonograph.

A modified form of the painting became the successful trademark of Victor, HMV and RCA. The slogan “His Master’s Voice”, along with the painting, was sold to The Gramophone Company for 100 pounds sterling.

History – In the White HouseThe Rat Terrier was introduced into the United States in the 1890s. When Roosevelt became President and moved into the White house, it was infested with rats. Traps and poisons didn’t work so the President let his “feists” loose in the House and within hours the dogs had killed numerous vermin.

President Theodore Roosevelt coined the name “Rat Terrier” in 1901. Skip was his favorite Rat Terrier, whom he acquired while on a trip to the Grand Canyon. Other ratties that lived in the White House with the Roosevelt family were Allen, Gem, Peter, Black Jack and Scamp.

President Theodore Roosevelt

In the early 1900's, Rat Terriers were bred to hunt and kill vermin to protect America's agriculture and food sources. Rat Terriers were seen on farms of eastern and middle America. These dogs kept the rodents from houses and barns. It was common to own a Rat Terrier for those purposes.

19431946 – Mother and Uncle 1963

History – U.S. Agriculture

Darice Ragan lives near the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and raises Rat Terriers and American Hairless Terriers. She places extreme importance on correct structure, breed type, good temperament and health. Rat Terriers have been part of Darice's family since the 1940's.

RaganRat boasts home to two UKC National Best of Breed winners (2015 and 2011); two Altered National Best of Breed winners (2015 and 2012); three UKC Top Ten Best of Breed winners with Top Ten Finalist placements. Darice's dogs also excel in performance events and several are Total Dogs in UKC, top title earners in AKC and one in Canada.

One of Darice's dock diving (hairless) dogs won the 2015 UKC Premier Total Dog Best in Show. Her dogs also have Eukanuba and Westminster wins as well as AKC titles in conformation and performance. Raganrat is extremely proud to have five Ratties working as Service Dogs!

Who are you?

Darice's dogs have appeared in magazine articles such as Dog Fancy, The Canine Chronicle and the 2006 Rat Terrier breed mega-magazine. Her dogs were also written about in The New York Times, The Knoxville News Sentinel and The Daily Times newspapers.

One of Darice's Rat Terriers has appeared in Brown Trout Calendars for five separate years and has made the calendar cover twice. One of her American Hairless Terriers was on the cover of Bloodlines magazine. Another Raganratter is on the package of a PetSafe dog product.

Darice has been active in the dog show world since the age of sixteen. She’s written a How-To book on docking tails.

For more information on Judge Ragan visit http://www.raganrat.com

Dog Lover: Exhibitor, Breeder, JudgeAffiliations

•United Kennel Club Senior Judge #6778•United Kennel Club Event Advocate•Great Smoky Mountain Dog Club (UKC)       ~ President

~ Co-founder~ Event Chair~ Event Secretary

 American Rat Terrier Association  (UKC)       ~ President

~Treasurer~ Newsletter Editor

          ~ National Specialty Event Coordinator     ~ PowerPoint for Judge's Education

of Rat Terrier Breed Standard Rat Terrier Club of America  (AKC)   ~  Member, 

~ PowerPoint for Judge's Education of Rat Terrier Breed Standard

• American Hairless Terrier Association (AKC)• Canada Rat Terrier Breed Seminar 

Ahhhh Rats

•There are about 25 rats for every one (1) you see

• Rats eat almost anything, animal or vegetable, alive or dead

• Rats usually live about 3 years

• One female can have up to 12 litters per year

• Rats have collapsible rib cages and can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter

• Rats dig holes and tunnels under land, dangerous to livestock

• Fleas on rats can carry plague

INGREDIENTS – Made in USA

The Rat Terrier is an American breed descended from the terriers brought over by English miners and working class immigrants.

These terriers probably included crosses between:

• Smooth Fox Terrier (go to ground / bolt the quarry)• Manchester Terrier (working ability)• Chihuahua (companion dog)• Whippets (work ethic / refinement / sprint racing)• Italian Greyhounds (sight/intelligence/affectionate/speed)• Beagles (scent)

…and the now extinct White English Terrier

IMPORTANT TO AGRICULTURE

Jack rabbits were a plague on the Midwestern farms of the early 20th century, and some farmers bred their Rat Terrier with "snap dog" breeds (rabbit hunters) such as Whippets and Italian Greyhounds. Farmers in southern states bred their Rat Terriers to Beagles and other scent hounds to increase their nose. Both efforts contributed to the excellent hunting sense that today's Rat Terriers possess. The Rat Terrier is an extremely energetic dog with strong hunting instincts.

Teddy Roosevelt Terrier

The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is derived from the Rat Terrier. Years ago, and sometimes still today, it’s referred to as “type B terrier” or the short legged version of a Rat Terrier.

American Hairless TerrierThe American Hairless Terrier (AHT) is a mutation that occurred in a Rat Terrier litter in 1972. It is its’ own breed today. Puppies are born with a nappy vellum that falls out by three weeks of age and are naked except for cheek and brow hairs and the whiskers The skin feels like soft suede. Crossing AHTs back to RTs helps strengthen and diversify the gene pool.

GENERAL APPEARANCEThe Rat Terrier may have a natural tail carried in an upward curve, a natural bob tail, or a docked tail. The Rat Terrier comes in solid white, other solid colors with markings, and white with a variety of colored patches.

The Rat Terrier should be evaluated as a working terrier, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog’s ability to work.

Honorable scars resulting from field work are not to be penalized. Missing canines or broken canines or incisor teeth are not to be faulted.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Rat Terrier is a muscular, active, small-to-medium hunting terrier.

The preferred ratio of length of body (prosternum to point of buttocks) to height (withers to ground) is 10:9.

The head is broad, slightly domed, wedge-shaped, and proportionate to the size of the body. Ears are V-shaped, set at the outside edges of the skull, and may be erect or button.

The Rat Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1999 and American Kennel Club January 1, 2013.

CHARACTERISTICS

The Rat Terrier is an energetic, alert dog whose curiosity and intelligence make him easy to train. The Rat Terrier has sometimes been described as having a dual personality. He is a fearless, tenacious hunter with seemingly unlimited energy.

When he is not hunting, however, the Rat Terrier is an exceptionally friendly companion, getting along well with children, other dogs, and even cats. Rat Terriers enjoy human companionship immensely and will enthusiastically share any activity with their owners.

Rat Terriers should not be sparred during conformation judging.

WHAT ATTRACTS OUR EYE?WHY?

BALANCE

BREED TYPE

THE WHOLE DOG

I. BALANCE

COMPONENTS

WOW! Nice balanced dog

No major construction faults

Nothing ugly or obvious

Well marked and attractive

II. BREED TYPE

ID breed by the outline or silhouette.(Turn out the lights)

BREED TYPE

ID breed by The HEAD

Breed Type characteristics are often overlooked in evaluating dogs but one must remember that without

type, the identity of the breed is lost.

A Rat Terrier does not possess Breed TYPE if it looks like another breed.

BREED TYPE

BREED TYPE

ID breed by The MOVEMENT&

The COAT

TYPE versus STYLE

What’s the difference? TYPE vs. STYLE

What determines STYLE?A) Turn out the lights and the dog that kisses you first is a Rat Terrier with

StyleB) The dog with the best collar is the dog with StyleC) XYZ kennel and ABC kennel dogs all look like Rat Terriers but ABC

dogs’ heads are very distinct

What determines TYPE?A) My dog can type faster than your dog on a laptop B) The shadow/silhouette is distinctly a Rat Terrier….no guesswork.C) My dog is a miniature and yours is a standard.

III. SEE THE WHOLE DOG

Balance + Structure + Movement + Type = The Whole Dog

See the whole dog; see ALL of the dog @ the same time

Inherent appreciation for:

Volume Line

Space Balance and Symmetry

SCIENCE + ART = AN EYE FOR A DOG

Having an eye for a dog combines science and art. On the science side, you must know the purpose a breed serves. Its purpose will clue you in on how the dog should be structured and move. On the art side, it is the ability to recognize beauty, form, symmetry and style. One complements the other. The good eye can instantly recognize quality, or lack of it, when the dog is either standing or moving.

~ Robert W. Cole

BALANCE & SYMMETRY

WHAT ATTRACTS OUR EYE AND WHY?

Inherent appreciation for volume, line, space, balance and

symmetry

BALANCE & SYMMETRY

No major construction faults here.

BALANCE & SYMMETRY

Inherent appreciation for volume, line, space, balance and

symmetry.

BALANCE & SYMMETRYInherent appreciation for volume, line, space, balance and symmetry.

BALANCE & SYMMETRY

Inherent appreciation for volume, line, space, balance and

symmetry

Nothing ugly or obvious.

TEMPERAMENT

Keenly observant, devoted, full of energy (NOT hyper), easily trained and obedient. Non-sparring breed. Generally friendly with other dogs but may be reserved with strangers. Submissiveness is not a fault. Overt aggression and excessive shyness should be penalized.

HEAD

The head resembles a smooth, blunt wedge from a front or profile view. Viewed from the front the head widens gradually towards the base of the ears in an unbroken line and is well filled up under the eyes.

Equal planes Wedge shape

HEAD – The Stop

Moderate Stop

Distinct

CORRECT

Incorrect Stop

Stop Too AbruptStop Too Slight

SKULL The skull is moderate in width, relatively flat on top rounded at crown and the sides as it widens smoothly from the corner of the eyes to the base of the ears. Occiput not prominent. Cheeks are flat and well-muscled but never bulging.

CORRECT INCORRECT

Serious fault: Apple head.

MUZZLE The muzzle is strong and just slightly shorter in length than the skull and tapers smoothly along the sides to the nose. Jaws are powerful and hinged well back allowing the dog to open his mouth wide enough to catch rats and other rodents. Lips are dry and tight with no flews. Lip pigment matches nose pigment or may be pink; spotted or solid lips acceptable..

FAULT of Muzzle

INCORRECT

Snipey muzzle

CORRECT MuzzleSnipey – weak or pointed muzzle; muzzle lacking in strength due to weak bone coupled with poor muscle development. The lack of substance to the under jaw gives the head a pointing profile.

TEETH

The Rat Terrier has a complete set of good-sized, evenly spaced, white teeth. A scissors bite is preferred but a level bite is acceptable.

SCISSORS

LEVEL

FAULTS of the Teeth

Faults: Missing teeth; overshot or undershot bite.

OVERSHOT

UNDERSHOT

WRY MOUTH

The lower jaw is twisted to one side, placing the upper and lower jaws out of line with one another.

NOSE

The nose is black or self-colored. Faults: Dudley or butterfly nose.

INCORRECTCORRECT

EYES

Eyes are not large; eyes are obliquely set wide apart and are oval in shape. Eye color ranges from dark brown to amber and corresponds with coat color. Gray eyes are acceptable in blue or blue-fawn dogs only, otherwise being a serious fault in other dog colors. Hazel eyes are acceptable in dogs with lighter coat color. Eye rims match nose pigment and facial markings..

NOTE: Rat Terriers may squint their eyes when outside in the sun.

Incorrect Eyes

Almond Shape Eyes INCORRECT

Faults of the Eye

Faults: Bulgy eyes; deep-set eyes; light-colored eyes in a dog with black coat color or black pigment; both eyes not of matching colors; eye with iris containing more than one color; wall or china eye.

EARS

Ears are V-shaped, set at the outside edges of the skull. Length is in proportion to the head. Moderately pointed at the tip. Base of ear in line with outer corner of eye. Ears are either erect, tipped / semi-erect, or button when the dog is alert. Matching ears are strongly preferred. Non-matching ear carriage should be penalized to the degree of the variation. Rose ear is a Fault.Note: Ear carriage may not stabilize until a dog is mature. Dogs under one year of age should not be penalized for variations in ear carriage.

ERECT

EARS

BUTTON TIPPED

FUN FACT

Rat Terriers can fold and close their ears.

Faults of the Ear

Faults: Erect ears with the sides curved inward forming a shape like a tulip petal; rose ears; flying ears; non-matching ear carriages. Disqualification: Hanging ears.

Hanging Rose Tulip

NECK

The neck is clean, moderately long, muscular, slightly arched, and tapers slightly from the shoulders to the head. The neck blends smoothly into well laid back, flat shoulder blades.

Incorrect Neck

Ewe Neck - the neck top line is concave and the neck bottom is convex.

Concave

Convex

FOREQUARTERS

Shoulders are smoothly muscled. The shoulder blades are well laid back with the upper tips fairly close together at the withers. The upper arm appears to be equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an apparent right angle.

NOTE: Rat Terriers DO NOT have a typical terrier front.

FOREQUARTERSThe elbows are close to the body. Viewed from any angle, the forelegs are straight, strong, and sturdy in bone. The pasterns are strong, short,

and slightly sloping.

Pasterns

Incorrect Forequarters

Narrow Front

Elbows Out

Wide Front

Incorrect Forequarters

Short Upper Arm

Easty Westy

Cathedral Chest

(hollow)

Weak Pasterns Straight Terrier Front

BODY

A properly proportioned Rat Terrier is slightly longer (measured from prosternum to point of buttocks) than tall (measured from the withers to the ground), and length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) should approximately equal one-half of the dog’s height.

Length of front leg equals approx. ½

height of dog

BODYWhether the dog is standing or moving, the line of the back is firm and level. The loin is moderately short, slightly arched, and muscular, with moderate tuck-up. The croup is gently rounded. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung out from the spine, forming a broad, strong back, then curving down and inward to form a deep body.

BODY

Length of front leg equals approx. ½

height of dog

NOTE: Slight arch of the loin is NOT a bend in the skeletal spine. The arch of loin is due to muscular development.

The loin is moderately short, slightly arched, and muscular.

CHEST

Viewed from the front, the chest between the forelegs is well filled and of moderate width with a discernible forechest.

Ribs appear oval when viewed from front. The brisket extends to elbow.

The underline ascends gradually with the ribs extending well back to a moderate tuck-up.

CHEST

Viewed from the side, the forechest extends in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs.

Incorrect Body

Flat Topline

Flat Croup

High Tailset

Lack of Chest Depth

Incorrect Body

Short Neck

Roach Back

Incorrect Body

Low Tail Set

Sway Back Steep Croup

HINDQUARTERS

The hindquarters are muscular but smooth with the length of the upper and lower thighs being approximately equal. Hindquarters should not be bulging or coarse and should be in balance with forequarters.

HINDQUARTERS

The angulation of the hindquarters is in balance with the angulation of the forequarters. Stifles are well-bent with short hocks that are parallel and perpendicular to the ground.

NOTE: An imaginary line dropped from point of buttocks should touch the front of the toes.

When standing, the hock should be perpendicular to the floor.

HINDQUARTERS

The stifles are well-bent, and the hocks are well let down. When the dog is standing, the short, strong rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground and, viewed from the rear, parallel to one another.

Well Bent StiflePasterns Parallel

FUN FACT

Puppy rear angles straighten as they mature.

Incorrect Hindquarters

Straight Rear Sickle Hocks Hyper-Extended Hocks

When the bones of the upper and lower thighs are too short, the rear legs are under the instead of behind the dog.

CORRECT

Incorrect Hindquarters

NOTE: Rat Terriers should NOT stand on tippy toes when stacked.

INCORRECT

Incorrect Hindquarters

Over Angulated Rear

Incorrect Hindquarters

Cow Hocks Too Wide Rear Dewclaws

FEET

The feet are compact and oval in shape. The two middle toes are slightly longer than the other toes. Toes turn neither in nor out, are compact, moderately arched with thick pads and strong nails. Toes may be well split up but not flat or splayed. Front dewclaws may be removed. Rear dewclaws must be removed.

FAULTS of the Feet

Faults: Flat feet; splayed feet; rear dewclaws present.

FLAT FEET SPLAYED FEET REAR DEWCLAWS

TAILThe tail is a continuation of the spine. Tail length is unimportant. A docked or natural bob tail is preferred, but a natural tail is not a fault. Docking is customarily between the second and third joint of the tail. The natural tail is thick at the base and tapers toward the tip. A long tail should reach the top of the hock. When the dog is alert, the tail is carried in an upward curve. When relaxed, the tail may be carried straight out behind the dog. The tail should not be over the back of the dog or a ring tail.

FAULTS of the Tail

Faults: Bent tail; ring tail.

RING TAIL

BENT TAIL

COAT

Whiskers are not removed. The coat is short, close lying (aka tight) with a sheen. Texture varies. A slight ruff or wave along the back is allowed but undesirable.

Disqualifications: Wire or broken coat; long coat

Long Coat

Short Coat

COLORThe Rat Terrier may be solid white, bi-color or tri-color but must always have some white, which may be of any size and located anywhere on the dog. The white area may be ticked as long as white predominates (10% to 90% white preferred).

The remaining accepted colors are: black, tan (ranging from dark tan to very light tan and from intense dark mahogany red to light red with black nose and eye rims), chocolate (ranging from dark liver to light chocolate with self-colored nose and eye rims), blue and blue fawn (with self-colored nose and eye rims), apricot (ranging from orange to faded yellow with black nose and eye rims), and lemon (ranging from orange to faded yellow with self-colored nose and eye rims). Colored areas may have sable overlay.

NOTE: Color & placement of markings can create illusions. Examples: Illusion of Dip in topline or elbows out.

Incorrect Color

Faults: Fawn (pale yellowish tan with self-colored nose), cream (pale yellow to off-white), fallow with black mask (very light yellowish tan with black mask), and silver (the extreme dilution of blue).

Disqualifications: Brindle; merle; absence of white; any solid color other than white; albinism.

BRINDLE MERLE

HEIGHT & WEIGHT The Rat Terrier is divided into two varieties for conformation exhibition: Miniature and Standard.

Miniature Variety: At least 10 inches and not exceeding 13 inches, measured at the withers.

Standard Variety: Over 13 inches but not exceeding 18 inches, measured at the withers.

Weight will vary depending on the size of the individual dog. Rat Terriers are working terriers and should be presented in hard, muscular condition.

GAIT A ground-covering efficient trot with good reach and drive suggesting agility, speed and power. The legs are parallel at a trot, but as speed increases, the legs converge toward a center line. There should be no elbowing out, weaving or rolling action while in motion.

GAIT

Rear quarters have strong driving power, with hocks fully extending.

GAIT

Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.

Incorrect Gait

CROSSING OVER CRABBINGPADDLINGMOVING WIDE

Incorrect Gait

LACK OF REACH AND DRIVE - The extended front leg does not reach to the end of the dog's nose. The rear leg does not extend beyond the dog. Note the amount of

space between the other 2 paws. Due to lack of reach and drive this dog would never be able to do the job he was bred to do; he would tire easily.

Incorrect Gait

GOOSE STEPPING – Accentuated lift of the forelimbs coupled with full extension of front pasterns and feet before placing these in contact with ground.

Incorrect Gait

HACKNEY – Resembles Hackney horse action in the front; exaggerated lift of front pasterns and feet.

Incorrect Gait

PACING – A lateral gait of two right feet on the ground and two left feet in the air, then visa versa.

Incorrect Gait

OVER REACHING – The hind feet are thrust past their front counterparts before making contact with the ground.

Faults

Faults Flesh colored noses in lemon or light apricot coloration

Serious Faults Shortness in leg Gray eyes with the exception in blue or blue-fawn dogs Flesh colored noses in other coloration other than lemon or light

apricot Black mask / black muzzle on a dog not having black as

coloration

Disqualifications

Any dog over six (6) months of age measuring less than 10 inches or over 18 inches Any blue color in the eye Cropped ears An absence of coat (genetic hairlessness) Any suggestion of kink or curl or coat type other than described Solid color other than white Bi colors without white or dogs with a patch or strip of white measuring less than one inch at

its’ widest dimension Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid Viciousness or extreme shyness Unilateral or bilateral deafness Hanging ears Brindle or Merle color patterns Albinism

FUN FACT

Circus dogs - Easy to train.Busy, Not hyperactive. Needs a job.

REMEMBER

The Rat Terrier is a muscular, active, small-to-medium hunting terrier and should be evaluated as a working terrier…

BUT should NOT be an over-muscled dog that looks like it’s been working out!

Arnold RATschzenegger

Judge the pups

1

3 4

2

2

The End

www.artaukc.org