That should give you a ballpark figure. Also, keep in mind that every dog is different and that yours may become fully grown either sooner or later than others from the same litter. There are multiple factors involved, but as long as you care for your dog right from a young age, they should reach their potential.
Some owners would say that a Rat Terrier never matures mentally at all. Always remaining alert, energetic, goofy, and feisty. While this may be true to some extent, we must not confuse the breeds temperament and personality with immaturity.
Mental maturity is defined as the moment when your puppy actually begins to act and behave like an adult dog. You will notice little things happening slowly that should give you a hint that your pup is ready to grow up a little bit. Puppies often get themselves into trouble when they cross lines that a more mature dog would not.
Once they learn not to cross these lines, it is likely your puppy has become an adult and will calm down significantly. Since there is no actual timetable for you to follow as to when this should happen, there are several signs that you can watch out for:.
It is rare to see a Rat Terrier that completely calms down even remotely before they become elderly. This is great news for families who have kids and who are very active. Rat Terriers are boundless balls of energy and they love to play with kids, especially the ones within their own home. Another thing to note is that ale and female Rat Terriers mature mentally at different rates and with different personalities.
The males of the breed are often far more affectionate and outgoing than their female counterparts. Exuberant is a word used to lovingly describe them and they do a lot of jumping. Because they also prefer to play games that are physically challenging, the males have an even more defined musculature than the female Rat Terriers.
The males are also known to be more emotionally stable than the females and they are far less likely to badly react to loss or stress. Males are very dominant and will push their boundaries even when they know that you are the alpha. Female rat terriers are affectionate in their own way. While a male will jump up in your lap, the females take an approach that is more like a cat — they will wind themselves around your legs and rub. The females of the breed have no dominance issues and are perfectly happy to let someone else lead.
This can be a critical factor when you have young children in the home, and you want the kids to be part of the initial obedience training. Females also seem to pick up on new things quicker than the males, meaning they may be just slightly more intelligent. Unfortunately, they do not always use this intelligence for good.
They can be downright manipulative in attempting to get what they want from you. One of the biggest influences on the final size of your Rat Terrier will be its pedigree and genetics.
Since they were bred to hunt, farms all over the country had Rat Terriers to keep down the population of rats, mice, and other vermin. This is where the name Rat Terrier came from and they excelled at hunting because of their cunning and quick maneuvers. Eventually, Italian Greyhounds and Whippets were added into the breeding line to make them even faster. They are also very good swimmers, not bashful or afraid and have no problem with the water.
They make good farm dogs as well as excellent family dogs for pets and companionship. This hardy dog is used for hunting expeditions as well as terrier work. Adult dogs can adjust easily into families with or without children. Make sure you are this dog's firm, confident, consistent pack leader to avoid Small Dog Syndrome , human induced behavior problems that can include territorial issues.
Always remember, dogs are canines, not humans. Be sure to meet their natural instincts as animals. The Rat Terrier comes in three different sizes. Rat Terriers will do okay in an apartment so long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. They are fairly active indoors and should have at least a small to medium-sized yard. Rat Terriers love to dig, and they can get out of a fenced yard relatively easily. Provided they have the proper protection, they are able to spend a good amount of time outdoors.
They love to be inside the house and outside to play. The Rat Terrier needs a good amount of exercise. This breed needs to be taken on a daily long walk or jog. It should have at least minutes a day, but would enjoy much more.
The breed enjoys challenging games and outdoor romps. The Rat Terrier is easy to groom. It's also important to note: Rat Terriers have extremely strong prey drives, so they shouldn't allowed to romp off-leash in open spaces; even the most "trained" Rat Terriers may forget their manners when they spot a squirrel.
Because Rat Terriers are highly intelligent, they can be extremely stubborn—and training may be a challenge for first-time terrier owners. Rat Terriers also have a propensity to dig, so it's important to provide your Rat with a designated digging spot in the backyard.
Although Rat Terriers can thrive in smaller spaces, like apartments or condos, those living in small spaces should remember: Rats were bred to run—so they need at least 40 minutes of exercise each day—and they have a strong instinct to bark. Group: Terrier Group. Height: Generally, 10 to 13 inches for miniature Rat Terriers and 13 to 18 inches for standard Rat Terriers.
Coat Color: Comes in pied meaning one or more colors with large patches of white patterns; common colors include black and white with rust, tan, lemon, blue, red, chocolate, or orange. Throughout the s and s, Rat Terrier breeders worked to propagate certain skills, resulting in several new lines in the breed. In the Midwest, Rat Terriers were bred with Whippets and Italian Greyhounds to produce quick dogs that could help control jackrabbit populations; in Central and Southwest America, they were bred with Beagles to improve upon their hunting skills, and to create more pack-oriented dogs.
In the s, Toy Fox Terriers that were too large for their breeding programs were bred with Rat Terriers, resulting in toy-sized, or miniature, Rat Terriers. The Rat Terrier was common on American farms, but populations began to decline in the s and s when farmers began to use poison to control pests and vermin.
A small number of breeders maintained the breed until they came back into popularity in the s. The Decker Rat Terrier is a slightly larger dog that excels in hunting and will retrieve from water, while the Hairless Rat Terrier is a smaller dog that comes in miniature and standard sizes and, as the name implies, is hairless. Because the Rat Terrier was bred as a working and hunting dog, he has very high energy levels and exercise needs.
You can expect to exercise your Rat Terrier for at least 40 minutes each day—ideally, in a fenced-in space with room to run around. Rat Terriers have a strong prey drive, so allowing them to play off-leash in an open space isn't recommended. If you don't have a fenced-in area for your Rat Terrier to run, be sure to take several, vigorous walks each day.
Like many terriers, the Rat Terrier is highly intelligent and can be extremely stubborn. What's more, Rat Terriers can become destructive when they're bored or unstimulated. Training and obedience may be challenging for first-time dog owners, but it's vital for proper behavior and socialization. Keep training interesting—and keep your Rat engaged—by incorporating games and rewards. If your Rat Terrier becomes distracted or you feel your training methods aren't working, try another technique. Although Rat Terriers have high exercise needs, they're relatively low-maintenance dogs when it comes to grooming.
You can expect to brush your Rat Terrier only once per week with a rubber mitt or soft brush to remove loose hair and debris. Because they have very short, dense, smooth coats, you can bathe your Rat Terrier on an as-needed basis.
It's important to note that Rat Terriers experience heavier shedding during the fall and spring, and during heat cycles. Like any breed, it's important to check your Rat Terrier's ears for debris or signs of infection weekly.
If your dog's ears are red, inflamed, or smell funny, schedule a visit with your vet ASAP—these may be signs of injury or infection. If you notice a waxy build-up in your dog's ears, gently clean it with a cotton cloth.
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