Rat terrier is a dog originally bred to hunt rats and other small vermin. It originated in the United States in the 1800’s. President Theodore Roosevelt is said to have given the breed its name, after one he owned cleared the White House of a rat problem.
Rat terriers are bred in two size divisions. The miniature rat terrier is 10 to 13 inches (25 to 33 centimeters) tall. The standard rat terrier is over 13 inches (33 centimeters) tall, and up to and including 18 inches (46 centimeters) tall. These dogs may weigh 10 to 25 pounds (4 to 11 kilograms).
The rat terrier has small eyes and ears that stick straight up. It has a short, smooth coat that may come in any variation of a pied pattern. A pied pattern includes large patches of one or more colors in combination with white. See also Terrier.
