Apartment fit
Rat Terriers can live in apartments when exercise, barking, and enrichment are reliable.
TerrierSmall to Medium
United States
United StatesRat Terrier
Weight
10-25 lb
Height
10-18 in
Lifespan
12-18 yrs
Coat
Smooth Short
The Rat Terrier is an American farm terrier with miniature and standard sizes, a smooth pied coat, high prey drive, and lively, trainable problem-solving temperament.
American farm and vermin-control terrierMiniature and standard size rangesShort pied coat must include whiteSmart, active, and prey-driven
Breed Names
Official, native, and commonly used variants
Rattie
LivelyIntelligentAlertAffectionateDeterminedPlayful
Weight
10-25 lb
Height
10-18 in
Lifespan
12-18 yrs
Coat
Smooth Short
At A Glance
Daily living snapshot
A quick read on energy, upkeep, and what day-to-day life with this breed usually feels like.
Energy
High
Barking
Moderate to High
Drooling
Low
Shedding
Moderate
Grooming
1/5
First-time owner
Yes
Overview
The Rat Terrier is an American original developed as an all-purpose farm dog, vermin hunter, watchdog, and companion. It is compact, athletic, and practical, with enough terrier drive to hunt rats and enough sociability to live closely with people.
The AKC standard includes miniature and standard size ranges. The coat is short and smooth, and the breed is pied: it must have white with one or more additional colors, often with tan points.
Rat Terriers are intelligent and active. They can be excellent family dogs for owners who provide training, exercise, and safe outlets for chase and digging instincts, but they are not low-drive lap dogs.
Temperament & Personality
LivelyIntelligentAlertAffectionateDeterminedPlayful
This breed tends to suit homes looking for a lively, intelligent, alert companion, with daily rhythms shaped by high energy, moderate to high barking, and low drooling.
Coat type
Smooth
Coat length
Short
Shedding
Moderate
Colors
White With Black, White With Chocolate, White With Blue, White With Red, White With Lemon, Tri-Color, Tan Points
Lifestyle Compatibility
Family Friendly4/5
Good with Kids4/5
Good with Dogs3/5
Good with Strangers3/5
Apartment Friendly3/5
Exercise Needs4/5
Grooming Needs1/5
Trainability4/5
Good fit if you want
- A family-friendly companion
- Room for routine exercise
- A more forgiving first ownership experience
Plan ahead for
- 4/5 exercise needs
- moderate shedding and coat upkeep
- moderate to high barking in daily life
Owner Fit & Everyday Behavior
Best for
- active homes wanting a smart small terrier
- families who enjoy training and games
- owners interested in farm-dog or sport outlets
- people who can manage prey drive
Not ideal for
- homes with loose pocket pets
- owners wanting a low-energy lap dog
- people who dislike barking or digging
- homes unwilling to train recall and impulse control
Common challenges
- chasing small animals
- alert barking
- digging
- inventing jobs when bored
Barking & behavior
Expect alertness and terrier opinions. Reward quiet check-ins and give the dog appropriate outlets for chase and problem solving.
Training style
Use upbeat reward training with variety. Rat Terriers learn fast and enjoy games that use their nose and movement.
Grooming & shedding
The short coat is low maintenance, but dental care, nail trims, and paw checks are important.
Care Guide
Exercise
Most Rat Terriers need 45 to 75 minutes of daily activity, with walks, fetch, training games, scent work, and safe chase outlets. Many enjoy dog sports.
Grooming
The short smooth coat is easy to maintain with weekly brushing. Keep nails short and check skin and paws after digging, farm work, or rough play.
Training
Use reward-based training with clear rules. Rat Terriers are smart and quick, so recall, impulse control, quiet cues, and small-animal management should start early.
Nutrition
Feed measured portions for a lean active terrier. Small dogs can gain weight quickly if treats are not counted.
Behavior & Environment
Energy level
High
Barking level
Moderate to High
Drooling level
Low
Watchdog ability
4/5
Guard dog ability
1/5
Climate tolerance
Cold weather2/5
Heat tolerance4/5
Health Considerations
Common concerns to discuss with your vet and breeder.
Patellar luxationHip dysplasiaLegg-Calve-Perthes diseaseCardiac diseaseDental disease
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Rat Terrier a good family dog?
Yes, it can be a lively and affectionate family dog when exercised and trained. Supervise around very small pets because prey drive can be strong.
How big is a Rat Terrier?
AKC Rat Terriers include miniature and standard sizes, generally ranging from 10 to 18 inches at the shoulder.
Does the Rat Terrier bark a lot?
Many are alert and vocal. Quiet training and enough exercise help prevent nuisance barking.
Can a Rat Terrier live in an apartment?
Yes, especially smaller individuals, but only with daily exercise, training, and barking control.
What colors can Rat Terriers be?
They are pied, meaning white is required, with one or more colors such as black, chocolate, blue, red, lemon, or tan points.
Is the Rat Terrier easy to groom?
Yes. The short coat is simple, but nails, teeth, and skin checks still matter.
What is the biggest challenge of owning a Rat Terrier?
The biggest challenge is channeling terrier energy and prey drive into training, games, and safe outlets instead of barking, digging, or chasing.
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