HISTORY OF THE RAT TERRIER
Small breed working terriers have existed in the U.K. since at least the late 18th Century. These dogs have always been quite variable in terms of size and shape, with dogs ranging in size from 10 to 15 inches, and with both drop ears and prick ears, smooth, broken and rough coats. (Burns, 2005)
The bloodline for Rat Terriers started back in England in the 1800s by crossing the Fox Terrier with the Manchester Terrier to develop a superior fox and varmint hunter. Then, there was the addition of the now extinct Old English White Terrier which seems to be a common ancestor to many other terrier breeds. In 1984, Rawdon Briggs Lee wondered, in his book "Modern Dogs", about the relatively recent origin of the "English White Terrier" and noted that, "It has been surmised that the original English White Terrier had been a Fox Terrier crossed with a white Italian Greyhound.
The bloodline for Rat Terriers started back in England in the 1800s by crossing the Fox Terrier with the Manchester Terrier to develop a superior fox and varmint hunter. Then, there was the addition of the now extinct Old English White Terrier which seems to be a common ancestor to many other terrier breeds. In 1984, Rawdon Briggs Lee wondered, in his book "Modern Dogs", about the relatively recent origin of the "English White Terrier" and noted that, "It has been surmised that the original English White Terrier had been a Fox Terrier crossed with a white Italian Greyhound.
The Modern Day Rat Terrier
In the early part of the 20th Century, the Rat Terrier (also called 'Feist' and/or 'Fox Terriers' at that time) were abundant especially in American farms. While these dogs were being developed in the United States, a similar breed, the Jack Russell Terrier was being developed in England. The fact that JRTs and Ratties started as different strains of Fox Terriers, the similarity ends there. JRTs may look like some strains of Ratties but the American breeders added other breeds to the bloodline to suit their needs and create a more refined, genteel dog. The Rat Terrier does have a 'twin' in the Tenterfield Terrier which was developed in Australia along the same bloodlines as the modern day Rat Terrier. There is also the Perro Ratonero Andaluz, which was developed in Andaluz, in the south of Spain. It can also be found as the Ratonero Bodiguero Andaluz.
With the American version, Beagle was added for a stronger nose for hunting, while Whippet and Italian Greyhound were added for speed and gentleness. It's been rumored that Bull Terrier was added for strength and, in other bloodlines, the rumor includes Welsh Corgi and/or Dachshund for additional hunt and tenacity. It was President Theodore Roosevelt who used these Feists/Fox Terriers to rid the White House of a rat infestation. The President's dogs were such effective vermin hunters that the President called them his Rat Terriers and the name stuck. As the breed continued to evolve, it's been noted that Toy Fox Terriers (which were developed using Fox Terriers and Chihuahuas) that did not fit the standard of the TFT were bred back to Rat Terriers. In the 70s, it's been known that Chihuahuas and Dachshunds were also (openly) added into the fold.
With the many different breeds that helped create our modern day Rat Terrier, there should be no wonder why they vary in size, color and pattern. Until recent, two varieties shared the name Rat Terrier. The taller, almost square-bodied type is known as Type A or simply Rat Terrier, and the shorter, longer bodied known as Type B. The Type B Ratties are now known as Teddy Roosevelt Terriers. For more information on the Teddy Roosevelt Terriers, you can contact breeders on this link. With the variety of two body types, you also have 4 different sizes and then there's a hairless variety.
With the American version, Beagle was added for a stronger nose for hunting, while Whippet and Italian Greyhound were added for speed and gentleness. It's been rumored that Bull Terrier was added for strength and, in other bloodlines, the rumor includes Welsh Corgi and/or Dachshund for additional hunt and tenacity. It was President Theodore Roosevelt who used these Feists/Fox Terriers to rid the White House of a rat infestation. The President's dogs were such effective vermin hunters that the President called them his Rat Terriers and the name stuck. As the breed continued to evolve, it's been noted that Toy Fox Terriers (which were developed using Fox Terriers and Chihuahuas) that did not fit the standard of the TFT were bred back to Rat Terriers. In the 70s, it's been known that Chihuahuas and Dachshunds were also (openly) added into the fold.
With the many different breeds that helped create our modern day Rat Terrier, there should be no wonder why they vary in size, color and pattern. Until recent, two varieties shared the name Rat Terrier. The taller, almost square-bodied type is known as Type A or simply Rat Terrier, and the shorter, longer bodied known as Type B. The Type B Ratties are now known as Teddy Roosevelt Terriers. For more information on the Teddy Roosevelt Terriers, you can contact breeders on this link. With the variety of two body types, you also have 4 different sizes and then there's a hairless variety.
In order to have a hairless dog, it's been said that you need at least one hairless parent. How the hairless gene ended up with certain Rat Terriers is not certain. It is just my personal theory that a coated Xoloitzcuintli was mistaken for a Rat Terrier and the mutation got muddled into the gene pool. This may explain how some Ratties end up with 'alopecia'. A true hairless pup is usually born with some hair but drops their hair between 4 to 16 weeks of age, depending on the breed and variety.
Not to doubt and disrespect or discredit the Scott family who developed the American Hairless Terrier (formerly known as the hairless variety of the Rat Terrier), but I have to believe that their first hairless pup that showed up in one of their Rat Terrier litters, had to have had the hairless gene from a hairless breed. Otherwise, they developed the AHT from very sick dogs if it was true alopecia. Considering the AHT and the Xolo are the two hairless breeds with the least health problems, I seriously think it was Xolo blood that got added to the Ratty gene pool to create the American Hairless Terrier by accident. The reason I believe this is that both breeds are quite healthy, they do not have dental problems associated with other hairless breeds and they have the least amount of moles developing on their skin. Aside from that, the Xolo would be the more correct breed in regards to structure and coat (referring to the coated variety). Peruvian Inca Orchids have a more greyhound body with a longer, arched neck and coated Chinese Cresteds have long hair. For more information on the American Hairless Terrier, click on this link.
Not to doubt and disrespect or discredit the Scott family who developed the American Hairless Terrier (formerly known as the hairless variety of the Rat Terrier), but I have to believe that their first hairless pup that showed up in one of their Rat Terrier litters, had to have had the hairless gene from a hairless breed. Otherwise, they developed the AHT from very sick dogs if it was true alopecia. Considering the AHT and the Xolo are the two hairless breeds with the least health problems, I seriously think it was Xolo blood that got added to the Ratty gene pool to create the American Hairless Terrier by accident. The reason I believe this is that both breeds are quite healthy, they do not have dental problems associated with other hairless breeds and they have the least amount of moles developing on their skin. Aside from that, the Xolo would be the more correct breed in regards to structure and coat (referring to the coated variety). Peruvian Inca Orchids have a more greyhound body with a longer, arched neck and coated Chinese Cresteds have long hair. For more information on the American Hairless Terrier, click on this link.
The Controversial Rat Terrier
It's difficult to dislike all varieties of the Rat Terrier as this breed has so much to offer and fits many different lifestyles. There are different Registries that cater to the differences of the Ratties. Some include both body styles calling them Type A (Rat Terrier) and Type B (Teddy Roosevelt Terrier) and one recognizes three sizes (Toy, Mini and Standard). Aside from body type and size, the main controversy in this breed is the inclusion, or rather the exclusion, of two color patterns - Brindle and Merle.
The Foundation Breeds that makes up the gene pool for Rat Terriers, like the Whippet, Corgi and Dachshund, clearly has brindle as a part of their color pattern. Brindle, although written in the Fox Terrier standard as 'objectionable' doesn't mean they don't or have never existed in Fox Terriers. Brindle is that stripe pattern which is a co-dominant gene. As a co-dominant gene, it is easily hidden or masked by other dominant or co-dominant genes such as the colors chocolate, red and tan. The brindle pattern is more of a personal preference where breeders may or may not breed for it. There are no known health problems associated with the brindle gene (although there are some rumors that it supposedly is a mark of more aggressive dogs - which is false). You only need one parent to carry the brindle gene in order for it to crop up in a litter. So why was brindle removed from current Rat Terrier standards? That was decided by a handful of breeders who wrote the standards who believe the brindle gene muddies the striking look of a bi-colored or Tri-colored Rat Terrier.
Merle is another controversial color pattern. The only possible way that the merle pattern was introduced to the Rat Terrier breed could have happened as far back as the 1970s when the stud books were allowing crosses with Dachshund, Chihuahuas and/or Cardigan Welsh Corgi. How the Dachshund and Welsh Corgi ended up with the merle pattern is not known but old time professional Chihuahua breeders will tell you that merle is not a natural pattern in the Chihuahua. Aside from personal preference, the controversial merle pattern does carry the gene for deafness and blindness. Other breeds that allow merle in their standards do have a caveat about breeding merles together. So why bring it in the Rat Terrier breed? That would depend on the ethics of the breeder - especially those who asks for a higher sale price for "rare" merle pups. Merle is rightfully a disqualification in the Rat Terrier standards in all registries.
One other controversial Rat Terrier is the A/B Rat Terrier. This is the end result of crossing the Type A and Type B Ratties. Old time Ratty breeders - especially those who were breeding small minis and tiny toys - were purposely crossing Type A with Type B in order to get a sturdier leg structure in the Type A dogs. This practice is no longer accepted but it may still be happening in certain kennels and hobby breeder homes.
The Foundation Breeds that makes up the gene pool for Rat Terriers, like the Whippet, Corgi and Dachshund, clearly has brindle as a part of their color pattern. Brindle, although written in the Fox Terrier standard as 'objectionable' doesn't mean they don't or have never existed in Fox Terriers. Brindle is that stripe pattern which is a co-dominant gene. As a co-dominant gene, it is easily hidden or masked by other dominant or co-dominant genes such as the colors chocolate, red and tan. The brindle pattern is more of a personal preference where breeders may or may not breed for it. There are no known health problems associated with the brindle gene (although there are some rumors that it supposedly is a mark of more aggressive dogs - which is false). You only need one parent to carry the brindle gene in order for it to crop up in a litter. So why was brindle removed from current Rat Terrier standards? That was decided by a handful of breeders who wrote the standards who believe the brindle gene muddies the striking look of a bi-colored or Tri-colored Rat Terrier.
Merle is another controversial color pattern. The only possible way that the merle pattern was introduced to the Rat Terrier breed could have happened as far back as the 1970s when the stud books were allowing crosses with Dachshund, Chihuahuas and/or Cardigan Welsh Corgi. How the Dachshund and Welsh Corgi ended up with the merle pattern is not known but old time professional Chihuahua breeders will tell you that merle is not a natural pattern in the Chihuahua. Aside from personal preference, the controversial merle pattern does carry the gene for deafness and blindness. Other breeds that allow merle in their standards do have a caveat about breeding merles together. So why bring it in the Rat Terrier breed? That would depend on the ethics of the breeder - especially those who asks for a higher sale price for "rare" merle pups. Merle is rightfully a disqualification in the Rat Terrier standards in all registries.
One other controversial Rat Terrier is the A/B Rat Terrier. This is the end result of crossing the Type A and Type B Ratties. Old time Ratty breeders - especially those who were breeding small minis and tiny toys - were purposely crossing Type A with Type B in order to get a sturdier leg structure in the Type A dogs. This practice is no longer accepted but it may still be happening in certain kennels and hobby breeder homes.