Rat Terriers

(Answer to question is in Bold Italic below along with some other info)

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was given a black and tan feist type dog named Skip by John Goff during his 1905 hunting expeditions in the west. Many have claimed this dog to be a rat terrier but in reality he more closely resembled the old black and tan terrier or Manchester. An often recited story is how this terrier helped rid the White House of rats in 1906 but in fact it was two dogs owned by local pest exterminator Mr. Barclay and his ferrets which were utilized. This story was so often recited that when the Rat Terrier Club of America wished to separate the short legged variety from the longer legged they named the short legged variety the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier in honor of Mr. Roosevelt's supposed participation with the breed.

Luckily at this point and time the Rat Terrier is one of the healthiest and hardiest dogs there is. Few problems plague the Rat Terrier due to the fact that it has only recently been accepted into most registeries as a recognized breed so therefore it has not been inbred and linebreed to an unhealthy state.

As with any breed of dog there will be health problems both medically and genetically that are more common and those that are rare. I will list the more common health problems that are associated with the Rat Terrier Breed.

• Luxating Patellas - This is where their kneecaps have a tendency to slip as is seen in many breeds of smaller dogs. This medical problem can be genetic/inherited or can be caused from abnormal development of the joint while the fetus is forming. Laxtating patella's can also be caused by excessive jumping causing pressure on the knee joints. The chances of laxtating patellas are greater in the smaller Toy size.
• Deafness - GENETIC predisposition to deafness which is very common in any breed with large areas of white coat.
• Demodectic Mange - Common in all breeds of dogs. This is the loss of hair due to an immunity problem which may or may not be hereditary. There has been no research to date that shows Demodectic Mange to be hereditary. Vets and breeders call it hereditary because the MITES that overpopulate causing demodectic mange are contracted from dam to offspring. ALL dogs have the mites but most never have any issues with them. Demodectic outbreaks are caused from an immunity issue that causes the dogs natural immune system to stop function properly. The immunity issue can be genetic/hereditary, man-made or caused by the environment. Until the immunity problem is diagnosed there is NO WAY to know if the demodectic mange affecting the dog is genetic or otherwise.
• Alopecia - This is a problem associated with some bloodlines of Blue and Fawn Rat Terriers. Those affected have thin coats with patches of no hair. The problem seems to run in bloodlines with many bloodlines totally unaffected thus leading us to believe that it is hereditary/genetic but as of date NO RESEARCH has been done that proves whether it is or not. Alopecia is caused by a bacteria that affects the hair follicle causing it and the hair to become brittle thus breaking off easily. Any dog showing signs of Alopecia should never be bred.
• Hypoglycemia - Low blood sugar. Most common in the smaller Toys. Seen frequently in those under 5 pounds.

(The answer to the question is in Bold Italic below. But I thought I would go ahead and include some other info as well)

It all began in England about the year 1820. At this time they were termed "Fyce" because of their spirited nature when going after prey, in America it is pronounced "Feist". The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word as "a small dog of mixed ancestry; mongrel" They were a cross between a Manchester Terrier and Smooth Fox Terrier and proved to be one of the best mixtures in the sport of rat baiting. The Rat actually holds the record for killing 2,501 rats in a seven hour span in an infested barn.

These dogs were first brought to the USA in the 1890's. President Theodore Roosevelt kept Rat terriers as house pets due to their keenness, intelligence and perfect self groomed appearance. He often hunted with the breed and was so taken with the dogs' ability to rat, he coined the name Rat Terrier, which the breed is so named today. Before this time they were commonly called Fox Terrier and some people still refer to them by this name today.

When they first came to America the breeding process was based on function. They were almost exclusively black and tan colored, their ears buttoned over and they were approximately 18lbs, of medium size. They quickly gained popularity in the Southern parts of the United States. The settlers found that the Rat Terrier could easily adapt to different climates and terrain. They had the ability to keep the farms free of vermin (rats, fox) along with excellent hunting abilities for small and large game, from squirrel and rabbit to wild pig, deer bear and cougar. They were also quick, fierce and able to get into small burrows.

The American people began to modify the breed for their needs. Enhancing the breed to include the ability to Rat and Hunt being first and foremost in the developers minds. The Smooth Fox Terrier was re-introduced setting the predominance of white coat color. Their inherent abilities were constantly improved upon by the additions of animals such as Whippet, Greyhound and Beagle. Adding speed, power, agility, hunting ability and intelligence would only make them more proficient workers. Function and practicality came first, beauty last. These dogs carried many different colors and ranged in size from 18- 45lbs. For those seeking a smaller version of this mighty hunter, smaller breeds were introduced. Toy Fox Terrier and Toy Manchester Terrier decreased their size and produced a dog capable of going to the hole. Toy fanciers further decreased size with the addition of Chihuahua. Care was taken to keep the natural abilities and produce a smaller version of the original dog.

The most solid attribute of the Rat Terrier is an undying will to please their master and a need to be near him. Their intelligence is far supreme to most breeds; holds extremely keen senses and a loyalty that transcends them as a family dog.

The three qualities that are essential to the Rat Terrier breed are:

Quality 1. A capable utility/hunting dog.

Quality 2. A wonderful family companion.

Quality 3. A watch dog with keen alert senses picking up intruders very quickly.

In summary, the Rat Terrier is still widely used throughout the USA on farms for any kind of vermin and for hunting and treeing by hunting individuals. They work well as a team and are extremely efficient at their jobs. As a house pet they are unsurpassed, being extremely intelligent, loyal, friendly and happy to be alive. They have a long life span of 14-18 years, so they will be around to enjoy. Their coats are short and smooth leaving you with little grooming if any at all. The expression in the eye of the Rat will tell story after story and the attentiveness to their master is like no other. They are natural born entertainers and will be your child's best friend. Being extremely loyal they make favorable little guard dogs. No one will enter with out first being announced by your Rat Terrier, but they stay on their best behavior when company calls.

The Rat Terrier is now recognized by many registries across the USA.