Rat Terrier Puppies - Pocketpuppy.com

If you are a great distance from us we can fly the dog to you. Generally we use Continental or Delta airlines.
We do have relatives in different areas (Northern Wisconsin, South Central Wisconsin, Missouri, and Kentucky) and we may be able to get the dog to them and you can pick it up there.
We may also be able to meet you somewhere.

Remember this is all up to the individual breeder and has to be worked out with them.

Q: Are all of the breeders on PocketPuppy.com related?
A: No, but darn near! Frank & Audrey are the parents of Frank (Gina), Tammy, and Cheryl. And Tonya is Gina's sister. Nicole is a dear friend and almost family, and Robin is her sister-in-law and also a very good friend for many years. The bond that started these friendships was an interest in horses; the Rat Terriers just strengthened the bond.

About Rat Terriers

Q: Are Rat Terriers yappy?
A: Not really. They will alert you to someone at the door or an odd noise, but that's a dog's job afterall. They aren't what most people classify as 'ankle biters'.

Q: Are Rat Terriers good with children/families?
A: Yes. Rat Terriers are excellent family dogs. Younger children do need to be taught to be kind, but that goes for children and any animal. Rat Terriers bond closely with their family and enjoy family activites and festivities.

Q: Do Rat Terriers like cats?
A: Yes. Ours are a little batty over the cats. They shower our cats with kisses and love. The cats on the other hand don't exactly welcome these strong displays of emotion. It's kind of like, "Agh, dog germs!" Once the dog has calmed down and ended the over-exuberant greeting they will both settle in for some mutually satisfying sunbathing together.

Q: What is the difference between a Rat Terrier and a Toy Fox Terrier(TFT)?
A: Like all breeds, different dogs were bred together to form new breeds. This does not happen overnight but takes years and years. You will see some similarities between the two but they are two different breeds. I think the following sums it up best:

From dogPlace.com

Differences Between The Toy Fox Terrier And The Rat Terrier
by Donna Sullivan, President Rat Terrier Club (UKC)

The Rat Terrier is a small to medium sized well muscled hunting dog. In the Rat Terrier, there are two sizes (miniature up to 13" and standard over 13" but not exceeding 18"). They're both coated and hairless. We do not have a toy or giant size in the Rat Terrier.

In many breeds - as in the Rat Terrier - you will find similarities - but it is the differences that distinguishes one breed from another. (Some examples are: Samoyeds/American Eskimos; Norfolk/Norwich Terriers; Lhasa Apso/Tibetan Terrier.)

Let's review some of the obvious differences between a Toy Fox Terrier and a Rat Terrier:

TFT Size: Classified by weight - by age of 6 months may not weigh over 7 pounds.

Rat Terrier: Miniature up to 13" - Standard over 13" and not over 18".

TFT body: Appears to be square with height approximate to length. The backline is strong, straight and firm.

Rat Terrier body: Slightly longer than height with 10:9 ratio preferred. The backline is strong and slightly sloping.

TFT Colors: Predominantly white with acceptable colors of white, & black with tan trim; white & black; white & tan with specific markings of black & tan.

Rat Terrier Colors: Hairless - any skin color is acceptable, freckles enlarge with age and skin darkens with exposure to the sun. Coated - White; tri colored (white with patches of black & tan); bi colors (any combination of black, tan, chocolate, red, orange, lemon, or blue with white); the white may be any size and located anywhere on the dog.

TFT Ears: must be erect when alert; are pointed and well up on the sides; set close together; not touching nor set too wide.

Rat Terrier Ears: the V-shaped ears are set on the outside of the skull and may be erect, tipped or button.

TFT Eyes: eye set is prominently forward but not bulging; color is always dark - with as dark as possible preferred.

Rat Terrier Eyes: eyes are obliquely set; round and small - somewhat prominent; rim color matches nose pigmentation; color ranges from dark brown to amber and matches coat color.

TFT Appearance: a small dog that has conformation, characteristics and personality of a Terrier.

Rat Terrier Appearance: a small to medium sized muscular hunting dog that is evaluated as a working Terrier.

While these may appear to be subtle differences to the untrained eye, size, color, body, movement as well as character make each breed unique.

General Dog Care Questions

Q: What type of dog food should I feed my dog?
A: A meat based kibble dog food is the best. Avoid a grain based dog food. As a rule of thumb you get what you pay for. The better the dog food the less waste there is to pick up. See our article on Dog Food Dilemmas.

Q:  How much dog food should I feed my dog?
A: Most bags of dog food have a recommended amount based on age and weight. The better the quality the less you have to feed and the less waste you have. We never leave food out all day for the dog. We have a set feeding time (15 min.) and if they do not eat within that time the food goes up. This allows you to monitor the dog's eating habits and to monitor him for any illness. Your vet may ask you how much your dog is eating and when he last ate. If you leave food down all day you may not know if he is off his food. We do leave water out for them at all times, but never put food or water in their kennel. See our article on General Tips.

Q:  Should I put my dog in a kennel at night and during the day when I am gone?
A: That is up to you. Dogs consider their kennel their little den and as a safe place to go. It makes it easy to housebreak your dog and will help set boundaries for your dog in the house. We do not recommend letting the dog have run of the house when you are gone for a couple reasons: one is dominance, the dog may become over protective of the house with strangers; the second, is housebreaking the dog. You are less likely to have problems and accidents in the house when he/she is under your direct supervision. It also makes traveling with a dog easier. Many hotels now allow dogs, but require the dog to be kenneled. See our article on Crate Training.

Q:  I feel bad leaving my dog when I go to work. What can I do?
A: You may want to see if there is a doggie daycare he can go a couple of times a week to play and socialize. There are more and more of these opening every year. One of the pluses of taking your dog to daycare is that at the end of the day when you are ready to relax, so is your dog.

Q:  Should I take my dog to a puppy class?
A: YES, YES and YES. Your dog needs to learn what to do and what is expected out of him. He is a dog and cannot read your mind. It is also a great time for you to bond with your dog. We strongly recommend that the whole family go so you all learn the same commands and your dog learns to listen to all members of the family. Your dog also needs to be socialized with other dogs and people sites.

Q:  What type of preventive medicine should I use?
A: That depends on where you live and what you want to spend. Different areas of the country have different bugs and parasites that could be harmful to your dog. For worms there are many products. Two we have used are Heartguard and Interceptor (currently using). The same goes for flea and tick control. We use Frontline, but there is also Biospot and many others. Talk to your vet and ask them what they recommend.

Q:  Should I spay or neuter my dog?
A: If you do not plan on using the dog for breeding then YES. It has been proven that dogs that have been spayed or neutered have a decreased chance of developing cancer. It also cuts down on unwanted animals.

Q:  What do you use to eliminate odors?
A: There are a number of good products out there. We like Simple Solution and Nature's Miracle. Both are available from PetsMart and other pet stores.

Q:  What should I use to groom my dog?
A: There are many different products depending on the type of dog you have and the type of coat he/she has. Brushing your dog out once or twice a week, depending on your breed, is a good idea. This helps to remove dead and shedding hair and moves the dogs natural oils around. See our article on Grooming and Bathing.

Q:  How often should I give my dog a bath?
A: Once a month is enough for most dogs. Some dogs tend to get more dirty and may need a bath twice a month. Other times you may have to wash your dog if he/she gets into something that smells. Keeping your dog's sleeping area clean will also help. See our article on Grooming and Bathing for more information and tips.