RAT TERRIER

Rat Terrier Club of America
(Concise Version)

HEAD:  Should be in proportion with the body. Slightly rounded broad and full, tapering between the eyes with a medium stop. Medium length muzzle that should be somewhat pointed and about the same length as the skull. Rather pear shaped. Faults: Domed or apple heads. A serious fault if combined with bulgy eyes. A snipy muzzle.

JAWS:  Powerful with well-muscled cheeks.

EYES:  Dark, somewhat prominent and rounded. Hazel eyes are acceptable in lighter dogs. Faults: bulgy, blue or china eyes. (Blue or amber eyes are permitted in Blue colored dogs ONLY, but a dark grey eye and rim is preferred).

NOSE:  Black, or must correspond with color of individual.

TEETH:  Scissor bite is preferred, level bite is acceptable.

EARS:  V-shaped carried erect/pricked or button/folded/dropped. Both ears should be uniform and of moderate thickness. Tulip, rose or flying ears is acceptable, but are undesirable. Serious Faults: Bat ears (broad based, short-rounded), blunt-tipped or hanging hound (lop or flop) ears.

NECK:  Well set-on. Moderately long, slightly arched, clean and muscular; gradually widening to the shoulder.

BODY:  Chest should be deep, well ribbed and deep in the brisket. Tuck-up should be moderate and not exaggerated. Any extremes are to be faulted, but "Scars, as the result of honorable wounds, are not to be penalized nor faulted, unless the gait or conformation is affected." A non-sparing breed. Dogs deemed unduly shy, aggressive or vicious shall be dismissed from the ring.

BACK:  Straight, strong, slightly arched over the loin and should have a slight droop at the croup. Loins and croup are well muscled. A 10:9 ratio is correct and preferred, but a slightly longer back is acceptable as long as excessive raciness or stubbiness is not produced. Short-legged and/or benched/bowed individuals are a variety known as "TEDDY TERRIERS". Due to the dominance of the genes associated with these traits: ANY Teddy Terrier dam and/or sire and their offspring regardless if they do not display this trait, should ONLY be bred to this type with "NO mixing of the types". This will allow for their future development as a "separate and distinct breed" giving fancier's an option and help avoid a leg length problem within the general Rat Terrier population. Rat Terrier's ARE working terriers. "Elongated types of conformation affect gait and are known to contribute to thoracic/cervical problems, soreness and diseases, and have also been linked to certain cardiac conditions".

TAIL:  Preferred to be carried slightly horizontal from the body or may be carried upright. Tails should preferable be docked between the root and the taper of the second and third joint. Naturally occurring bobtails designated as N/B are not faulted, and may be docked to appropriate 1" - 3" length or left "as is". Faults: Crooked, ringed or long (natural) tails.

FEET:  Oval (semi-hare footed) with the middle toes slightly longer.

FOREQUARTERS:  Shoulders should be long, sloping and well arched. Clean cut at the wither. Strong straight leg bones in correct alignment, with slightly sloping pasterns. Elbows should hang perpendicular and close to the body, working free from the sides. Dewclaw removal is recommended.

HINDQUARTERS:  Strong and moderately muscled with long and power thighs. Stifles turn neither in nor out. Well-bent hocks set low to the ground and well angulated. Faults: Hind dewclaws. Short second thigh, straight stifle; a serious fault when seen in conjunction with each other.

COAT:  Short, dense and smooth with sheen. Faults: Coarse coat. Wiry, longhaired or broken-coats are Breed disqualification's.

HEIGHT:  Should be in proportion with conformation. Generally 10"-16" at the wither. Smaller Toy (under 10") and Giant (16" to 18+") varieties have also been developed, but there shall be two varieties based on height: "Dogs up to but not exceeding 13 inches in height: and over 13 inches".

WEIGHT:  As a rule of thumb "One pound per inch". 13" and under dogs should not weigh less than 1/2 of their height (i.e. 10" 5 to 10 pounds); nor should a larger, over 13" variety's weight exceed twice their height. (i.e., 14" 14 to 28 pounds).

COLOR:  Predominately tri or bi-colored with white, black and/or tan. Usually hound-marked: Spotted, white colored, blanketed-backed or predominately solid with (or without) "Manchester type" tan/rust trim. Other acceptable colors with (or without) trim are chocolate, red, orange, lemon or blue. Head may be solid, blazed or any other facial marking/s. Sable coloration's and/or shading on face are permitted. Ticking is acceptable as long as white predominates. Faults: Fallows, silver or single-colors other than white. Disqualification's: Brindled or any merlization.

GAIT:  Smooth, straight and lively, covering ground with free easy strides. Forelegs should reach out well with the hind legs driving and flexing well at the stifle and hock with a typical jaunty air that suggests agility, speed and power. Faults: Lack of reach, drive or a hackneyed gait.

* NOTE: This information has been contributed by, and is property of The Rat Terrier Club of America, and is gratefully used here with permission..

Special Note: The RTCA does not promote the individuals, but rather the individual breed.

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