The document provides information on the Rat Terrier breed standard. It discusses the history and development of the breed, including its use for hunting rats on farms and in the White House under President Theodore Roosevelt. The standard covers appearance, including physical traits like balance, type, head shape, eyes, ears, legs, and coat. Temperament is described as energetic, alert, easily trained and generally friendly. The document provides illustrations of correct and incorrect structure.

2. The Rat Terrier Breed Standard
Presented by Darice Ragan – USA
Rat Terrier art illustrations property of the American Rat Terrier Association.
Vintage graphics compliments of Rat Terrier Club of America.

3. History – In a Trademark
It has been claimed that Nipper was a Rat Terrier. He was born in 1884.
Nipper’s original owner died in 1887, leaving his brothers to care for the dog.
Nipper himself died in 1895. Three years after Nipper’s death, his owners
painted a picture of Nipper listening intently to a wind-up phonograph.
A modified form of the
painting became the
successful trademark
of Victor, HMV and
RCA. The slogan “His
Master’s Voice”, along
with the painting, was
sold to The
Gramophone Company
for 100 pounds sterling.

4. History – In the White House
The Rat Terrier was introduced into the United States in the 1890s. When
Roosevelt became President and moved into the White house, it was infested
with rats. Traps and poisons didn’t work so the President let his “feists” loose in
the House and within hours the dogs had killed numerous vermin.
President Theodore Roosevelt coined the name “Rat Terrier” in 1901. Skip
was his favorite Rat Terrier, whom he acquired while on a trip to the Grand
Canyon. Other ratties that lived in the White House with the Roosevelt
family were Allen, Gem, Peter, Black Jack and Scamp.
President
Theodore
Roosevelt

5. In the early 1900's, Rat Terriers were bred to hunt and kill vermin to protect
America's agriculture and food sources. Rat Terriers were seen on farms of
eastern and middle America. These dogs kept the rodents from houses and
barns. It was common to own a Rat Terrier for those purposes.
1943
1946 – Mother and Uncle 1963
History – U.S. Agriculture

6. Darice Ragan lives near the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and raises
Rat Terriers and American Hairless Terriers. She places extreme importance
on correct structure, breed type, good temperament and health. Rat Terriers
have been part of Darice's family since the 1940's.
RaganRat boasts home to two UKC National Best of Breed winners (2015 and
2011); two Altered National Best of Breed winners (2015 and 2012); three UKC
Top Ten Best of Breed winners with Top Ten Finalist placements. Darice's dogs
also excel in performance events and several are Total Dogs in UKC, top title
earners in AKC and one in Canada.
One of Darice's dock diving (hairless) dogs won the 2015 UKC Premier Total
Dog Best in Show. Her dogs also have Eukanuba and Westminster wins as well
as AKC titles in conformation and performance. Raganrat is extremely proud to
have five Ratties working as Service Dogs!
Who are you?

7. Darice's dogs have appeared in magazine articles such as Dog Fancy, The
Canine Chronicle and the 2006 Rat Terrier breed mega-magazine. Her dogs
were also written about in The New York Times, The Knoxville News
Sentinel and The Daily Times newspapers.
One of Darice's Rat Terriers has appeared in Brown Trout Calendars for five
separate years and has made the calendar cover twice. One of her
American Hairless Terriers was on the cover of Bloodlines magazine.
Another Raganratter is on the package of a PetSafe dog product.
Darice has been active in the dog show world since the age of sixteen. She’s
written a How-To book on docking tails.
For more information on Judge Ragan visit http://www.raganrat.com

8. Dog Lover: Exhibitor, Breeder, Judge
Affiliations
•United Kennel Club Senior Judge #6778
•United Kennel Club Event Advocate
•Great Smoky Mountain Dog Club (UKC)
~ President
~ Co-founder
~ Event Chair
~ Event Secretary
American Rat Terrier Association (UKC)
~ President
~Treasurer
~ Newsletter Editor
~ National Specialty Event Coordinator
~ PowerPoint for Judge's Education
of Rat Terrier Breed Standard
Rat Terrier Club of America (AKC)
~ Member,
~ PowerPoint for Judge's Education
of Rat Terrier Breed Standard
• American Hairless Terrier Association (AKC)
• Canada Rat Terrier Breed Seminar

9. Ahhhh Rats
•There are about 25 rats for every one (1) you see
• Rats eat almost anything, animal or vegetable, alive or dead
• Rats usually live about 3 years
• One female can have up to 12 litters per year
• Rats have collapsible rib cages and can squeeze through a hole the
size of a quarter
• Rats dig holes and tunnels under land, dangerous to livestock
• Fleas on rats can carry plague

10. INGREDIENTS – Made in USA
The Rat Terrier is an American breed descended from the
terriers brought over by English miners and working class
immigrants.
These terriers probably included crosses between:
• Smooth Fox Terrier (go to ground / bolt the quarry)
• Manchester Terrier (working ability)
• Chihuahua (companion dog)
• Whippets (work ethic / refinement / sprint racing)
• Italian Greyhounds (sight/intelligence/affectionate/speed)
• Beagles (scent)
…and the now extinct White English Terrier

11. IMPORTANT TO AGRICULTURE
Jack rabbits were a plague on the Midwestern farms of the early 20th century,
and some farmers bred their Rat Terrier with "snap dog" breeds (rabbit
hunters) such as Whippets and Italian Greyhounds.
Farmers in southern states bred their Rat Terriers to Beagles and other scent
hounds to increase their nose. Both efforts contributed to the excellent hunting
sense that today's Rat Terriers possess. The Rat Terrier is an extremely
energetic dog with strong hunting instincts.

12. Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is derived from the Rat Terrier. Years ago,
and sometimes still today, it’s referred to as “type B terrier” or the short
legged version of a Rat Terrier.

13. American Hairless Terrier
The American Hairless Terrier (AHT) is a mutation that occurred in a Rat
Terrier litter in 1972. It is its’ own breed today. Puppies are born with a
nappy vellum that falls out by three weeks of age and are naked except for
cheek and brow hairs and the whiskers The skin feels like soft suede.
Crossing AHTs back to RTs helps strengthen and diversify the gene pool.

14. GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Rat Terrier may have a natural tail carried in an upward curve,
a natural bob tail, or a docked tail. The Rat Terrier comes in solid
white, other solid colors with markings, and white with a variety of
colored patches.
The Rat Terrier should be evaluated as a
working terrier, and exaggerations or faults
should be penalized in proportion to how
much they interfere with the dog’s ability to
work.
Honorable scars resulting from field work
are not to be penalized. Missing canines or
broken canines or incisor teeth are not to
be faulted.

15. GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Rat Terrier is a muscular, active,
small-to-medium hunting terrier.
The preferred ratio of length of body
(prosternum to point of buttocks) to
height (withers to ground) is 10:9.
The head is broad, slightly domed,
wedge-shaped, and proportionate to
the size of the body. Ears are V-shaped,
set at the outside edges of the skull, and
may be erect or button.
The Rat Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club on
January 1, 1999 and American Kennel Club January 1, 2013.

16. CHARACTERISTICS
The Rat Terrier is an energetic, alert dog whose curiosity and
intelligence make him easy to train. The Rat Terrier has sometimes
been described as having a dual personality. He is a fearless,
tenacious hunter with seemingly unlimited energy.
When he is not hunting, however, the Rat Terrier is an
exceptionally friendly companion, getting along well with children,
other dogs, and even cats. Rat Terriers enjoy human
companionship immensely and will enthusiastically share any
activity with their owners.
Rat Terriers should not be sparred during conformation judging.

17. WHAT ATTRACTS OUR EYE?
WHY?
BALANCE
BREED TYPE
THE WHOLE DOG

18. I. BALANCE
COMPONENTS
WOW! Nice balanced dog
No major construction faults
Nothing ugly or obvious
Well marked and attractive

19. II. BREED TYPE
ID breed by the outline or silhouette.
(Turn out the lights)

20. BREED TYPE
ID breed by The HEAD
Breed Type characteristics are often
overlooked in evaluating dogs but
one must remember that without
type, the identity of the breed is lost.

21. A Rat Terrier does not possess Breed
TYPE if it looks like another breed.
BREED TYPE

22. BREED TYPE
ID breed by The MOVEMENT
&
The COAT

23. TYPE versus STYLE
What’s the difference? TYPE vs. STYLE
What determines STYLE?
A) Turn out the lights and the dog that kisses you first is a Rat Terrier with
Style
B) The dog with the best collar is the dog with Style
C) XYZ kennel and ABC kennel dogs all look like Rat Terriers but ABC
dogs’ heads are very distinct
What determines TYPE?
A) My dog can type faster than your dog on a laptop
B) The shadow/silhouette is distinctly a Rat Terrier….no guesswork.
C) My dog is a miniature and yours is a standard.

24. III. SEE THE WHOLE DOG
Balance + Structure + Movement + Type = The Whole Dog
See the whole dog; see ALL of the dog @ the same time
Inherent appreciation for:
Volume
Line
Space
Balance and Symmetry

25. SCIENCE + ART = AN EYE FOR A DOG
Having an eye for a dog combines science and art.
On the science side, you must know the purpose a
breed serves. Its purpose will clue you in on how the
dog should be structured and move. On the art side,
it is the ability to recognize beauty, form, symmetry
and style. One complements the other. The good
eye can instantly recognize quality, or lack of it,
when the dog is either standing or moving.
~ Robert W. Cole

26. BALANCE & SYMMETRY
WHAT ATTRACTS OUR EYE
AND WHY?
Inherent appreciation for
volume, line, space, balance and
symmetry

27. BALANCE & SYMMETRY

28. No major construction faults here.
BALANCE & SYMMETRY
Inherent appreciation for
volume, line, space, balance and
symmetry.

29. BALANCE & SYMMETRY
Inherent appreciation for volume, line, space, balance and symmetry.

30. BALANCE & SYMMETRY
Inherent appreciation for
volume, line, space, balance and
symmetry
Nothing ugly or obvious.

31. TEMPERAMENT
Keenly observant, devoted, full of energy (NOT hyper), easily trained and
obedient. Non-sparring breed. Generally friendly with other dogs but may
be reserved with strangers. Submissiveness is not a fault. Overt
aggression and excessive shyness should be penalized.

32. HEAD
The head resembles a smooth, blunt wedge from a front or profile
view. Viewed from the front the head widens gradually towards
the base of the ears in an unbroken line and is well filled up under
the eyes.
Equal planes Wedge shape

33. HEAD – The Stop
Moderate Stop
Distinct
CORRECT

34. Incorrect Stop
Stop Too AbruptStop Too Slight

35. SKULL
The skull is moderate in width, relatively flat on top rounded at
crown and the sides as it widens smoothly from the corner of the
eyes to the base of the ears. Occiput not prominent. Cheeks are
flat and well-muscled but never bulging.
CORRECT INCORRECT
Serious fault: Apple head.

36. MUZZLE
The muzzle is strong and just slightly shorter in length than the
skull and tapers smoothly along the sides to the nose. Jaws are
powerful and hinged well back allowing the dog to open his
mouth wide enough to catch rats and other rodents. Lips are dry
and tight with no flews. Lip pigment matches nose pigment or
may be pink; spotted or solid lips acceptable..

37. FAULT of Muzzle
INCORRECT
Snipey muzzle
CORRECT MuzzleSnipey – weak or pointed muzzle; muzzle
lacking in strength due to weak bone
coupled with poor muscle development.
The lack of substance to the under jaw
gives the head a pointing profile.

38. TEETH
The Rat Terrier has a
complete set of good-sized,
evenly spaced, white teeth.
A scissors bite is preferred
but a level bite is acceptable.
SCISSORS
LEVEL

39. FAULTS of the Teeth
Faults: Missing teeth; overshot or undershot bite.
OVERSHOT
UNDERSHOT
WRY MOUTH
The lower jaw is twisted
to one side, placing the
upper and lower jaws out
of line with one another.

40. NOSE
The nose is black or self-colored. Faults: Dudley or butterfly nose.
INCORRECTCORRECT

41. EYES
Eyes are not large; eyes are obliquely set wide apart and are oval
in shape. Eye color ranges from dark brown to amber and
corresponds with coat color. Gray eyes are acceptable in blue or
blue-fawn dogs only, otherwise being a serious fault in other dog
colors. Hazel eyes are acceptable in dogs with lighter coat color.
Eye rims match nose pigment and facial markings..
NOTE: Rat Terriers may squint their eyes when outside in the sun.

42. Incorrect Eyes
Almond Shape Eyes
INCORRECT

43. Faults of the Eye
Faults: Bulgy eyes; deep-set
eyes; light-colored eyes in a
dog with black coat color or
black pigment; both eyes not
of matching colors; eye with
iris containing more than one
color; wall or china eye.

44. EARS
Ears are V-shaped, set at the outside
edges of the skull. Length is in proportion
to the head. Moderately pointed at the
tip. Base of ear in line with outer corner
of eye. Ears are either erect, tipped /
semi-erect, or button when the dog is
alert. Matching ears are strongly
preferred. Non-matching ear carriage
should be penalized to the degree of the
variation. Rose ear is a Fault.
Note: Ear carriage may not stabilize until
a dog is mature. Dogs under one year of
age should not be penalized for
variations in ear carriage.
ERECT

45. EARS
BUTTON TIPPED

46. FUN FACT
Rat Terriers can fold and close their ears.

47. Faults of the Ear
Faults: Erect ears with the sides curved inward forming a shape like
a tulip petal; rose ears; flying ears; non-matching ear carriages.
Disqualification: Hanging ears.
Hanging Rose Tulip

48. NECK
The neck is clean, moderately
long, muscular, slightly arched,
and tapers slightly from the
shoulders to the head. The neck
blends smoothly into well laid
back, flat shoulder blades.

49. Incorrect Neck
Ewe Neck - the neck top line is
concave and the neck bottom is
convex.
Concave
Convex

50. FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders are smoothly
muscled. The shoulder blades
are well laid back with the upper
tips fairly close together at the
withers. The upper arm appears
to be equal in length to the
shoulder blade and joins it at an
apparent right angle.
NOTE: Rat Terriers DO NOT have a typical terrier front.

51. FOREQUARTERS
The elbows are close to the body. Viewed from any angle, the
forelegs are straight, strong, and sturdy in bone.
The pasterns are strong, short,
and slightly sloping.
Pasterns

52. Incorrect Forequarters
Narrow Front
Elbows Out
Wide Front

53. Incorrect Forequarters
Short Upper Arm
Easty Westy
Cathedral
Chest
(hollow)
Weak Pasterns Straight Terrier Front

54. BODY
A properly proportioned
Rat Terrier is slightly
longer (measured from
prosternum to point of
buttocks) than tall
(measured from the
withers to the ground),
and length of the front leg
(measured from point of
elbow to the ground)
should approximately
equal one-half of the
dog’s height.
Length of front leg
equals approx. ½
height of dog

55. BODY
Whether the dog is standing or moving, the line of the back is firm
and level. The loin is moderately short, slightly arched, and
muscular, with moderate tuck-up. The croup is gently rounded.
The ribs extend well back and are well sprung out from the spine,
forming a broad, strong back, then curving down and inward to
form a deep body.

56. BODY
Length of front leg
equals approx. ½
height of dog
NOTE: Slight arch of the loin is NOT a bend in the skeletal spine.
The arch of loin is due to muscular development.
The loin is moderately short,
slightly arched, and muscular.

57. CHEST
Viewed from the
front, the chest
between the forelegs
is well filled and of
moderate width with
a discernible
forechest.
Ribs appear oval when
viewed from front. The
brisket extends to elbow.
The underline ascends gradually with the ribs
extending well back to a moderate tuck-up.

58. CHEST
Viewed from the side, the
forechest extends in a shallow
oval shape in front of the
forelegs.

59. Incorrect Body
Flat
Topline
Flat
Croup
High
Tailset
Lack of
Chest Depth

60. Incorrect Body
Short Neck
Roach Back

61. Incorrect Body
Low Tail Set
Sway Back Steep
Croup

62. HINDQUARTERS
The hindquarters are muscular but smooth
with the length of the upper and lower
thighs being approximately equal.
Hindquarters should not be bulging or
coarse and should be in balance with
forequarters.

63. HINDQUARTERS
The angulation of the hindquarters is in balance
with the angulation of the forequarters. Stifles
are well-bent with short hocks that are parallel
and perpendicular to the ground.
NOTE: An imaginary line
dropped from point of
buttocks should touch the
front of the toes.
When standing, the hock
should be perpendicular to
the floor.

64. HINDQUARTERS
The stifles are well-bent, and the hocks are well let down.
When the dog is standing, the short, strong rear pasterns are
perpendicular to the ground and, viewed from the rear, parallel
to one another.
Well Bent
StiflePasterns Parallel

65. FUN FACT
Puppy rear angles straighten as they mature.

66. Incorrect Hindquarters
Straight Rear Sickle Hocks Hyper-Extended
Hocks
When the bones of the upper and lower thighs are too short, the rear
legs are under the instead of behind the dog.

67. CORRECT
Incorrect Hindquarters
NOTE: Rat Terriers should NOT stand on tippy toes when stacked.
INCORRECT

68. Incorrect Hindquarters
Over Angulated Rear

69. Incorrect Hindquarters
Cow Hocks Too Wide Rear Dewclaws

70. FEET
The feet are compact and oval
in shape. The two middle toes
are slightly longer than the other
toes. Toes turn neither in nor
out, are compact, moderately
arched with thick pads and
strong nails. Toes may be well
split up but not flat or splayed.
Front dewclaws may be
removed. Rear dewclaws must
be removed.

71. FAULTS of the Feet
Faults: Flat feet; splayed feet; rear dewclaws present.
FLAT FEET SPLAYED FEET REAR DEWCLAWS

72. TAIL
The tail is a continuation of the spine. Tail length is unimportant.
A docked or natural bob tail is preferred, but a natural tail is not a
fault. Docking is customarily between the second and third joint of
the tail. The natural tail is thick at the base and tapers toward the
tip. A long tail should reach the top of the hock. When the dog is
alert, the tail is carried in an upward curve. When relaxed, the tail
may be carried straight out behind the dog. The tail should not be
over the back of the dog or a ring tail.

73. FAULTS of the Tail
Faults: Bent tail; ring tail.
RING TAIL
BENT
TAIL

74. COAT
Whiskers are not
removed.
The coat is short, close
lying (aka tight) with a
sheen. Texture varies. A
slight ruff or wave along
the back is allowed but
undesirable.
Disqualifications: Wire or broken
coat; long coat
Long
Coat
Short
Coat

75. COLOR
The Rat Terrier may be solid white, bi-color or tri-color but must
always have some white, which may be of any size and located
anywhere on the dog. The white area may be ticked as long as white
predominates (10% to 90% white preferred).
The remaining accepted colors are: black, tan (ranging from dark tan
to very light tan and from intense dark mahogany red to light red with
black nose and eye rims), chocolate (ranging from dark liver to light
chocolate with self-colored nose and eye rims), blue and
blue fawn (with self-colored nose and eye rims), apricot (ranging from
orange to faded yellow with black nose and eye rims), and lemon
(ranging from orange to faded yellow with self-colored nose and eye
rims). Colored areas may have sable overlay.
NOTE: Color & placement of markings can create illusions.
Examples: Illusion of Dip in topline or elbows out.

76. Incorrect Color
Faults: Fawn (pale yellowish tan with self-colored nose), cream
(pale yellow to off-white), fallow with black mask (very light
yellowish tan with black mask), and silver (the extreme dilution of
blue).
Disqualifications: Brindle; merle; absence of white; any solid
color other than white; albinism.
BRINDLE MERLE

77. HEIGHT & WEIGHT
The Rat Terrier is divided into two varieties for conformation
exhibition: Miniature and Standard.
Miniature Variety: At least 10 inches and not exceeding 13
inches, measured at the withers.
Standard Variety: Over 13 inches but not exceeding 18
inches, measured at the withers.
Weight will vary
depending on the size
of the individual dog.
Rat Terriers are
working terriers and
should be presented
in hard, muscular
condition.

78. GAIT
A ground-covering efficient trot with good reach and drive suggesting
agility, speed and power. The legs are parallel at a trot, but as speed
increases, the legs converge toward a center line. There should be
no elbowing out, weaving or rolling action while in motion.

79. GAIT
Rear quarters have strong driving power,
with hocks fully extending.

80. GAIT
Viewed from any position, legs
turn neither in nor out, nor do
feet cross or interfere with each
other. As speed increases, feet
tend to converge toward
center line of balance.

81. Incorrect Gait
CROSSING OVER CRABBINGPADDLINGMOVING WIDE

82. Incorrect Gait
LACK OF REACH AND DRIVE - The extended front leg
does not reach to the end of the dog's nose. The rear leg
does not extend beyond the dog. Note the amount of
space between the
other 2 paws. Due
to lack of reach
and drive this dog
would never be
able to do the job
he was bred to do;
he would tire
easily.

83. Incorrect Gait
GOOSE STEPPING – Accentuated lift of the
forelimbs coupled with full extension of front
pasterns and feet before placing these in contact
with ground.

84. Incorrect Gait
HACKNEY – Resembles Hackney horse action
in the front; exaggerated lift of front pasterns and
feet.

85. Incorrect Gait
PACING – A lateral gait of two right feet
on the ground and two left feet in the air,
then visa versa.

86. Incorrect Gait
OVER REACHING – The hind feet are thrust
past their front counterparts before making
contact with the ground.

87. Faults
Faults
 Flesh colored noses in lemon or light apricot coloration
Serious Faults
 Shortness in leg
 Gray eyes with the exception in blue or blue-fawn dogs
 Flesh colored noses in other coloration other than lemon or light
apricot
 Black mask / black muzzle on a dog not having black as
coloration

88. Disqualifications
 Any dog over six (6) months of age measuring less than 10 inches or over 18 inches
 Any blue color in the eye
 Cropped ears
 An absence of coat (genetic hairlessness)
 Any suggestion of kink or curl or coat type other than described
 Solid color other than white
 Bi colors without white or dogs with a patch or strip of white measuring less than one
inch at its’ widest dimension
 Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid
 Viciousness or extreme shyness
 Unilateral or bilateral deafness
 Hanging ears
 Brindle or Merle color patterns
 Albinism

89. FUN FACT
Circus dogs - Easy to train.
Busy, Not hyperactive. Needs a job.

90. REMEMBER
The Rat Terrier is a muscular,
active, small-to-medium
hunting terrier and should be
evaluated as a working
terrier…
BUT should NOT be an over-
muscled dog that looks like
it’s been working out!
Arnold RATschzenegger

91. Judge the pups
1
3 4
2
2

92. The End
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