The first American Hairless Terrier was born into a litter of Rat Terriers (RT) as the result of a natural gene mutation. You might want to visit some RT sites on the web to learn more about them. In the 1890s Feists (Old English White Terrier x Smooth Fox Terrier x Manchester Terrier) were imported to America from England. Here Smooth Fox Terrier, Beagle, and Italian Greyhound were added to these terriers to help stabilize the pied coloration and to give the breed a less aggressive temperament.

Rat Terriers come in three sizes: Toy (less than 10 pounds), Mini (10-17 pounds), and Standard (17-30 pounds).

Actually, yes. Especially when they are shedding their "winter" coat. It can be very misleading because they are shorthaired dogs. Their short hairs come off on your hands when you pet them, and stick to your clothing, upholstery, and carpeting. Just be sure to brush them often with a soft brush or rubber curry mitt to remove dead hair. And don't wear black clothing!

Because of their calm temperament, rat-terriers tend to get along with other pets just fine. They will likely see their pet siblings as members of their family, and will be very protective of them.

Ears on a Rat Terrier puppy may or may not stand. They sometimes go through several stages before standing erect, if they are going to stand at all. The two most common styles of ear carriage are: a) erect ears, and b) button ears. Erect ears will stand on their own—no cropping, taping or posting is required. If the ears are going to stand, they will most usually be erect by 10 months of age, but many puppies have their ear carriage earlier than that.

Rat terriers tend to be very patient and tolerent of children..especially their "own". Because of their temperament, they are usually not aggressive and are comparatively calm compared to other breeds. They are very loyal, loving, and protective of members of their family. However, they do exhibit the typical "terrior" personality and are very energetic. It is important that anyone with small children who may be contemplating rat-terrier ownership be aware of this.

Rat Terriers have two body types. The only difference is that Type A Rat Terriers have longer legs. Take a look at the Rat Terrier breed standards, which do mention both body types.

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'.

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.

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.

In both cases the pain is felt in the wrist and first three fingers. When the muscles of the forearm are in spasm from a repetitive strain, you will get pain in your wrist. Also, when muscles that cross over the median nerve are in spasm and press down onto the nerve, you get numbness in your fingers. RSI is frequently misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome because of this reason.

The Tibetan Terrier is a rare, mid-sized (20-25 lbs.) shaggy dog which comes in a wide variety of colors including black, white, silver, cream, golden and sable in solid, parti-color, and tri-color combinations. He is small enough to live comfortably in an apartment and share your bed or chair, yet large enough to enjoy a long hike or romp with kids. Owners often describe them as a large dog in a small dog's body.

In brief, rat owners bring their rats to be seen by the public. Rats are shown in suitable tanks. During the day, the judges choose the best rats and award prizes. Rat shows are also social occasions where friendly rat owners share their common interest. Many shows will have a variety of other activities taking place – these are usually listed on the show calendar.

The last place you should get your rat terrier is the pet store. Yep, thats right. Instead, find a local breeder with a good reputation. Better yet, get a rescue. There are a lot of Rat Terrier's looking for a home. Check out Ratbone Rescues if you're interesting in rescuing a buddy.

Have a towel ready before you begin. Fill both sides of your kitchen sink with lukewarm water. Dip your rat in one side of the sink in the water, but only up to the neck. Use a soap made for cats or kittens, or even dish washing liquid (like Dawn on male rats for the oily buildup on their skin) and apply several drops on the rat's back. Begin working the soap into a good lather and scrub well with your fingertips.

Naked mole-rats cannot be kept as pets. They must live in large colonies, and they have fairly strict temperature and humidity requirements. They are high-maintenance animals and can live from ten to 30 years. Removing them from the wild in Africa is expensive, risky, and disruptive to the habitats of naked mole-rats and other animals. Naked mole-rats are kept and bred in highly controlled enclosures in some universities and zoos. Under no circumstances should they be kept as pets.

Jack Russell Terrier's grow to be about 12 - 14" at the withers and in good condition should weigh between 13 - 17 lbs. Baxter is not registered with any organization. If you are interested in having a JRTCA or JRTAA registered dog, you should visit their sites and learn more about what their individual standards are and which breeders they might recommend. But don't let the small size fool you. These are big dogs in little dog's bodies and need room to run and play.

Rats should always have fresh water available in a demand-type water bottle. Bowls can be tipped over, leaving the rat with no water for long periods of time, depending on how often you check on your pets. They can also be contaminated with all kinds of bacteria due to contact with bedding and feces. The average rat will drink up to two ounces of water per day.