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!

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

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.

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.

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.

The coats of Boston terriers are short, so all they need is an occasional wipe down with a damp cloth and bathing when necessary. Because they have short hair, they do tend to shed but they are considered average shedders. Cleaning your house in the normal way i.e. vacuuming and dusting will be more than enough to keep things under control. Owners need to know all about Boston terrier eye problems and how to care for them, so ask your vet for further information.

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.

Yes, they shed twice a year. They blow their coat each time and require plenty of brushing during this period. Of course when you are looking at a 10 to 20 pound dog, there isn't nearly as much hair as regular sized husky. I have allergies and these dogs don't aggravate them, so some people who are allergic to dogs may be able to tolerate these, probably because they are such clean dogs.

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.