Q: Personal experiences with rat terriers?
I know each dog is different, but it can't be denied that something can be generally found in certain breeds! I really want a lap dog. One that doesn't require much grooming maintenance either! I do not want to deal with haircuts. Bath? Just fine. Nails clipped? Just fine. Exercise? Just fine! Haircuts and daily high maintenance brushing no thanks!
Having said that the breed I'm interested in from most liked is Rat Terrier (alongside with Boston Terrier, Dachshund, Corgi)
Any personal experiences with this baby?
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Answers and Views:
Answer by DeeDawg
Rat terriers, despite their small size, are often "too much dog" for a lot of people. They are active, feisty hunting dogs and need a firm owner who sets and enforces clear rules, and they need a ton of exercise.
The breed you choose should have more to do with your own activities and energy level, and abilities to train it (or willingness to take a good class).
Answer by ms manners
Terriers, in general, are not particularly cuddly, so I don't really consider my rat terrier a lap dog (although right now he is sitting next to me with his head on my knee.)
Mine is very low maintenance......he stays cleaner than all my other dogs, so seldom needs bathing, requires very little brushing, and just periodic nail clipping.
He has considerable energy and loves to go for walks, but is calm at home as long as he gets a reasonable amount of exercise.
I have dealt with two rat terriers....my own, and a foster, and both were great dogs. My dog tends to be somewhat aloof, but the foster was quite social, so it probably depends on the dog.
Mine has the typical rat terrier high pitched shrieky bark, which is the only thing I do not care for.
Answer by Aduial
If you want a lap dog then stay away from terriers. They are high energy and high drive dogs.
Out of what you mentioned I think a Dachshund is best for you.
Answer by Horse Lover
I have a Rat Terrier too. She stays clean, needs very little brushing, loves to cuddle, loves walks, cats, kids, is obedient and was easy to train. She does have a high prey drive but is always on a leash when outdoors. The barking at the door is under control now. She actually looks to me first as if she is asking "Should I bark or not?"
Know better? Give your own answer to this question!
Ken Ridout says
Our rattie must have been unique. She didn’t bark, she screamed. She absolutely loved people; some more than others. When certain people would come over, Nikki-dog was overcome with glee. She would wail and scream . . . but just for those certain people. Everyone else just got faces full of kisses.
Nikki-dog never had a flea! We actually had a Toy Fox and a Rattie at the same time for 2 or 3 years. The Toy Fox needed constant spraying and pills to keep the fleas off. But right next to her, Nikki-dog never had a flea. Neither did she have any skin allergies. Nor did she ever have any skeletal bone or muscle problems. Her eyes were as keen as any dog I’ve ever seen. She could see a squirrel 2 blocks away (and scream).
At age 14, things began to fall apart. Nikki lost her hearing . . . like overnight! I that that she never got used to the world of silence.
Nikki was diagnosed with a heart murmur at about 15 years old. I’m told that’s not uncommon for small dogs.
Also, at about 15 she developed doggie-dementia. The disease became chronic over the next 9 months. She totally forgot about house training and we had to put her in diapers. She would get lost under the table and need help finding a way out. She’d fall asleep standing up and sometimes fall over. This was all so un-Nikki-like. She used to be so athletic. It was so sad to watch her degrade before our eyes.
Finally, 2 weeks ago, we made the decision to have her put to death. It was a hard decision. It’s even harder now, knowing that we made the decision and took her to the vet. She was the best dog we’d ever own. I really don’t want another dog because it wouldn’t be Nikki-dog. But if I get over that, I’ll probably look for another female Rattie and hope we have similar luck.
Dora says
Sorry about your dog. Thank God she was with you for 15 years!