Rat Terrier

Versatile farm dog

Athletic, smart, and affectionate. Often more biddable than other terriers but still terrier through and through.

smallhigh energyapartment possiblefirst-time friendlymedium shedding

Size

small

Energy

high

Shedding

medium

Barking

high

Grooming

low

Trainability

high

Apartment

possible

First-time owner

yes

Kid-friendly

high

Pet-friendly

medium

Alone tolerance

medium

Monthly cost

low

Best for

High prey drive, alert barking, and digging if left alone too long.

45–60 minutes of varied exercise daily.

Grooming: low. Shedding: medium. Plan your brushing routine — and budget — around this.

Barking is typically high. Trainability is high. Early socialization and consistent training go a long way.

Apartment fit: possible. Can work in apartments with committed exercise and training. Kid-friendliness is generally high.

Cost level: low. Costs typically scale with size, grooming, and likelihood of vet visits.

Heat tolerance is typically medium and cold tolerance is typically medium. Comfortable across a typical range of weather with sensible precautions.

High prey drive, alert barking, and digging if left alone too long.

Educational matching content — not veterinary advice.

• Can I realistically meet the exercise and grooming demands every week, not just on weekends?
• Have I met adult dogs of this breed — not just puppies?
• If buying from a breeder, can they show health screening for the parents?
• Is there a breed-specific rescue near me? Adult dogs can be a great fit.
• What does my monthly budget look like for food, grooming, and routine vet care?
• Who handles the dog if I'm away or my schedule changes?