Living with a Rat Terrier: What to Expect
The day-to-day reality of sharing your home with this Small breed for the next 12-18 yrs - routine, grooming, money and temperament.
⚡ Daily routine
This is an active dog. The Rat Terrier needs 1-2 hours of exercise daily - brisk walks, fetch or a jog - or the spare energy turns into barking and chewed furniture.
✂️ Grooming & shedding
Grooming is easy: a quick brush once a week and the occasional bath. Nails every few weeks, and that's about it.
Moderate shedding year-round with heavier seasonal blows - a weekly vacuum pass handles it.
💰 First-year Rat Terrier budget
Plan on $900-$1,600 upfront for the puppy, then roughly $700-$1,200 every year for food, vet care, grooming and supplies. Year one usually adds one-off costs on top: crate, leash, training classes, spay/neuter.
🐕 Temperament at home
Around the house, the Rat Terrier is best described as:
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