How Big Do Rat Terriers Get? Average Size Of Ratties
Let’s explore the fascinating world of Rat Terriers and their size. If you’re considering adding a Rat Terrier to your family or are simply curious about their dimensions, you might be wondering, “How big do Rat Terriers get?” In this article, we’ll delve into the various factors influencing the size of Rat Terriers, from their breed standards to individual variations.
We’ve got you covered whether you’re seeking information on their height, weight, or overall body structure. So, let’s embark on this journey of discovery and unravel the truth behind the size of Rat Terriers.
So, How big do Rat Terriers get? Rat Terriers typically fall into the small to medium-sized dog category. The size of Rat Terriers can vary depending on various factors, including genetics, breeding, and individual variations within the breed. Generally, adult Rat Terriers stand between 10 to 18 inches (25 to 46 cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 10 to 25 pounds (4.5 to 11 kg).
It’s important to note that there are two size varieties within the Rat Terrier breed: Standard and Miniature. The Standard Rat Terriers are larger, while the Miniature Rat Terriers are smaller. The size of a Rat Terrier can also be influenced by the size of its parents and the specific breeding lines it comes from.
It’s always recommended to refer to the breed standards set by reputable kennel clubs or consult with a responsible breeder to better understand the expected size range for Rat Terriers. Remember that individual Rat Terriers may vary slightly in size while remaining within the overall breed standards.
If you own a Rat Terrier or want to adopt one, you should know several important factors regarding the body size and growth of these dogs. If you are aware of these factors, you can take action and support your Rat Terrier to maintain its growth and ultimately aid your beloved pet to enjoy a healthy life.
Are you interested in getting to know more? Keep reading!
How big are Rat Terriers?
Dogs own different physical traits. Coming from the Terrier dog family, Rat Terriers are usually small-made dogs. These dogs were initially bred for hunting purposes. More precisely, to hunt rats and small pests on farms. Hence these dogs are small in their body size yet, super energetic.
Observing things in general, a fully grown purebred Rat Terrier has an average weight of 12-35 pounds and an average height of 14-23 inches.
Furthermore, these dogs can be categorized as Decker Rat Terriers, Toy Rat Terriers, and Miniature Rat Terriers. The growth rates may differ according to that categorization. However, the standard Rat Terriers own the above-mentioned weights and heights.
The average size of healthy Male and Female Rat Terriers (Weight and Height)
Besides the genetics they inherit from their parent dogs, gender also functions as a key determinant in identifying their average growth.
In most cases, any female dog is relatively smaller in weight and height than male dogs of the same breed, with no exceptions with Rat Terriers.
Fully grown male Rat Terriers are somewhat bigger in their size compared to fully grown female ones.A healthy full-grown male Rat Terrier could weigh around 12-25 pounds with a 15-18 inches height.
In comparison, a female Rat Terrier could have a slightly lower weight and height than a male. Once again, keep in your mind that these ranges are not fixed.
They vary for a number of reasons. But overall, the height and weight of standard breed adult Rat Terriers can be considered as above.
What helps for Rat Terrier’s growth and size?
Here is the most crucial part. Both internal and external factors are important when it comes to the growth of a Rat Terrier. The growth and size of a Rat Terrier primarily rely on the genes that they inherit from their parents.
Nevertheless, other external factors contribute to the healthy growth of your Rat Terrier, and as owners, it is your duty to help your dog meet those requirements. So let’s have a look at them.
- Genetics and Gender
As mentioned prior, genetics and gender tend to be the most important factors that contribute to the growth of your Rat Terrier. Purebred Rat Terriers are small-made dogs. As discussed in the article, even Rat Terriers can be further divided into a number of categories.
Thus the standard Rat Terriers grow up until 18 months old, and they belong to the small-sized dog category.
And when it comes to gender, it naturally makes male dogs a bit bigger than female ones. In most cases, genes are the primary determinant of the growth of your Rat Terrier. So it is worth paying attention to the bloodline and parents of the dog before buying puppies.
- Food
Genes are an uncontrollable factor. This means you can’t do anything with that, as the dog owns its genetics from birth.
But nutrition, in simple terms food can play a huge role in helping your dog to grow healthily. Rat Terriers are relatively small in their body size, yet, you must provide them with well-balanced quality food due to their extreme energy levels.
The diet of your Rat Terrier should always align with their age and body size. Remember, giving a good diet to your Rat Terrier doesn’t mean that you should overfeed them.
Overfeeding can be threatening more than you think. So make sure to give them the correct amount of food at the right time. If you notice sudden weight loss or gain, you can seek some professional help.
- Physical activity
Another vital factor that aids the growth of a Rat Terrier is physical activities. Exercises are vital for these dogs because they always burst with energy.
Rat Terriers love to spend their time playing and having fun. So make sure you spare a few minutes from your daily routine to spend with your Rat Terrier.
Once they get a sufficient amount of exercise on a daily basis, it will help them to grow better, most importantly, to grow healthier.
Tips for maintaining the growth of your Rat Terrier
I believe now you have sound knowledge of the growth of a Rat Terrier. How big does an adult Rat Terrier grow, how are the growth patterns differ between males and females, what factors affect the growth of a Rat Terrier, and so on.
Now, let’s find out what tips you can follow to maintain the growth of your Rat Terrier.
- Feed your dog with nutritious food
As mentioned, food is definitely important to support the growth of your Rat Terrier. So if you are conscious enough about what you feed your Rat Terrier and how much food you feed them, it will help them grow healthily.
Speaking of food, you should pay attention to the nutrient balance of the meals. Just like human beings, dogs also need protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins to grow.
However, it is not smart to feed your dog what we usually eat. Be mindful of what you feed your dog. It is always good to give them dog food and additional vitamins under veterinary instructions. If you give them what we eat, you have to be highly aware of the quantities that you provide.
Another essential fact to know is that if you need to have a well-grown healthy Rat Terrier, you have to feed them well during their pup stage. Puppies grow at a rapid pace. What they eat at a young age will be very helpful in the longer run.
- Keep the dog fit
Fitness is critical to the growth of your Rat Terrier. Rat Terriers are naturally active dogs, so you will not find it difficult to give them exercise.
Taking your Rat Terrier to the park, playing fetch with them, or accompanying them for jogging for 15- 30 minutes would be sufficient to meet their daily physical activity requirement. Sometimes, you might think that only large dog breeds need regular exercise, which is not correct.
Despite the size of their body, every dog needs to get regular physical activities to stay fit and grow well.
- Do veterinary check-ups as required
Giving healthy food and plenty of exercises undoubtedly help the growth of your Rat Terrier.
But sometimes, no matter how much attention you pay to their nutrition or be attentive to their exercise requirements, you might notice that there is something wrong with your Rat Terriers’ growth.
If you are correctly taking care of the dog yet something is fishy, make sure to take it to a vet because health issues including intestinal parasites, diabetes, allergies, or even cancers can disturb the proper growth of your Rat Terrier.
Final thoughts about how big Rat Terriers are
This article attempted to find out answers regarding the growth of Rat Terriers. As comprehensively discussed throughout the article, Rat Terriers are relatively small dogs, yet they are strong and energetic.
The average size of the standard breed could slightly differ due to certain reasons. Some factors that support the growth of a Rat Terrier are out of our control, for instance, genes.
Thus, owners could control some factors to ensure the healthy growth of their Rat Terrier. Some examples would be food and exercise. If you own a Rat Terrier, my piece of advice is first to be aware of the growth patterns of this breed.
Then make sure you give them good food and appropriate amounts of exercise and raise them with care. But remember, not all Rat Terriers have the same growth patterns; therefore, don’t be harsh on your pet just to bulk them up.
Take the necessary actions, if needed, get professional help, and that way, you can raise a healthy, well-grown Rat Terrier.
