Last Updated on December 3, 2021 by admin
The rat terrier is a feisty little dog in the terrier class, who as the name suggests was bred for hunting rats. It is a dirty job alright, but someone has to do it!
Huskies mixes are very popular choices as family pets right now, so in this article, we will be exploring the Rat Terrier Husky Mix.
Let’s first start off by finding out all about the Rat Terrier.
The Rat Terrier
History
This terrier is an American breed, which was developed in the 1800s to keep rat populations on rural farms down, and also as a companion dog.
The American Kennel Club considers this a rare dog breed today. It is still kept for the same purposes for which it was bred 200 years ago, which is to hunt rats and to keep people company. The breed declined once chemical warfare was brought in to control rat populations of American farms.
It is believed that the ancestor of the rat terrier was a dog called “Hatch”, who was brought on board Henry VIII’s flagship, the Mary Rose, to keep the rat population down in the 1540s.
Temperament
Today, the intelligence, quick training time, and affectionate nature of this breed have seen it be used as a police dog and as a therapy dog, amongst other things. They only take 3 weeks to train as police dogs!
Personality-wise, this dog is described as being active and intelligent. They are also known to be stubborn and headstrong. Having said that, they are eager to please and therefore good dogs to train. If correctly trained and socialized with other people and animals from a young age, then the rat terrier is a loyal and respectful dog for its master.
Appearance
Looks-wise, the rat terrier is around 10 to 25 pounds in weight and stands 10 to 18 inches at the shoulder. They have a short, smooth coat that comes in black tricolor, chocolate, tan, blue, pearl (called ‘Isabella’), lemon, and apricot. It is common for these dogs to have some white markings. They have large and pointed ears, brown eyes, a nicely shaped head, quite long legs for a terrier, and a lean yet solid build. They carry the ‘bobtail’ gene, meaning that their tails can be short.
Exercise
This dog needs lots of mental stimulation and daily vigorous exercise to keep them happy. This makes them a great choice for a family with children since they can play together.
Lifespan and Health
In terms of health and lifespan, rat terriers are a very hardy breed and they can live for 16 to 19 years! Yet they are still prone to some health problems, including patellar luxation (dislocation of the knee cap), cardiac abnormalities, hip dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes syndrome, and problems with their pancreas.
The Husky Rat Terrier Mix
Personality
This Rat Terrier Mix will be a very energetic dog, given that both parent breeds are high-energy.
Huskies are hard to train, whereas rat terriers are easy to train, so the Husky Terrier should be a moderately easy dog to train.
Both breeds have a strong prey drive for small and furry creatures, so potential owners need to be doubly aware of this, and ensure that their Husky Rat Terrier Mix is trained and socialized with other animals early. Leash walking is recommended in populated areas.
Both breeds are loving, affectionate, and playful, therefore this Rat Terrier Mix would make a superb addition to an energetic family with children.
Exercise and Training
The Husky Terrier will need lots of running and exercise to keep them happy, plus attention and mental stimulation so that they do not get frustrated and bored.
Both parent breeds can be head-strong and stubborn, so expect to see this trait in the Husky Rat Terrier Mix.
Looks
In terms of appearance, this Rat Terrier Mix will be a small-medium dog with a nicely proportioned body and legs. The head and muzzle will be nicely shaped, and the ears will be pointed and erect. They may have blue eyes or brown eyes.
In terms of color markings, the Husky Terrier will likely have white markings, to reflect both parents, as well as black, brown, and/or tan colorings in their coat.
Coat
Since both parent breeds have very different coats, each individual puppy of this mix will be different. Some will have the thick and fluffy double coat of the Husky parent, and if this is the case then regular grooming will be needed to keep on top of shedding. Other pups of the Husky Rat Terrier Mix will have the short and smooth coat of the rat terrier parent.
Lifespan
Huskies live on average from 13 to 15 years, and rat terriers live for 16 to 19 years, so if you bring this Rat Terrier Mix into your home then expect that with good care they will be with you for many happy years.
Health
The Husky Terrier will be prone to hip dysplasia, since both parent breeds are, as well as the conditions associated with the rat terrier (which were listed above in the section on purebred rat terriers), as well as the health issues associated with huskies, which are progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, and skin conditions.
The Takeaway On The Husky Rat Terrier Mix
This Rat Terrier Mix will make a great family dog for those who are active and looking for a playful buddy for their kids.
This dog will have a strong urge to chase, so obedience training and socialization from a young age are essential.
The Husky Terrier may be easy to train if it takes after the rat terrier parent, or more difficult if it throws more to its Husky genes.
Either way, this mix will be an affectionate and loving pet.
Before you bring one of these hybrid dogs into your home, please go and check out the breeder. This is to ensure that their dogs are healthy and well looked after. It is also to see which parent is the mother. Because huskies are a larger breed than rat terriers, if the mother is a rat terrier, then this can pose risks for her and her puppies during pregnancy and birth. Therefore it is far better that the mother is the Husky.
Read more about: The Shar Pei Husky Mix
