The Rat Terrier is a dog of early immigrants who made their way into America. Designed as a capable farm or ranch dog, his purpose was to protect the property from the rats and other vermin that plagued the farms during those days and this was a job which he performed wholeheartedly. For a time, the Rat Terrier declined in numbers but recent years has seen a resurgence of the breed, this time as a capable and affectionate little companion animal.

The Rat Terrier Dog Breed in Brief:
Origin: United States
Height: 10-13 inches at the shoulder for miniature, 13-19 inches for standard
Weight: 10-25 pounds
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: Low
Life Expectancy: 11-13 years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Easy

The Rat Terrier is a dog of early immigrants who made their way into America. For a time, the Rat Terrier declined in numbers but recent years has seen a resurgence of the breed, this time as a capable and affectionate little companion animal.

The History of the Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier owes his existence to early immigrants who made their way over to America during the 19th century. Taking popular dogs of the day – the Bull Terrier, Old English White Terrier, the Manchester Terrier and other similar scrappers, they crossed them with various dog breeds, such as the Beagle, Toy Fox Terrier, Whippet and Italian Greyhounds. The results of this breeding would create a small-to-medium sized dog which a smooth coat, medium bone, and an athletic build. Fast, aggressive and with strong jaws, these early ratting dogs were more than capable at clearing out rats and other pests.
Every new cross brought something unique to the breed; the terrier blood gave the dogs an aggressive and ‘feisty’ disposition that was needed for this kind of work, while the Beagle and Fox Terrier breeding gave the dog a better ‘nose’ that was needed to track his prey. While still a new breed, fans of the Rat Terrier are adamant about getting these wonderful little dogs known and respected.

Source : Rat Terriers

The Boston terrier is a well-muscled and compact breed. This is not really surprising since the Boston terrier was first bred by people who wanted to use them in dog fights. Now some people may read all sorts of implications from such a violent past. Some people might think that the Boston terrier dog would make a bad pet because of its aggressive nature. However, you should know that as a pet, the Boston terrier can actually be pretty mild mannered.

The temperament of the Boston terrier can be described as enthusiastic as it often loves to play. Most people comment that the Boston terrier actually has a great sense of humor. Another characteristic that people find delightful with this breed is the fact that they are intelligent and are very much easily trained. This fact is also enhanced by the dog’s natural curiosity and love for learning.

Of course, people who own pets know the importance of training. Having a well-behaved pet increases the enjoyment for you both. Having a well-behaved pet means that you can have more fun with that pet.

One thing that owners have noticed with a Boston terrier is the fact that it can be very sensitive to the tone of a person’s voice. This means, however, that you need to take care when training your dog.

This means that you won’t wake up in the middle of the night because your Boston terrier saw a butterfly. There are some cases, though, when a Boston terrier will not bark at all.

Regarding the living conditions, Boston terriers can do well enough without a yard as long as they get regular exercise.

Unlike other terrier breeds, the Boston terrier is an average shedder.

Bostons have a variety of common health problems. They easily get overheated when they are pushed too hard. As said before, they can also be sensitive to extreme weather and any weather that’s too hot or too cold can leave them with breathing difficulties. Skin tumors and heart tumors are very common with this breed. So you need to bring the dog to a vet regularly.

If a Boston terrier is badly bred, it often develops a bone defect that prevents the brain from growing. This, naturally, will lead to a retarded dog.

The Yorkshire terriers, or Yorkies, originated from Scotland but bred in England. They were molded to hunt rats, but nowadays they are popular as pets. In fact, their variety was one of the Top Dog Breeds of 2005.

They usually grow being small and light varieties. Hence, owners do not mind having their pets on their lap almost all day. Moreover, this usual bonding activity usually transforms this lap dog into a bright, playful, and loyal companion pet.

The following are some of the basic facts breeders would really love to know about Yorkies:
Category: Toy (Terrier)
Living Environment: indoors (highly recommended); outdoors (fenced yard)
Coat: silky, glossy, long and fine; no undercoat
Colors: black when young but they attain the colors tan and blue as they mature
Height: between 8 and 9 inches
Weight:  between 3 and 7 pounds
Temperament:

Naturally,
•    they are territorial and like their privacy to be respected
•    they are intelligent and fearless
•    they are assertive and independent

When properly trained,
•    they develop close affinity with older children
•    they become really playful and lively
•    they become extremely affectionate
•    they do not mind having other pets at home
•    they focus much of their attention and affection toward their owner

Breeders should note of the following health issues:
•       Alopecia, or losing hair
•       Cataract, or loss of transparency of one or both lenses of the eyes
•       Cryptorchidism, wherein testicles do not descend into the scrotum
•       Dwarfism
•       Entropion, a disorder with the eyelid; lashes on the eyelid that irritate the eyeballs could lead to other complications
•       Glaucoma, a condition that causes an increase pressure within the eye
•       Hydrocephalus
•       Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or the reduction of tear production
•       Low blood sugar
•       Patellar luxation, a disorder in the kneecap
•       Portosystemic shunt, or the accumulation of blood toxins in the liver
•       Urolithiasis, an infection of the urinary tract leading to the formation of bladder stones.

Care and Exercise:
•    They require daily grooming.
•    Ears and eyes must be cleaned and checked regularly.
•    Dental hygiene must be regularly maintained.
•    They are fit only for short strides.
•    They should have a regular play time while lying under the sunbeams, chasing shadows, and joining tug-of-war.

Origin/History:
In the 19th century, a number of weavers from Scotland migrated to England and brought with them different terriers that were bred to hunt rats. Through time, these terriers were crossed and terriers with “broken hairs” were produced.

In 1870, a “broken-haired Scotch terrier” was named as a Yorkshire terrier by a reporter. He argued that the breed should be called as such because his types were bred in a town called Yorkshire.

Though the Yorkies were originally bred as working dogs, they became fashionable pets is England in the latter part of the Victorian era. In 1972, Yorkies were brought to the United States and became the country’s favorite pet.

You can say that the Yorkies developed into tough breeds because of their ancestors’ reputation as rat-hunters. However, their size, and playful and bright character have actually captured the attention and affection of most pet owners. Most proud owners would boast that they have the great giants inside the bodies of these little dogs. If you want a small but terrible breed of dog, grab a Yorkie now! Just a friendly reminder, they would really need your attention and companionship than any other terriers.