What a rat terriers are named in UK, and where to buy one??

Question

What a rat terriers are named in UK, and where to buy one??

Answer 1

1.  This is for a bunch of the posters:  Rat Terriers are a specific, unique and distinct breed.  They are NOT JRTs/PRTs.  

2.  They are not officially recognized in Great Britain.  Nor are there any breeds similar to them available (the closest would be a Fiest or a Toy Fox Terrier).  There is a breed in Australia called a Mini-Foxie (or Mini-Fox Terrier) that is similar.  So your best bet of acquiring one would be to either advertise for a Rat Terrier (I know of several in Scotland, owned by Americans living there) or a Mini-Foxie, or import one from the States.

3.  No, they were not brought over from England and put in the holds of ships to catch rats.  Almost all terriers are "ratters" and go after vermin.  So while I have no doubt some dogs were used that way, no rat terriers came from England because England never bred or recognized or created the breed.

Here is the story on rat terriers (the abbreviated version).  Several terriers came from England:  Manchester Terrier, Bull Terrier, the now extinct White Terrier.  American farmers wanted a small dog that could do modest herding (chicken, goats, geese), have little upkeep, live in the barn, and rid the grain silos of rats, mice and other vermin without going to ground like so many other terriers.  So they took those English terriers and bred in:  beagle (for nose), greyhound, whippet and italian greyhound (for sight, acceleration and speed) and corgi for herding ability.

What they ended up with was:

--a dog breed created in America

--a unique breed that has no genetic heritage with a JRT and actually is missing most of the terrier tendencies (for instance, most rat terriers don't bark except at intruders, most ratties have an "off" switch, most rat terriers will dig some but don't go to ground like a JRT or border terrier).

--a superb small game hunter that in some cases can climb trees.

--a very short coat (the American hairless Terrier is a mutation from the rat terrier).

The patron saint of rat terrier was/is Teddy Roosevelt.  When he became President and moved into the White House, he discovered Jefferson's old discarded green house had a rat infestation.  He set a mongrel terrier named Chip that he'd acquired out West for hunting on the green house.  In 8 hours Chip disposed of over 1,000 rats.  Teddy began referring to him as "my rat terrier."  Chip died during Teddy's term in office and was buried on the White House lawn.  But when Teddy left office, he then had several of Chip's offspring which served to become what are now called rat terriers.

Answer 2

Jack Russell, or Parson Jack!

Answer 3

Jack Russells, if you want to see them in action, Martin Clunes is on channel 3 at 4.30 this afternoon, and it s right at the end of the programme, where they send them into a farm after the rats.

Answer 4

they were givin their names b/c back in the 1600-1700's they were put on ships traviling from england to now the u.s. in the hull of the boat to kill the rats. you  can rescue one from www.petfinder.com and type in what you want on the left side of the screen...rat terriers are wonderful companions. i have two myself. one.charlie a plump little guy who i love so much..hes soo smart and fun...you can tell we love each other...he wont leave me alone for two seconds..and two is rudy he loves to sun-bath and he loves to sleep. they are wonderful great pets and you should deffonatly get one. :]  

Answer 5

They are not available or recognized in the UK.

The closest breed is the English Toy Terrier which is known as the Toy Manchester Terrier in the USA.

ETTs are black and tan but otherwise very similar to rat terriers.

Answer 6

Iam not sure you are able to buy them in britain. Looking at a photo of them they look very similar to a jack russell terrier. However the information on them says they are unlike the JRT in nature although often confused with them, If you are looking for a ratting dog then something like a manchester terrier or a fox terrier would be good.  Rat terriers are suspected to be descended from them. You could contact the kennel club to see if they know of anyone or the other option if you were set on one would be to research having a pup brought here. I know people who have sold their pup to people in the usa so i guess that is an option.

Answer 7

there are a lot of terriers that will rat in the UK but the most efficient one is probably the Jack Russel  

Answer 8

Most terriers will rat!  You are perhaps thinking about a Jack Russell, or maybe a Patterdale Terrier?  Suggest you Google it.  These breeds have Breed Clubs with secretaries who will direct you to a good breeder who has puppies available.

Edit - sorry, obviously I don't speak the same language as you and the person who identified Rat Terrier, as a specific 'breed' lol.  Interesting.