"Named by Teddy Roosevelt, the Rat terrier is also referred to as the Feist. Rat terriers were developed in Great britain in 1820. They are believed to be a cross between the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Manchester Terrier. In the 1800's, the sport of ratting was popular among the common people. They would wager on which dog could kill the most rats in a given time. This usually took place in landfill or rubbish disposal areas. The Rat Terrier made a perfect addition to this competition. They were quick, fierce, and able to get into small burrows. As more settlers came to America, they brought these little dogs with them. They found that the Rat Terrier could adapt to different climates and terrain. Without the abundance of rats in the new world, the Rat Terrier evolved to chasing squirrel. This came naturally to the little dogs having been bred to chase rats. The Rat Terrier makes a perfect farm hand, able to rid an infested barn of vermin in just minutes."
Information Taken directly from www.Rat-Terrier.com |
