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Dog Sweaters | I swore I'd never be the type of person that puts clothes on a dog... never say never! Vinny is a freeze-baby, we live in Minnesota, and that dog loooves his toasty sweaters. Check out his wardrobe. |
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Life @ River City Rat Terriers (07/26/09)You can add comments or suggestions to any of these pages by signing the Guestbook. You WILL NOT be contacted in any way by signing the book (unless you specifically ask for a reply). I havn't the time or knowledge to pester anyone electronically.
Enjoy these pics of our "Terrible Trio": Lola, Vinny and Dakota. |
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2010 Planned Litter Dakota is due to go into heat in the beginning of January. Since their last mating in September (2009) didn't quite work out, THIS time Vinny & Dakota are getting Barry White on the stereo and a coupla glasses of wine! (Kidding... about the wine.)
Puppies from this litter would be available approximately May or June-ish. We do have one buyer on a wait list, in first pick position. |
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September 15, 2008 litter Vinny & Dakota's first litter. Kota did great! Four girls and one boy. All adopted to homes in the Twin Cities area. Updated pix added as they arrive...
P.S. You can click on any photo to enlarge it. |
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About Us Rat Terriers are pretty smart, but they do need friends with thumbs to open doors and bags of dog food. And to set up websites.
My name is Tristan. I'm a part-time hairstylist at a neighborhood barber shop. My husband William works for an international grocery supplier. Together we discovered that Rat Terriers are like potato chips... you can't have just one!
Besides the dogs, my hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening and needlework. Bill likes to play his XBox 360 and is a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He also loves to play golf and is even getting me out on the course every once in a while.
We like to travel, and the dogs go with us when we take car trips to visit family. When we vacation far away, we luckily have a student-vet friend that stays at the house with the animals.
Having utilized the same small clinic for over fifteen years, we live in fear of our vet's eventual retirement. Dr. K. is a valuable source of information. I'm not ashamed to admit I also hit up his vet tech for free advice when she comes into the barbershop!
As you can see, we are "dog people". Unfortunately, I am not much of a computer person. This site is a work in progress, and eventually I'll get better at running it. In the meantime, if you wish to contact us, e-mail me at: tris10@comcast.net |
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Our Breeding Pair LITTER DUE MID-SEPTEMBER!!!
A physical description and photos of the expectant couple.
VINCENT ARNOLD BECKMAN: Vinny is a 4 year old, Type A (long legged) Toy Rat Terrier, weighing in at 10 pounds. He is white & black, with an all-black head. His ears are erect. Vinny was purchased at Busy Bee Kennels in Chicago, IL. He conforms to breed standards and has an impressive pedigree. Vinny is registered at both the UKC (United Kennel Club) and the NRTA (National Rat Terrier Association). He is also a snuggly little lover boy who hates to be alone, but is the first to let us know when the mailman arrives.
DAKOTA BLUE HEGSTROM: Kota is a 3 year old, Type A (long legged) Miniature Rat Terrier, 16 pounds of pure muscle. Mostly white, her markings fade from black to mahogany and her ears are tipped. Dakota was given to us 2 years ago by a family that could not keep her. She had originally come from a breeder in southern MN that we know & trust. (We got our first Rattie, Lola, from this same breeder 5 years ago.) This breeder specializes in Rat Terriers for farm use. While Dakota IS a purebred Rat Terrier, her papers are unavailable at this time. Dakota loves to flop over onto her back for belly rubs, but Heaven help the cat if he gets near her food dish!
--Looking for a registered (papered) Rat Terrier? We strongly recommend Busy Bee Kennel. The cost is higher, but the dog will be registered with both the UKC and the NRTA. Liz at Busy Bee is a valuable source of info. Click here to link to Busy Bee Kennel. http://www.imageevent.com/busybeekennel |
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Adoption Services So you decided you want a Rat Terrier puppy! Even after reading about the breed, you're ready to make a 12 to 15 year commitment to a tiny little bed-hog? Good for you! There's info below about the cost and deposit, and the support services we offer.
COST: Our puppies are $200 each. They are purebred, but not registered. This cost includes the pups first 2 vet visits and first round of immunizations.
TAKING YOUR PUPPY HOME: Puppies are able to go home with you at 9 weeks of age, or after their first round of immunizations. We will send them off with a small supply of Science Diet puppy food, a favorite toy and bedding that has Mama's scent. We will not ship puppies.
DEPOSIT: A deposit can be made on a specific puppy to "hold" the animal until he/she is ready to leave us. (This is recommended as these cuties go fast!) The deposit is deducted from your final cost. You may pick your puppy from the photos on the 'New Litter' page, or come visit them all if you're in the Mpls/St. Paul metro area.
STUD SERVICE: Stud Service is available only to registered purebred Rat Terriers. A full color pedigree is included. Vinny's registration numbers available on request. Flat rate or first pick of the litter. Contact us for more info.
LIFETIME PLACEMENT: If, for any reason, you need to "give up" a puppy/dog from our kennel the animal can be returned to us at anytime. In most cases, you will not receive a refund. We will care for any and all of our puppies/dogs until they can be placed in a permanent home. We will not allow our animals to contribute to the already overcrowded conditions at local shelters.
DOG SITTING SERVICE: We are always delighted to have our puppies come back to visit and will happily dog-sit if time and space permit. Your dog must be spayed or neutered and up to date on immunizations. Generally, for pups from our kennel, this service is free for the first couple of days. There is a nominal charge for a longer stay. |
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Breed History & Profile A short history of Rat Terriers, a truly American dog.
The first word that comes to mind to describe the Terrier group is "feisty". But only one breed of terrier officially had the tenacity and boldness to claim the word as their name. The Feist originated in England in the early 1800's. Its beginnings were similar to America's "melting pot", where later the Feist was developed as a distinct pure breed.
A mix of Smooth Fox Terrier, Manchester Terrier, and the now extinct English White Terrier (among others) gave the Feist stamina, keen senses, true grit and of course feistiness. This versatile dog was a master hunter and vermin dispatcher. The Feist's small size allowed him and his owner to stealthily and illegally hunt the Royal Forests for small game to feed his family. Often used as a "ratting terrier" at dubious "sporting" events, the Feist would be placed in a pit and hundreds of live rats would be tossed down to him. Spectators wagered how many rats the Feists could kill in a specified amount of time.
The Feist started appearing in America around the 1890's. A farmers best friend, Feists kept the barnyard free of rats, mice, fox and coyote. Hunting down anything from squirrels to cougars, these dogs were quick, fierce and lethal. Fans of the Feist breed in America saw room for improvement, however, and other breeds were added to the mix for specific charecteristics. The Feist underwent a process of change that would take it far from it's original form.
Feists were crossed with the Beagle to give them better scenting ability, the Greyhound for speed and keen sight, and the Chihuahua to bring down their overall size. The addition of these breeds and others also gave the Feist the wide range of colors we see today. A mellower disposition was another benefit of cross breeding this little verminator. Genetic changes in place, the Americanized Feist was poised for success. He found it in 1901.
When President Theodore Roosevelt moved into the White House in 1901, it was infested with rats and mice. A greenhouse on the property had been torn down, and the furry pests moved into the closest structure. The mansion had been baited with traps and poison but the vermin seemed immune. Teddy Roosevelt set his trusty Feist terriers on the case. No problem! After ridding the White House of pesky varmints, this sporting breed earned the name it has today: Rat Terrier.
BREED PROFILE: RAT TERRIER
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: America, by way of England.
ORIGINAL USE: Small game hunting, rodent control.
GROUP: Terrier (UKC), Rare Breed, Agility (AKC).
LIFE SPAN: 12 to 15 years.
COLOR: Mostly white, with black, brown, tri-color, mahogany or grey markings. Ticking (freckles) on belly and legs become darker and larger with age and sun exposure.
GROOMING: Very little required. Bathe, trim nails, clean ears and teeth as needed. May need a sweater in very cold temperatures.
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 12 to 15 inches at shoulder, 10 to 15 pounds (Miniature size).
TRAINABILITY: High, using a positive training method suited to independent-minded dogs.
PERSONALITY: Lively and affectionate. Sometimes mischievous just for fun. Seeks warmth- heat vents, sunbathing, your lap or buried under blankets.
ACTIVITY LEVEL: Highly active, or sleeping. On, or off.
KNOWN HEALTH PROBLEMS: None. No genetic issues.
GOOD WITH CHILDREN? If both kids and dogs are trained properly. This is an active breed.
GOOD WITH OTHER PETS? Yes, Rat Terriers love company, but can't generally be trusted near small prey creatures like pet rabbits, guinea pigs or rodents. |
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