He is the only dog I've ever had that is allergic to his annual shots; he is allergic to topical flea medicines; he can only eat certain types of dry foods; and the list goes on and on.
Getting shots requires a preinjection of steriods and benadryl. It took me almost 8 years to find a topical flea medication I can apply without having him walk into walls and not be able to get back up. He throws up if I change his food or if I try new treats. This is just one of the downsides to this breed. The flipside is that Ratties are incredibly healthy and heal very fast. At 10 years old, his lab work is all within normal ranges just like a much younger dog. He still goes and goes and goes like the energizer bunny.
Ratties are also very independent, but that does not mean they are not loving and snuggle-buddies. Each rattie will have its own personality, but as a rule, these dogs are very loving and loyal and love to cuddle in the bed under the covers. I will say that housebreaking a rattie requires much patience and you have to develop a routine and then stick to it.
For more information about Rat Terriers, visit my site, Rat-Terrier-Information. You can get pointers on ways to train you rattie as well as watch some wonderful videos.
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