Spring and summer also bring-----fleas!

For those of you who don't own Rat Terriers, you may not know that this breed is very sensitive to chemicals and has numerous allergies.  I did not know this when I got my Satchmo, but I found out very soon afterward.

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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Cocoa and Pip -- Smile Like a Dog Photography

I happened upon this wonderful site.  I love the pictures and the comments.  This photographer has a real affinity for the subject matter and it shows.  Anyway, this particular set of pictures made me laugh.  I really cannot imagine trying to get one terrier to be still for a formal photograph, let alone two at the same time.  However, the resulting picture simply speaks to you of the intelligence, curiosity and playfulness of this particular breed.

Please check out Mark's blog and see if you don't get a chuckle or two just like I did.

The White and Black rattie could be a doppelganger for my Satchmo!  Only quite a bit younger!!

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Cocoa & Pip

Posted on 17. Nov, 2009 by Mark in Dogs

Trying to photograph two terrier mixes for a poster is like…? You fill in the blank. To be fair Cocoa and Pip’s owner, who rescued them through Rocket Dog said it would be a challenge but I thought, nah, it’ll be on my turf. No problem. Well, let’s just say it took a little longer than usual but in the end we definitely got the money shot. Check it out below…

Cocoa

Pip

Heading back from St Francis

We Rat Terriers are a Proud Bunch

Me, proud? Not so much.

Terrier Times Two

You can visit Mark's website to see more of his wonderful work or to contact him for your own setting for your dog at Pet Photos with Personality

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Living with Ratties!

Image by JKleeman via Flickr

 Here is a snippet I found out in the net about living with two ratties.  As I read it, I was chuckling to myself, as these thoughts have been expressed by anyone who owns rat terriers.  In this snippet, the author can't figure out how to keep the dogs out of the kitchen.  I simply gave that idea up.

Other rattie owners talk about how these lovely little sweeties can be so independent, intelligent, loyal, stubborn, did I say stubborn?  Well, all of those traits are true to the breed, but the best trait of a rat terrier is the love you get in such a compact bundle.

These are not cuddlesome, fluffy puppies.  These are more like caffeine crazed cats in a very small dog body!
They will cuddle--but when they want to.  They will be held--but only when they want it.  They will mind your commands--as long as you ask them to do what they want to do anyway.

Anyway, owning a rat terrier is unlike owning any other type of dog.  I have had mutts, pure breds, and I have to say having a Rat Terrier is my favorite!

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Rat Terriers

I live with two Rat Terriers that are just plain smarter than I am. They have the ability to reason. I have an entry way to my kitchen from the living room and there is no door. When I have guests over to my house for dinner, I would like to keep the dogs out of the kitchen while I am cooking. I have tried various tall dog gates but so far, I haven’t found one that keeps the dogs out of the kitchen. The first one I tried had little holes in it big enough for the dogs to climb up like a ladder. Before I knew what was happening, there they both were in the kitchen! The next one I bought was an accordion style that they just kept knocking down any time they felt like it. I have even tried to crate them but the howling sounds they made would put a banshee to shame. I guess that I will either stop inviting guests for dinner or just explain to my guests that in our house, dog hair is a spice.

Posted on November 11th, 2009