How long does a Rat Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Rat Terrier is 12–18 years.

How tall is a Rat Terrier?

The listed height for a Rat Terrier is 10–18 in.

Is a Rat Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Rat Terrier is 5 out of 5.

When is a Rat Terrier full grown?

The growth size band for a Rat Terrier is 8–12 months.

Terrier Group

Rat Terrier

Rat Terrier is a small dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 10–25 lb, height is 10–18 in, and the listed lifespan is 12–18 years. AKC describes the temperament as Friendly, Inquisitive, Lovable.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Rat Terrier dog — Photo: Macboots at English Wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–18 years

Weight10–25 lb

SizeSmall GroupTerrier Group

Height

10–18 in

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 15 years is about 1.4 years longer than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 17.5 lb is about 1.5 lb heavier than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is United States. The coat is described as smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.4 points above the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 84 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Hip Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, and Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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