Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
Encyclopedia
Description
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an American hunting terrier that is a small to medium sized terrier. Lower-set with shorter leg, more muscular, and heavier bone density than its cousin the American Rat Terrier. There is much diversity in the history of the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier breed and it shares a common early history with the American Rat Terrier, Fox Paulistinha and Tenterfield TerrierTenterfield Terrier
The Tenterfield Terrier is a small, lightweight terrier developed from the Miniature Fox Terriers, and akin to Rat Terriers. Although it has English origins and was formally called the Mini Foxie, it was developed in Australia...
. It is said the Rat Terrier background stems from the terriers or other dogs that were brought over by early English and other working class immigrants. Since the breed was a farm, hunting and utility dog there was little to no planned breeding other than breeding dogs with agreeable traits to each other in order to produce the desired work ethic in the dog. It is assumed that the Feist (dog)
Feist (dog)
A Feist is a type of small hunting dog, developed via crossbreeding of various other hunting breeds in the rural southern United States.- Description :...
, Bull Terrier
Bull Terrier
The Bull Terrier or English Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family. They are known for their large, egg-shaped head, small triangular eyes, and "jaunty gait." Their temperament has been described as generally fun-loving, active and clownish...
, Smooth Fox Terrier, Manchester Terrier
Manchester Terrier
The Manchester Terrier is a breed of dog of the smooth-haired terrier type.-Appearance:Manchester Terriers are considered by most to be the oldest of all identifiable terrier breeds, finding mention in works dating from as early as the 16th century. In 1570 Dr...
, Whippet
Whippet
The Whippet is a breed of dog in the sighthound family. They are active and playful and are physically similar to a small Greyhound.- Description :...
, Italian Greyhound
Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is a small breed of dog of the sight hound type, sometimes called an "I.G.", or "Iggy" for short.-Appearance:The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of the sighthounds, typically weighing about and standing about tall at the withers...
, the now extinct English White Terrier
English White Terrier
The English white terrier is an extinct breed of dog.The English White terrier is the failed show ring name of a pricked-ear version of the white fox-working terriers that have existed in the U.K...
, Turnspit dog
Turnspit Dog
The Turnspit Dog was a short-legged, long-bodied dog bred to run on a wheel, called a turnspit or dog wheel, to turn meat. The type is now extinct. It is mentioned in Of English Dogs in 1576 under the name Turnespete. Rev. W. Bingley's Memoirs of British Quadrupeds also talks of a dog employed to...
and or Wry Legged Terrier all share in the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier's ancestry. These early Ratting Terriers where then most likely bred to the Beagle
Beagle
The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...
or Beagle cross bred dogs (for increased scenting ability) and other dogs. Maximizing the influences from these various breeds provides the modern Teddy Roosevelt Terrier with a keen sense of awareness and prey drive, an acute sense of smell and a very high intellect. Although they tend to be aloof with strangers they are devoted companion dogs with a strong desire to please and be near their owners side at all times.
The current UKC standard calls for a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier to range in height between 8 and 15 inches with their weight being proportionate to their height. It is not uncommon to see Teddy Roosevelt Terriers weighing as much as 25 lbs or as little as 8-10 lbs.
Breed History
Early American history shows that the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, like the Rat Terrier, were often referred too as Feist or just plain terrier mixes. In the case of the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, "bench legged feist"..The first Standard for the breed was developed by the now defunct Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Club of America in 1996. There are currently several registration organizations all of which have their own standard but the most commonly accepted is the United Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club International . Although the UKCI still only recognizes them as a variation of the Rat Terrier.
The breed is named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, although he never owned nor was he instrumental in developing the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier. The dog he acquired from one of his hunting guides was a black and tan mixed bred feist type dog. In one of his letters to his children he writes "There is a very cunning little dog named Skip, belonging to John Goff's pack, who has completely adopted me. I think I shall take him home to Archie. He likes to ride on Dr. Lambert's horse, or mine, and though he is not as big as Jack, takes eager part in the fight with every bear and bobcat." Although he owned several rat terrier type dogs none can be confirmed to be the shorter, stockier variety.
In 1999 both "Rat Terrier" and “Teddy Roosevelt Terrier" were accepted as a separate breeds by the United Kennel Club.
Currently, the UKC accepts Single Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Registration Applications for dogs from 10 different registries where they are simply designated as "Rat Terriers." http://www.ukcdogs.com/res/pdf/fo6adm.pdf.
Appearance
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a low-set, muscular, active, small-to-medium size hunting terrier. The preferred ratio of length of body (prosternum to point of buttocks) to height (withers to ground) is between 10:7 and 10:8. The head is broad, slightly domed, wedge-shaped, and proportionate to the size of the body. Ears are V-shaped, set at the outside edges of the skull, and may be erect or button. A docked tail is preferred, but a natural bob tail or a natural tail carried in an upward curve are also acceptable. The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier comes in solid white, other solid colors with markings, and white with a variety of colored patches.The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier should be evaluated as a working terrier, and exaggerations, or faults, should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog’s ability to work. Honorable scars resulting from field work are not to be penalized.
Disqualification: A longer-legged, square-bodied dog, whose proportions vary significantly from the desired ratio lacks breed type, and must be disqualified.
Common Characteristics
Like the Rat Terrier, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier of today is bred for versatility, including hunting instincts, soundness of health, great temperament, and good looks. They can and will rat out a barn in a matter of hours, with seemingly unlimited energy. They make excellent watch dogs. Teddies share a love for their families and become very attached, craving human interaction and affection. Always by their owner's side, they will become a constant shadow, following their master around throughout the daily routine.Teddies are very smart and loyal, which makes them easy to train. They are energetic and playful, and their antics can make you laugh daily. However, when it’s time to settle down they are just as content to be in your lap.
Teddies can adapt to pretty much any lifestyle, whether you show in conformation rings, work in agility trials, or just want a great companion for your home or farm. Their small to medium size makes them suitable to apartment living as well. Today, the TRT ranks high as a household companion.
Health Problems
Less common problems may include allergies, bite problems (malocclusions), hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasiaElbow dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia is a condition involving multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow-joint in the dog, specifically the growth of cartilage or the structures surrounding it. These abnormalities, known as 'primary lesions', give rise to osteoarthritic processes...
, and subluxating patella
Luxating patella
Luxating patella is a condition in which the patella, or kneecap, dislocates or moves out of its normal location....
as these are problems that appear in the dog's cousin, the rat terrier
Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier is an American dog breed with a rich and varied background as an all-around farm dog and hunting companion. Traditionally more of a type than a breed, they share much ancestry with the tough little mixed-breed dogs known as feists...
.
Ectopia lentis
Ectopia lentis
Ectopia lentis is a displacement or malposition of the eye's crystalline lens from its normal location. A partial dislocation of a lens is termed lens subluxation or subluxated lens; a complete dislocation of a lens is termed lens luxation or luxated lens.-Ectopia lentis in dogs and cats:Although...
is a cogenital condition which may affect this breed. Although not currently well documented in the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier it has been seen in the Rat Terrier
Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier is an American dog breed with a rich and varied background as an all-around farm dog and hunting companion. Traditionally more of a type than a breed, they share much ancestry with the tough little mixed-breed dogs known as feists...
and other terrier breeds.