Globalpaw.com Dog Forum » General Dog Concerns & Questions » Canine Genetics and Dog Breeding Forum

[yesiames]

I hope I'm posting in the right section. I need a little help. I adopted a puppy thinking it was a JRT, but the more I look at her I feel like she resembles a Rat Terrier. I've added some pictures, anyone care to guess?

[Cassiepeia]

I think you might have something there. She doesn't look like a JRT to me, very much like a Rat Terrier though.

However she could quite easily be a JRT mix (or a RT mix LOL). Actually, the more I look at her the more I'm convinced she's a mix. Possibly even of the two, who knows?

Whatever she is, she's a cutie pie.

Cass.

[Ritz459]

JRTs and Rat Terriers are such a dime a dozen and often misidentified and poorly bred that they all end up looking like each other after awhile.

I've seen some JRTs that looks just like JRTs are suppose to, then I've seen some that look like Rat Terriers, and I've seen some Rat Terriers that look just like JRTs. LOL So who knows for sure.

That being said, I do think she looks more like a Rat Terrier than a JRT. But she also doesn't look just like a Rat Terrier. My guess is she is a mix of both or an badly bred version of one. Either way, she's adorable.

[IceyBlueSibes]

I agree. She does look Rat Terrier, but anything's possible! I do agree she may either be a mix, or poorly bred.

Either way, she's beautiful

[yesiames]

thank you all for your kind words! i absolutely love her... but i never planned on keeping her.
my friend was going to take her to the pound so i "adopted" her - planning to find her a good home.
that was 2wks ago and i keep falling more and more in love.

sammi (cocker spaniel on right) is not a fan however. molly (jrt/rat terrier mix) is like a younger sister who just won't stop bothering her.

[pinsnpugs]

Originally Posted by Cassiepeia

I think you might have something there. She doesn't look like a JRT to me, very much like a Rat Terrier though.

However she could quite easily be a JRT mix (or a RT mix LOL). Actually, the more I look at her the more I'm convinced she's a mix. Possibly even of the two, who knows?

Whatever she is, she's a cutie pie.

Cass.

I agree with her ^

[Swiftwind]

Both of your dogs are gorgeous! I'd also take a guess at Molly's breed being a Rat Terrier (mix?).

[RedWolf]

I would guess she is a Rat Terrier mix, however I have been told that since Rat Terriers are a newer breed you do sometimes get some that don't look like the "standard". I had a Rat Terrier mix and that was what Rat Terrier person told me, they said my dog could actually be purebred Rat Terrier but more of a "throwback".
Your dog's face does not really look fully Rat Terrier to me though, looks a bit more Jack Russell like.

[PIEDPIPER]

hi @ !
why shouldn´t she be a JRT?... the only thing differing to the official breed standard is, that she has ears standing straight up - but this "problem" also occurs in "official" JRT breeding sometimes... (here in Europe the type of "rat terrier" is not a recognized breed, but only written, that it is an only by the AKC known "breed".
Kind regards,
Gerhard

[NJdogluvr]

Whatever she is....she's cute as a button....good luck with her!

[pinsnpugs]

* posted in error

[pinsnpugs]

[

[Joy van Veen]

Originally Posted by PIEDPIPER

hi @ !
why shouldn´t she be a JRT?... the only thing differing to the official breed standard is, that she has ears standing straight up - but this "problem" also occurs in "official" JRT breeding sometimes... (here in Europe the type of "rat terrier" is not a recognized breed, but only written, that it is an only by the AKC known "breed".
Kind regards,
Gerhard

The Rat Terrier has been a recognized breed by the UKC for a long time. The standard the AKC is using might sound like the breed has no other differences, I don't know as I have never read an AKC standard for the breed. I would not think of the AKC when I think of Rat Terriers. They do vary more than breeds even newer under the AKC as they are a working terrier and bred more for function than looks. Ear carriage is not a functional issue, so you see both.

The thing that stands out to me is the size. In the second pic with the other dog, he appears large for a RT. As a working terrier, size is a functional characteristic, sohe is either a poorly bred RT or an RT mix.