Dog
Pronunciation:
rat-chah
Breed Description:
The Rat-Cha breed of dog is a "designer" or mixed breed that was created by crossing the Chihuahua with the Rat Terrier. Because of this, a breed type has not been established and the looks and temperament of the dog can greatly change from one puppy to the next. Generally, the Rat-Cha will have qualities of both parents. They are usually a toy to small sized breed of dog that should be athletic in appearance with lean legs and delicate feet. They should have a level top line and a medium length tail that can be docked. The head is slightly rounded, although they can occasionally have the apple shaped head of the Chihuahua. They usually have medium sized ears that fold forward and a wedge shaped muzzle that tapers to the nose.
The coat of the Rat-Cha is short and smooth and it should lie flat against the dog. They can be found in any color that are common in the parent breeds, however, white with tan markings is one of the more common coat colors.
Temperament:
The Rat-Cha breed of dog is a designer breed and because of this, their temperament can vary greatly. If you are looking for a big dog in a little body, then look no further than the Rat-Cha. They are known for being a very confident dog that doesn't back down from a challenge. In fact, many of them are not aware of just how small they are. They do have a surprising amount of energy and the Rat-Cha is usually happy to entertain and have something to do. They are very intelligent and are affectionate with their owners. The breed is not recommended for homes with smaller children since they can be hurt easily. They do okay with other dogs but they can have a high prey drive that makes them unsuitable for homes with small, non-canine pets.
Height:
The average height for a Ratcha is between 13 to 18 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Ratcha is between 10 to 25 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Rat-Cha breed of dog has no known health problems, however, it is important to read up on both the Rat Terrier and the Chihuahua to be aware of the health problems your puppy may be at risk for.
Living Conditions:
The Rat-Cha breed of dog can do okay in apartments but the ideal is a home with a large, fenced yard. It is important that the yard be fenced since the Rat-Cha enjoys chasing small backyard animals and will chase them into traffic.
Exercise:
The Rat-Cha breed of dog is very active and requires between 20 to 30 minutes of exercise each day. They do need both on lead and off lead exercise and they should always be kept on lead when they are not in a secure area to prevent them from running away.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 15 years
Grooming:
The Rat-Cha breed of dog does not require a lot of maintanence and can be kept tidy with only one brushing each week. In addition, the Rat-Cha only requires a bath every few months and can do with only one or two baths a year. In between baths, the Rat-Cha can be kept clean with a damp cloth.
Origin:
The Rat-Cha breed of dog is a designer `hybrid`breed that has become popular over the last decade or so. There is no actual origin for the breed and if you are interested in learning more about the Rat-Cha, it is important to read up on both the Chihuahua and the Rat Terrier Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
