Dog
Pronunciation:
rat-shee ter-ee-er
Breed Description:
The Ratshi Terrier breed of dog is a "designer" or mixed breed that was created by crossing the Shih Tzu 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 Ratshi Terrier will have qualities of both parents. They are usually a toy to small sized breed of dog that should have a sturdy build while still having an athletic appearance to them. They should be slightly longer than they are tall with a level top line. The head should be wedge shaped with a medium length muzzle that tapers to a point. The ears are usually medium in length and fold forward and the tail is usually medium in length, although some owners opt to have it docked.
The coat of the Ratshi Terrier can be anything from the long, silky coat of the Shih Tzu or the very short coat of the Rat Terrier, however, many of the dogs have a medium length coat that looks wiry in appearance. The overall look is of a very scruffy dog. They can be found in any color common to the parent breeds, however, primarily white with tan markings are very common to see.
Temperament:
The Ratshi Terrier breed of dog is a designer breed and because of this, their temperament can vary greatly. They are usually a sweet little dog that is active and loyal. The breed is often clown like in their temperament and they often seem to have an uncanny ability to get into mischief. The Ratshi Terrier is usually good with older children, however, they are not recommended for homes with younger children since they can be snappy. The breed does well with other dogs but it is important to remember that they can be very confident and may not back down from a challenge. They are not recommended for homes with smaller, non-canine pets since the Ratshi Terrier may have a high prey drive, especially if they take after their Rat Terrier parent.
Height:
The average height for a Ratshi Terrier is between 8 to 20 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Ratshi Terrier is between 6 to 30 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Ratshi Terrier breed of dog has no known health problems, however, it is important to read up on both the Rat Terrier and the Shih Tzu to be aware of the health problems your puppy may be at risk for.
Living Conditions:
The Ratshi Terrier 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 Ratshi Terrier enjoys chasing small backyard animals and will chase them into traffic.
Exercise:
The Ratshi Terrier breed of dog is very active and requires between 30 and 45 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 Ratshi Terrier breed of dog can be easy to groom if they have the short coat of the Rat Terrier and if they have the long coat of the Shih Tzu, many owners opt to clip the coat to make grooming easier. If they have the combination coat, the Ratshi Terrier will need to be brushed two or three times per week. Bathing should be done once every month or two and the ears should be cleaned weekly. The face should be wiped down on a daily basis and the nails should be trimmed once or twice a week.
Origin:
The Ratshi Terrier 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 Ratshi Terrier, it is important to read up on both the Shih Tzu 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.
