How much exercise does a Rat Terrier need
Rat Terriers are extremely energetic and smart and require at least an hour of exercise daily, but will not say no to more. They love the outdoors and ideally need plenty of off-leash play in the park or yard to help tire them and prevent behavior issues.
Rat Terriers that are not provided with sufficient exercise and mental stimulation become easily bored and this can result in behavior problems. This can include destructive behavior, nuisance barking, digging, and even escaping.
There are three main types of exercise and activity you must provide your Rat Terrier every day.
These exercise suggestions are for a healthy adult Rat Terrier. The exercise needs off a puppy are different as their bodies and growing and developing. See the bottom of this article for more on Rat Terrier puppy exercise.
Rat Terriers have a life expectancy of 15 to 18 years, so they are a long-lived breed. Exercise is still important for an older Rat Terrier to maintain their muscles and mobility, and to manage weight. See the bottom of this article for more on exercise for a senior Rat Terrier.
The daily walk is essential for a Rat Terrier not only to release some pent-up energy. The walk allows your Rat Terrier to stimulate the mind with the sights, sounds, and smells they come across.
The length of the walk is only limited by your time and energy as a Rat Terrier can go all day long. Ideally, the minimum should be 20 to 45 minutes daily at a brisk pace. This can be just once a day, or two walks a day would be better if your schedule allows.
Dogs also like routine, so try to schedule the walk for around the same time each day. Daily walks are much better than nothing all week and a big walk at the weekend.
If your Fox Terrier has good recall and comes on command, walks at the park off the leash are ideal. Some Rat Terriers can not be totally trusted off-leash so a retractable leash or long line is often a good idea. This gives them a little more freedom while you maintain control.
The Rat Terrier is fast and can turn on a dime. Ideally, you need to find activities that can burn energy in a short period of time and use these skills.
Providing your Rat Terrier with a good variety of toys can help not only to keep them occupied but burn off some of that energy also.
Here are some suggested activities and exercise ideas to help tire your Rat Terrier.
A Flirt pole is like a giant cat tickler for dogs. It has a long handle with a bungy type rope with a lure or toy attached to the end. You simply move the lure along the ground around in circles or in different directions as your dog chases it.
This activity is ideal for a Rat Terrier as it works directly with their natural prey and chase instinct. Be sure they have a good “leave it” command and don’t allow them to destroy the toy. It is important that this be a controlled exercise. For a full guide to flirt pole exercise for dogs see here.
View Flirt Poles on Amazon
Playing Fetch with your Rat Terrier is another fantastic way to burn pent-up energy. Rat Terriers are generally ball crazy and love to chase so they can play this for hundreds of throws. A great alternative is to use an Automatic Ball Launcher so your dog can play Fetch by themselves. As the Rat Terrier is smart and highly trainable they learn to use this quickly. For more information check out “Automatic Ball Launchers for Dogs”
Most dogs can chase and catch a ball. But a Frisbee requires a little bit more skill, coordination, and timing. Rat Terriers are extremely agile and look spectacular playing this. Roll the Frisbee on the ground towards your dog. They will instinctually want to grab it in his mouth. Once you’ve accomplished this, try tossing it at a very low level first to your dog. If you feel like your dog is ready to go to the next level, toss the disc a little higher and further. Great energy burner and you may be amazed at your dog’s agility and acrobatic skill.
Set up an agility or obstacle course in your backyard. You can use items you have around the home, build your own agility or you can get reasonably priced agility sets on Amazon.
You can include tasks such as the weave, hurdle jumps, tunnels or jumping through hoops or a platform to jump on and stay.
A good energy burner if you have stairs in your home. Start at the bottom of the stairs and have your dog “stay”. Throw the ball to the top of the stairs and then say, “Go!” Let your dog dash up the stairs as fast as they can. Have them return down the stairs at a slower pace to avoid injury.
For more on stair exercise for dogs see here.
Can a Rat Terrier be an outside dog?
A rat terrier is not an outside dog for a cold climate. It is a short haired dog that needs protection from the elements and should be brought inside. Please don’t leave the dog outside for any length of time.
Training a Young Rat Terrier Puppy
Though rat terrier dogs can be trained at any age, the needs of the owners of new rat terrier puppies will be different than those of older rat terrier dogs. The following section will cover rat terrier puppy training.
Best Rat Terrier Dog Training | Gilroy, CA | Growler and Spotty
Dogs love to run, play, and explore the world without the hindrance of a leash. However, letting your dog off the leash can be dangerous for your dog and disrespectful to your community. In general, it is not recommended to let your dog off the leash unless you are in an enclosed area.
Your dog must be properly trained to behave well and stay right by your side or under your voice control at all times when it is off the leash. If your dog is in excellent health, is even-tempered, has a minimal prey drive, has never shown signs of aggression, and does not have “wanderlust,” then there is a possibility that you can trust it off the leash in certain circumstances. In order for it to go smoothly, there are a number of training steps you need to take prior to giving it this freedom.