Tiffany
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| 05/03/2007 3:57 PM |
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| Hi all. I'm new to this forum, obviously. I came here because I'm thinking of adopting a Rat Terrier that is at my local shelter. I currently have a Boston Terrier who would benefit from a companion of equal energy and play style. We've never met a Rat Terrier before, but from what I've read they are very energetic and stay that way throughout their lives. That's exactly what I'm looking for in a dog. So... what can you tell me about the play style of your rat terriers? My boston terrier likes to run a lot, be chased, play tug, and can be sort of a rough player when wrestling with another dog. She's very in your face and sometimes punches out with her paws like a boxer. How would you describe the style of your dogs' play? |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 05/03/2007 4:00 PM |
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Um, just like your Boston  They fight with their butts a lot too - kind of hard to explain unless you've seen it. They are feisty, but not mean. And while active and energetic, they also quickly adapt to their people and are often willing to just sit and snuggle or hang out . They are the best dogs ever (no offense to your Boston) and I believe a rattie would make an excellent companion to add to your household. Is the rattie listed on petfinder? And we'd love to see your Boston too Welcome to the site. I hope it works out and you stay a member here. !!!!! |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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Tiffany
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| 05/03/2007 4:04 PM |
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Thanks for the quick reply!! Just as I suspected, a possible perfect match. I'll try to get a picture of Scratch, my bt, posted. The rattie I saw is listed on petfinder.... right here....
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=8292164
I need to read the instructions about posting a link... but you can cut and paste if it doesn't link up. |
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Kasey's Mom
Terrier Terror
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| 05/03/2007 4:13 PM |
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awwwww. what a cutie!!
My ratties likes to wrestle, chase, play tug of war.... fetch... those are just to name a few of their play style... Like what tracey said...
In my household, it's not a home without a rattie. they are like tater chips, can't just have one. :-)
by the way, Welcome!! :-) |
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Mardi
Momma to Kasey and Indy
~~Dance like nobody's watching~~ |
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 05/03/2007 4:17 PM |
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| Aw, he's a cutie. But they sure don't give you much information about the animal. Have you met him in person yet? |
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 05/03/2007 4:19 PM |
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| He is adorable!!! I think it would be a great match |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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CrazyMan
Ratterific
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| 05/03/2007 4:22 PM |
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I had two ratties and they would do the puppy five hundred around the house and then bark back and forth at each other like they were talking up their game, then just wrestle. then the whole thing would start over again...it was so entertaining i could watch it forever...they were the best of friends. |
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hmbghettopic53
Ratastic
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| 05/03/2007 4:27 PM |
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Looks like a sweetie! Have you met him yet? I'm sure they'll let you take your BT in to meet him so you can see if they're compatable. (Unless it doesn't work that way... not sure.)
Good luck!! |
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Jen & Illyria |
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 05/03/2007 4:31 PM |
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| I just wanted to say bless you for looking to rescue a rattie. The rescued ones seem to be extra loving and grateful to their new family. |
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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Tiffany
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| 05/03/2007 4:34 PM |
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| I haven't met him yet, but I did email the shelter and got a vague response. They say he's 35-40 pounds and around 19 inches tall... so he's a big fella. He doesn't look like a mix from the picture, but I guess he could be mixed with JRT? Or is that not an unheard of size for a rattie? I'm going to meet him on Saturday if he's still available. |
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mama2jerry
Ratastic
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| 05/03/2007 4:37 PM |
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| He's very cute! I bet he and Boston will have a great time playing together! |
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Sarah
....and mama to Darby too!
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 05/03/2007 4:41 PM |
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Posted By Tiffany on 05/03/2007 4:34 PM
I haven't met him yet, but I did email the shelter and got a vague response. They say he's 35-40 pounds and around 19 inches tall... so he's a big fella. He doesn't look like a mix from the picture, but I guess he could be mixed with JRT? Or is that not an unheard of size for a rattie? I'm going to meet him on Saturday if he's still available.
He could be a Decker Giant rattie. How big is your Boston? |
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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Tiffany
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| 05/03/2007 4:48 PM |
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| Scratch is 20 pounds. But our other dog is a 70 pound redbone coonhound, so she's used to playing with a dog that's bigger than her. |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 05/03/2007 5:53 PM |
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| Welcome! the rescue rattie does sound like a Decker Giant if he's pure rattie. I think the two dogs would get along great! |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, New Rattitude
Check out our ratties at www.newrattitude.org |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 05/03/2007 5:59 PM |
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| Thanks for the link He looks beautiful and may be a Decker rattie. You should take Scratch and your other dog too to meet him first and see how they interact while on neutral ground. I hope they mesh well and you are able to save him !!! |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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ladyfern
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/03/2007 7:52 PM |
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| Your dogs are super cute. Such sweet faces! Sounds like a good match to me too. In regards to daisysmom's post about butt fighting I'm happy to hear that too! LOL I thought it was just my wierdo dog. She will back her butt up into me and give me a one-two kick with both back feet and then look at me as if to say take one of these and one of those! Its total doggie insult to entice me to play. Just a riot. If you want happy, high energy, grateful, loving, devoted, cuddly, comical and easily trainable with your time and praise of course, then this is the breed for you! Wouldn't you agree folks? |
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ladyfern & shiloh
If you want the best seat in the house ... move the dog!
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Lucy's Colleen
Bratty Ratty
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| 05/03/2007 7:59 PM |
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| Rat terriers play pretty much the same way as bostons. Definitely bring you two along with you to meet him. Some shelters require a meeting before the dog can be adopted. Let us know how everything goes. |
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Colleen
Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7797281@N05/ |
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Susan
Terrier Terror
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| 05/04/2007 1:14 AM |
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| Our last Boston Terrier got along fine with the Ratties while she lived with me. Now she lives with my grandson.She was the last one, cause she was the last Boston Terrier that I Bred. Last of her line but that is fine with me, she is a sweet dog, Just not a Rattie. |
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ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH OVERDOING Mom of eight, only three left at home! Pack leader to ten ratties: Maggie, Mysty, Berry, Simon, Ceecee and five puppies, Star,Sari, Bluebelle, Double stuf,and Snortie. As well as Ginger the Border Collie and a herd of turkeys! |
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JRT_Rattie_Mom
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 05/04/2007 3:22 AM |
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He's a beautiful Rat Terrier..... and sure hope all works out for you to adopt him! When we first adopted out rattie Holly she had a best buddy at the dog park that was about the same age, a Boston Terrier named Beans  No matter how many other dogs were at the park, Holly and Beans would always play together. Beans moved away about a year ago.. and Holly has never really connected with any other dogs at the park like she did with Beans. |
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Karen G.
Lucy (JRT) & Holly (Rat Terrier)
Blind Dog Resources & Adoptions
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Tiffany
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| 05/04/2007 2:36 PM |
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They added some new pictures of him today....
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=8361550
Do you guys think he's all rattie, or possibly mixed with something. I don't have an eye for that with this breed yet. He is large, but possibly a Decker as others have mentioned. His floppy ears make me wonder if there's something else there since the breed standard specifies erect ears. |
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 05/04/2007 2:40 PM |
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| He looks like a rattie to me! And ears can be erect or buttoned. Several of the ratties on here have folded over ears and some like to wear their ears different ways on different days. |
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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JustAmy
Rat Royalty
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| 05/04/2007 2:44 PM |
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| Oh he is super cute!!! My guys ears are floppy unless they hear something. As for playing. It seems like they never run out of engry chasing each other. But I know they don't hurt each other because they always come bark for more. lol |
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My home is not complete without my Rattie tat tat feet...
www.myspace.com/justamyy79
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 05/04/2007 2:54 PM |
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I do think he's in all likliehood a "pure" Giant Decker Rat Terrier.
Here is the breed standard regarding ears:
V-shaped. Slightly set off skull. Prick, Semi-prick or buttoned (with a tendency to rise above point of origin), without preference, but both should be uniform. When in motion, ears may be carried folded in a rose position, but must be properly displayed at attention.
Faults: Two different ear carriages, tulip or "flying" ears. Blunt tipped, short round [bat ears, i.e., French Bulldog] or hanging/lop ears are serious faults.
Here is a link containing the history of the Decker Ratties : http://www.deckerterrier.com/gpage1.html
Here's a sample of a pure bred decker rat terrier from Bluegrass Kennels:
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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Tiffany
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| 05/04/2007 3:06 PM |
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| So that's what buttoned ears means. I was calling it "floppy." Well, he certainly does resemble the Decker in that photo. All I can think about is that poor guy waiting in his kennel at the shelter for me to come save him. I might have to skip out of work early today to do just that. |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 05/04/2007 3:07 PM |
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| I so hope you can find a way to rescue him and that your other dogs and he get along well. |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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Katie'sMom
Newbie
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| 05/04/2007 3:09 PM |
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| He is a NICE looking pup! |
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Tiffany
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| 05/04/2007 3:12 PM |
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| My other two are used to new dogs coming in and out of the house becaues I've been fostering for two years... so I don't foresee any problems. Scratch loves everyone right away. It usually takes Jake a couple days but he always makes friends with them too. He starts out sort of skeptical, but it doesn't take long for Scratch to show him how much fun the new dog is. |
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 05/04/2007 3:15 PM |
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| Oh let us know if you do go get him today! |
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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Kasey's Mom
Terrier Terror
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| 05/04/2007 3:32 PM |
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| I hope it all works out! keep us posted! :-) |
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Mardi
Momma to Kasey and Indy
~~Dance like nobody's watching~~ |
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Tiffany
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| 05/04/2007 8:42 PM |
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| Well.... I went to meet him. His name is Jack, I was glad he had a name. He has an adoption pending, so I'm going to go back and check on him in a couple days to make sure everything went through okay. The paperwork on his kennel said they were just waiting on a fence check to complete the adoption. He was a really cute guy, and big just like they said. I was surprised how big he really was, but size doesn't matter to me. Anyway, the shelter wasn't actually very bad. His kennel was clean and there were only 10 dogs there and they were all quiet for the most part, so it wasn't a really stressful environment. There were two volunteers in the kennel room and it really seemed like the dogs were taken good care of... so that made me feel a little better. I hope his adoption is successful and he ends up in a really great home. |
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