Faults (both Varieties): Bent tail; ring tail.

COAT

Coated Variety: The coat is short, dense, and smooth, with a  sheen. Whiskers are not removed.

Hairless Variety: Puppies are born with a soft, vestigial        down that generally covers the body. This "down" gradually diminishes  until age 6 to 8 weeks, by which time the pup should be completely        hairless. A mature Rat Terrier, Hairless variety, is free from hair except for whiskers and guard hairs on the muzzle, and eyebrows. Short, very fine (vellus) hair may be present on the body of a mature dog. The skin is smooth and warm to the touch. The Hairless variety may sweat when overheated or stressed, but this is not to be faulted in the ring.

Serious faults: Vellus hair longer than 1mm on a dog over  six months of age.

Disqualification's (both varieties): Wire or broken coat; long coat. COLOR Coated Variety: The following colors, color patterns, or  combination of colors are acceptable without preference: Solid white;  tri-colored (white with patches of black and tan); or bi-colored (any        combination of black, tan, chocolate, red, orange, lemon, or blue with  white), with or without tan or rust "Manchester type" markings on the  cheeks and over the eyes. The white on a bi-colored dog may be of any size  and located anywhere on the dog. Any white area may be ticked as long as  white predominates. The head may be solid colored, or marked with any  facial marking, including sable coloration. Faults: Fawn, cream, or fallow with black mask; silver. Disqualification's: Brindle; Merle; bi-color where neither  color is white; any solid color other than white. Hairless Variety: Any skin color is acceptable. The skin is  usually parti-colored with an underlying skin color and freckles or spots of contrasting color. Freckles enlarge with age, and skin color will darken when exposed to the sun. Disqualification (both Varieties): Albinism. HEIGHT AND WEIGHT The Rat Terrier is divided into two varieties for  conformation exhibition: Miniature and Standard. Miniature Variety: Not exceeding 13 inches measured at the withers. Standard Variety: Over 13 inches but not exceeding 18 inches  measured at the withers. Weight will vary depending on the size of the individual dog. Rat Terriers are working terriers and should be presented        in hard, muscular condition. Faults: Height over 19 inches; obesity. GAIT The Rat Terrier moves with a jaunty air that suggests  agility, speed, and power. Rat Terrier gait is smooth and effortless, with good reach of forequarters without any trace of hackney gait. Rear        quarters have strong driving power, with hocks fully extending. Viewed  from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or  interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge  toward center line of balance. DISQUALIFICATIONS Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Unilateral or bilateral deafness. A short-legged dog whose proportions vary significantly from the 10:9 ratio. Hanging ears. Wire or        broken coat. Long coat. Albinism. In the Coated variety: Brindle, Merle.  Bi-color where neither color is white. Any solid color other than white. Note: In the interest of the Hairless Variety , there may be some changes forthcoming , once we become more established with UKC and their unique qualitites are evident. [ AHRTC Home ]