How much exercise does a Rat Terrier need?
Daily exercise minutes, the activities a Rat Terrier enjoys and signs of too much or too little.
Adults need about 45 to 60 minutes of activity a day, more for standards and working dogs. Ratties love fetch, flirt poles, agility, lure coursing and barn hunt, a sport where dogs search straw bales for safely caged rats. Afterward, most are content to curl up indoors for the evening.
Keep them on lead or in secure areas, because a squirrel or rabbit can trigger a sudden sprint. The short coat offers little protection from cold, so a jumper or coat is sensible in winter, and walks in freezing rain should be short. Barking, digging and chewing are the classic signs of a dog that needs more to do.
Rat Terrier exercise in numbers
Activity ranges are editorial planning estimates. The five-minutes-per-month puppy rule lacks scientific evidence. Adapt activity to the individual and seek advice for pain or exercise difficulty. PDSA puppy exercise guidance.
Editorial activity estimate
90 to 120 min
Puppy activity
Individual plan
adapt to age, health and development
Senior activity
Individual plan
adapt to comfort and ability
Size
small
4 to 11 kg
Energy level
Playfulness
Handles heat
Handles cold