Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Rat Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Rat Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Rat Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Rat Terriers Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Rat Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Rat Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Rat Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Rat Terriers Easy to Train?
- Do Rat Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Rat Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Rat Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Rat Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Rat Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Rat Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Rat Terriers
- Conclusion on Rat Terrier Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Rat Terrier
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Rat Terrier out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Rat Terrier based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Rat Terrier breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Rat Terrier by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Rat Terrier.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Rat Terrier for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Rat Terrier.
The summary table below shows the score of the Rat Terrier for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
Behavior | Score |
---|---|
Energy Level | 68.1 percent |
Dog Directed Aggression | 68.0 percent |
Attachment Attention Seeking | 67.6 percent |
Prey Drive | 65.4 percent |
Stranger Directed Fear | 64.5 percent |
Nonsocial Fear | 61.6 percent |
Stranger Directed Aggression | 56.3 percent |
Dog Directed Fear | 51.2 percent |
Excitability | 51.1 percent |
Touch Sensitivity | 48.2 percent |
Dog Rivalry | 45.0 percent |
Separation Related Behavior | 33.5 percent |
Stubbornness | 27.4 percent |
Owner Directed Aggression | 16.4 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Rat Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Rat Terrier, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Rat Terrier.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Rat Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Rat Terriers are very much aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks very high for aggression towards strangers.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 17 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 56.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much aggressive towards strangers just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
14 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 62.9 % |
15 | Maltese | 58.7 % |
16 | Australian Cattle Dog | 58.6 % |
17 | Rat Terrier | 56.3 % |
18 | Kuvasz | 53.6 % |
19 | Chinese Crested | 53.4 % |
20 | Yorkshire Terrier | 52.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Rat Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Rat Terriers are somewhat aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks average for aggression towards its owner.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 58 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has an owner-directed-aggression score of 16.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat owner-aggressive just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
55 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 16.8 % |
56 | Siberian Husky | 16.5 % |
57 | Akita | 16.4 % |
58 | Rat Terrier | 16.4 % |
59 | Anatolian Shepherd | 16.3 % |
60 | Pug | 15.4 % |
61 | Pit Bull mix | 15.2 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Rat Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Rat Terriers are very much aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks very high for aggression towards other dogs.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 22 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has a dog-directed aggression score of 68.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much dog-aggressive just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
19 | Old English Sheepdog | 68.9 % |
20 | Bullmastiff | 68.7 % |
21 | Boxer | 68.6 % |
22 | Rat Terrier | 68.0 % |
23 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 67.9 % |
24 | Australian Cattle Dog | 67.1 % |
25 | Shiba Inu | 66.9 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Rat Terriers Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Rat Terriers are very much fearful of strangers.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks very high for fear of strangers.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 8 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has a stranger-directed-fear score of 64.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much stranger-fearful just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
5 | Chihuahua | 80.6 % |
6 | Miniature Pinscher | 75.6 % |
7 | Dingo | 68.9 % |
8 | Rat Terrier | 64.5 % |
9 | Dachshund | 62.5 % |
10 | American Bulldog | 61.4 % |
11 | Parson Russell Terrier | 61.3 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Rat Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Rat Terriers are quite a bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks high for fear of other dogs.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 30 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has a dog-directed-fear score of 51.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit other-dog-fearful just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
27 | Australian Kelpie | 54.3 % |
28 | Australian Silky Terrier | 53.6 % |
29 | Bichon Frise | 53.0 % |
30 | Rat Terrier | 51.2 % |
31 | Miniature Schnauzer | 51.2 % |
32 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 49.6 % |
33 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 49.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Rat Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Rat Terriers are very much fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks very high for non-social fear.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 10 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has a nonsocial-fear score of 61.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much nonsocial-fearful just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
7 | Parson Russell Terrier | 64.0 % |
8 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 63.9 % |
9 | American Bulldog | 62.7 % |
10 | Rat Terrier | 61.6 % |
11 | Redbone Coonhound | 59.3 % |
12 | Chinese Crested | 57.4 % |
13 | Greyhound | 56.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Rat Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Rat Terriers are quite a bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks high on dog rivalry.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 48 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has a dog-rivalry score of 45.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit competition-driven just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
---|---|---|
45 | Poodle (Miniature) | 46.9 % |
46 | Boston Terrier | 46.6 % |
47 | Afghan Hound | 45.4 % |
48 | Rat Terrier | 45.0 % |
49 | Bearded Collie | 45.0 % |
50 | Border Collie | 44.9 % |
51 | Anatolian Shepherd | 44.4 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Rat Terriers Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Rat Terriers are quite a bit easy to train.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks high for trainability.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 46 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the trainability of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has a trainability score of 72.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit easy to train just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
---|---|---|
43 | Anatolian Shepherd | 73.6 % |
44 | Airedale Terrier | 73.5 % |
45 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 73.3 % |
46 | Rat Terrier | 72.6 % |
47 | Boxer | 72.3 % |
48 | Poodle (Toy) | 72.2 % |
49 | Dalmatian | 71.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Do Rat Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Rat Terriers are quite a bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks high for small-pet-chasing.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 26 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has a chasing score of 65.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
---|---|---|
23 | Schipperke | 69.0 % |
24 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 67.1 % |
25 | Belgian Malinois | 66.4 % |
26 | Rat Terrier | 65.4 % |
27 | Alaskan Malamute | 65.1 % |
28 | Weimaraner | 64.8 % |
29 | Irish Water Spaniel | 64.6 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Rat Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Rat Terriers are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 30 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 67.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
---|---|---|
27 | Dachshund | 68.7 % |
28 | Belgian Tervuren | 68.2 % |
29 | Bichon Frise | 67.9 % |
30 | Rat Terrier | 67.6 % |
31 | Dalmatian | 67.6 % |
32 | Pit Bull mix | 67.5 % |
33 | English Springer Spaniel | 67.1 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Rat Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Rat Terriers are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 68 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has a separation anxiety score of 33.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
---|---|---|
65 | Tibetan Terrier | 35.7 % |
66 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 34.7 % |
67 | Great Dane | 34.6 % |
68 | Rat Terrier | 33.5 % |
69 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 33.2 % |
70 | Bullmastiff | 33.1 % |
71 | Havanese | 32.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Rat Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Rat Terriers are very much touch-sensitive.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks very high for touch sensitivity.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 15 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has a touch-sensitivity score of 48.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much touch-sensitive just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
---|---|---|
12 | Cairn Terrier | 49.3 % |
13 | Pug | 48.7 % |
14 | Schipperke | 48.6 % |
15 | Rat Terrier | 48.2 % |
16 | Beagle | 47.9 % |
17 | American Eskimo Dog | 47.5 % |
18 | English Bulldog | 46.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Rat Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Rat Terriers are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks high for excitability.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 42 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has an excitability score of 51.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
---|---|---|
39 | Keeshond | 52.4 % |
40 | Brittany | 52.3 % |
41 | Bearded Collie | 51.6 % |
42 | Rat Terrier | 51.1 % |
43 | Pit Bull | 51.0 % |
44 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 51.0 % |
45 | Beagle | 50.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Rat Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Rat Terriers
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Rat Terriers are quite a bit energetic.
This is because the Rat Terrier ranks high for energy level.
The Rat Terrier ranks number 36 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 53 Rat Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Rat Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rat Terrier has an energy-level score of 68.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit energetic just like the Rat Terrier are listed in the table below
Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
---|---|---|
33 | Australian Shepherd | 68.5 % |
34 | Bull Terrier | 68.2 % |
35 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 68.2 % |
36 | Rat Terrier | 68.1 % |
37 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 67.5 % |
38 | Miniature Pinscher | 67.4 % |
39 | Pit Bull | 67.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Rat Terrier Temperament
The temperament of your Rat Terrier comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Rat Terrier is exposed to.
You cannot change your Rat Terrier`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Rat Terrier to.
Exposing your Rat Terrier to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Rat Terrier to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Rat Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Rat Terrier.
If you think the Rat Terrier is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Rat Terriers cost and Rat Terrier puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Rat Terrier breeders in the United States and the prices of their Rat Terrier puppies.