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There are more than 400 types of dog breeds. How can you tell which one’s right for you? The best way is to learn about the breeds that interest you most. Understanding their temperament, size, trainability, and health needs will help you choose the right dog and care for them properly.
If you want a small to medium-sized dog with intelligence, loyalty, and a friendly nature, the rat terrier is the perfect choice. These affectionate pups are great at everything they do, from guarding the house to exploring Tennessee’s trails. Their short-haired bodies require extra care with extreme weather changes, but it’s easily manageable.
Ready to learn how to adopt a rat terrier in Tennessee? We have all the information you need for a smooth adoption process.
Rat Terrier Adoption in Tennessee
Tennessee’s outgoing lifestyle and plenty of open spaces make it a great place to raise an active dog like the rat terrier. If you have the stamina to go on long walks twice a day and the patience to deal with the breed’s strong-headed personality, adopting one is a budget-friendly choice.
Start by looking for shelters and rescues with available ratties in Tennessee. Ask local vets and trainers for recommendations, check out online listings, and join breed-specific social media groups to find reliable leads. Always check the organization’s website for pictures and bios of their dogs, and read their policies. These small steps can help you avoid any red flags.
A responsible adoption organization will have a well-maintained facility with healthy and sociable dogs. Plus, their staff will help you make an informed decision by answering your questions about the breed’s temperament. Once you find the right shelter or rescue, submit an adoption application online, and wait for them to invite you for a meeting.
The application form collects information about your lifestyle, experience with dogs, family members, and more. It helps the staff pair you with the right dog. The meeting, on the other hand, is your chance to learn more about the dog by looking at their health certificates and spending some time with them.
After everything checks out, you can take your dog home. Before leaving the facility, request the on-site vet to check the dog for any signs of dental issues, skin allergies, or mite infestations. If you already have a pet at home, this will help you prevent any potential spread of diseases.
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How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Rat Terrier in Tennessee?Adoption centers in Tennessee charge between $200 and $350 for well-socialized and healthy rat terriers. If you’re on a budget or have no prior experience, adopting an older rattie will be a more manageable option. They are cheaper and calmer. Regardless of age, all rescue dogs come with a microchip. They are also tested and treated for heartworms. Beyond the adoption fee, you also have to think about long-term care. Rat terriers can stick around for 12 to 18 years. Caring for them over their lifetime can cost you about $10,000 to $20,000. Keep a flexible yearly budget of $800 to $1,400 to pay for their expenses without feeling burdened. |
How Should I Train a Rat Terrier?Dogs with high intelligence and an eager-to-please personality are generally easy to train. They understand instructions well and perform them with wagging tails to earn rewards. If you follow a routine and use positive reinforcement, your pup will obey almost all your commands. Start with basic obedience drills and gradually increase distractions to ensure they stick. Certain behaviors, like excessive barking, might need some extra attention. As watchdogs, rat terriers communicate their concerns for their human’s safety with high-pitched and continuous barks. Early socialization can make them calmer. With exposure to new people and environments, they’ll learn that not everything is a threat. It’s also important to crate-train them. Ratties are shadow dogs who want to be around their families at all times. Whether you’re going out for groceries or on a picnic, they’ll want to be a part of it. Staying alone for long can stress them out. If you want to learn how to make them use their crate, Dog Academy’s Crate Training course can be a good resource. |
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Find the Right Rat Terrier in Tennessee for You
Rat terriers are bundles of joy in small frames. Their perked-up ears and short tails can steal your heart at first sight. They might keep you on your toes all day, but they will also know when to curl up in your lap and shower you with sloppy kisses.
