Dog Breed Info - Boston Rat Terrier

by Robin
(West Yarmouth, MA)

Chester is a Boston/Rat Terrier mix and is 5 years old in this photo.  He loves to play ball whether it's a soccer ball, softball, baseball, tennis ball, or anything that bounces.  He loves to dig at the beach, the only place he is allowed to dig (and the only place he will dig).  

He is very intelligent and knows many tricks.  He has learned them very quickly as well.

Chester is good off-leash on trails or in a field but is on-leash for walks along the road.  

He would love to chase squirrels and other rodents (as that is what the terriers were bred for), but stops when told to.  
Chester can take a while to warm up to male dogs but loves the ladies!

He definitely is a terrier and can have a mind of his own - if he doesn't want to do something (like leave the beach), he takes his sweet time getting there.  It's much faster to pick him up and carry him, but carrying 22 pounds of muscle over soft sand for a distance is tiring!

This mix is quite active and will need early training and discipline, but they learn very quickly and soon you will have a great active companion.  This is not a mix that just wants to sleep all day.  They require a good amount of exercise but are not as hyper as Jack Russell Terriers.  

One of the good things that comes from this breed aside from the intelligence is the elongated nose.  Boston Terriers can have breathing and eye issues caused by the shortened snout, but bRats have a longer snout and the eyes don't bug out.  

BRats are a great addition for an active family that enjoys the outdoors - from days at the beach to long hikes in the woods.  They can become very attached to their owners but are still social around outsiders.  

When Chester came home, he had pneumonia and could barely walk the distance between telephone poles.  Now, he is very active and you'd never know he was sick as a pup.  

Although he likes to be the boss, he is not aggressive about it.  And other dogs are aware of Chester's confidence in himself and they generally let him have his way.  If not, Chester lets that dog be the boss.

Thanks so much for all this great info! - Hilary (editor)