Rattle Dog: Rat Terrier Poodle Mix
| Height: | 10 inches–23 inches |
| Weight: | 25–50 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 12–18 years |
| Colors: | Black, brown, white, silver |
| Suitable for: | First-time owners, families, houses with a fenced yard |
| Temperament: | Alert, easy to train, loyal, vocal |
The Rattle Dog is a mixed breed combining a Poodle and an American Rat Terrier. It’s also known as a Roodle, Rat Doodle, Radle Terrier, or Ratpoo.
- Poodle Lifespan Standard: How long do Poodles mixes live?
- Types of Poodle Coats
- Poodle Tails Docked or Natural?
- Teddy Bear Cut for Poodles Black
- Mini Labradoodle: The Miniature Poodle Labrador Retriever Mix
- Poolky: Poodle & Silky Terrier Mix
- Poovanese: Havanese & Poodle Mix
- Pudelpointer: German Water Poodle & British Pointer Mix
- Schipper-Poo: Poodle and Schipperke Mix
- Shmoodle: Mal-Shi & Toy Poodle Mix
- Malamoodle: Alaskan Malamute Poodle Mix
- Can You Leave A Poodle With Long Hair?
- What Do Poodles Eat?
- How to Clean the Face of a Toy Poodle
- How Fast Can A Poodle Run?
This spirited and intelligent dog can be a great match for first-time owners because of its love and loyalty to its humans. They are eager to please and respond very well to attention and praise. Here’s everything you need to know about this fun and quirky dog.
What is a Rattle Dog?
The Rattle Dog brings the smarts of the Poodle together with the stubborn streak of the Rat Terrier to produce a loving, affectionate and protective family dog that does well with kids and other animals alike.
The Rattle Dog is a cute combo of the clever Poodle and the stubborn Rat Terrier.
Origin
The Rattle Dog is likely to have originated 30 to 40 years ago when breeders first began crossing various breeds to develop dogs that were smaller, hypo-allergenic or simply gentler variations on some of the more popular breeds.
Pedigree
The Rattle Dog isn’t a purebred dog so can’t become a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC). His parent breeds are both members however; the American Rat Terrier just joined the club’s “terrier” group in 2013 while the Poodle became a member of the “non-sporting” group in 1887.
Diet and Nutrition
- Rattle Dogs are small to medium-sized dogs, but they do not have matching appetites. Due to their high energy and fast metabolism, they can pack away a surprising amount of food. This is why we recommend quality over quantity, as high-quality food will nourish and satiate them adequately and provide the correct nutrition. Some commercial foods are stuffed with empty-calorie fillers like wheat and corn, which will cause your dog to be hungry more often, eat more, and thus quickly get overweight.
- Around 2 cups of dry kibble a day will be ideal, and we recommend dividing this into two separate meals to keep up with the Rat Dog’s fast metabolism. A kibble with high amounts of protein is preferred, as this dog will benefit greatly from the extra energy provided by protein. Of course, the best source is lean meats, and we recommend substituting their dry food with meat every few days.
How easy are Rattle Dog to train?
- Rattle Dogs are eager to please and thus easy to train — most of the time. These dogs can inherit a stubborn streak from their Poodle genetics, and this can be a challenge while training. We recommend beginning training when you bring your puppy home to enforce good habits from day one. Making your Rat Dog sit before meals is one simple way to get them obeying commands from an early age, and “sit” and “stay” commands are the foundations of an obedient dog.
- Leash training is also essential due to their hunting instinct and can be started early on. Using the leash can become a process they will learn to love, and you can begin by getting them used to it indoors first. Practice using the leash and introducing distractions and gently correcting their mistakes. Once they can walk at your side without tugging on the leash and will sit and stay when told, you can begin to take them outdoors for long walks, where the real distractions begin!
- Try and make training sessions as fun and interactive as possible, as a dog that enjoys the process is far more likely to learn quickly. Also, keep the sessions short and action-packed, to prevent boredom or distraction and keep them interested.
Weight
The Rattle dog is a medium sized dog that typically weighs between 30 and 40 pounds.
How would you describe the temperament of Rattle Dog?
This intelligent, loving little dog makes a wonderful family pet when properly socialized. He can be overly protective of his pack without proper training, so begin early. While he is a fun, playful little dog, he is highly cautious around strangers and this coupled with the fact that he loves to vocalize, makes him an ideal watchdog candidate. His curious nature means he loves to be kept busy and can become destructive if left on his own for too long, or becomes bored. Toys and puzzle games are a great idea for this pooch.
How healthy are Rattle Dog?
Rattle Dogs have the benefit that all mixed breeds enjoy, known as hybrid vigor. This trait makes them hardy and less likely to suffer from the genetic predispositions of their parent breeds. Plus, both the Poodle and American Rat Terrier have few genetic issues to worry about. There are a few conditions to keep an eye out for, though, including:
Patellar luxation is a disorder affecting the kneecap, common in medium and larger dogs like poodles. Hip dysplasia can also affect these dogs, and it is found in both Poodles and Rat Terriers. Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, Von Willebrand’s disease, and epilepsy are other major concerns to look out for.
Minor disorders include bloat, allergies, and eye issues.
- hip dysplasia
- Addison’s disease
- Cancer
- patella luxation
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- epilepsy
- obesity
- eye issues
- Allergies
- bloat
- dental disease
- mange
How long will Rattle Dog live?
The Rattle dog has an exceptionally long-life expectancy of between 15 and 18 years.
How active are Rattle Dog?
- Rattle Dogs require a ton of exercise to burn off their seemingly never-ending energy reserves. Around 2 hours of intensive exercise is needed with these dogs, preferably two separate 1-hour sessions a day. They love to play, so a vigorous run, jog, or hike, followed by frisbee or ball games, is ideal. They are clever pooches and will love mental, as well as physical, challenges incorporated into their routine. Chasing balls or sticks is especially fun for these dogs, as it taps into their hunting heritage.
- Due to their propensity for chasing, a leash is essential for these dogs on a walk in public spaces. Even if they are well trained, they may not be able to resist the urge at times, and you don’t want them running off into busy traffic or getting lost. That said, they will benefit greatly from off-leash walks if you can manage it.
Recognized Clubs
The Rattle Dog is also known as the Radle Terrier, Roodle, Ratpoo and Ratdoodle. He’s recognized by the Designer Breed Registry (DBR), American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), Dog Registry of American, Inc. (DRA) and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).
Coat
The Rattle Dog is considered a low- to non-shedding dog as a result of the Poodle in his lineage. In spite of this, he will require regular daily brushing to keep his short, coarse coat tangle-free and looking it’s best. Professional clipping will be required from time to time and because he is a floppy eared dog, they should be inspected and cleaned at the same time to avoid a buildup of debris and potential infection.
Puppies
Rattle puppies are smart little guys who can begin their socialization and obedience training while they are still very young. This can be a stubborn pooch, so teaching him basic commands will be essential to turning him into a great family pet. A propensity to become obese and potentially suffer from joint issues means you should get this pup into a feeding routine of 2 to 3 times daily and not allow him to overeat. Leash training should keep him mind that this dog also has the potential for joint issues later in life so don’t over-exert tiny leg.
Related Questions
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
- Rattle Dogs can live with other pets, but it may require a lot of training. They are fairly social, so they can do well with living with other dogs. If they heavily take after American Rat Terrier traits, they may have a strong prey drive. Therefore, they may see smaller pets as prey and try to chase them.
- It’s best to introduce other pets to Rattle Dogs when they are puppies because it’ll most likely take time for them to get used to smaller pets. They should always have someone supervising if they’re in the same room.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
- Rattle Dogs tend to be great with families. They love being a part of the action and playing games with others. This breed also loves receiving attention, so having multiple people around can greatly benefit its happiness and well-being.
- As with many dogs, early socialization will be very helpful for Rattle Dogs. It’s important to introduce young children when Rattle Dogs are in puppyhood so that they can learn to play with each other.
- Rattle Dogs typically play gently with children. However, make sure to supervise their initial interactions until they know how to play safely together.
What’s the Price of Rattle Dog Puppies?
- The price for a Rattle Dog puppy ranges between $250 – $800. The cost differences mainly depend on the pedigree of the parents. The popularity and availability in the area will also affect prices.
- Make sure to bring home a Rattle Dog puppy from a reputable breeder. Lower prices may be enticing, but a healthy puppy from a good breeder will benefit you in the long run. Good breeders will show their puppies a lot of love, and they should be able to provide a health guarantee and veterinary records.
Final Thoughts
The Rattle Dog is an intelligent and high-energy pooch with a ton of character, bound to elicit bouts from laughter regularly. They are highly adept at learning tricks and new skills and will generally love the training process. These dogs are great with children and will be content to spend hours in the backyard playing ball games and fetch. They are gentle, even-tempered, and loving pooches that make ideal family pets, both to cuddle and exercise with outdoors.
If you are looking for a dog to join you in outdoor activities and have a loving companion at home, the Rattle Dog is a great choice.
