Hybrid dogs are very popular these days, in part because p

eople can find a pet that is a combination of their two favorite dogs, and what can be better than that? The rat terrier pitbull dog is bred from a pitbull of some type and a rat terrier, and as you can imagine, this means that they come out with a very feisty personality.

Before you decide to go out and buy one of these dogs, it’s a good idea to learn a little about them first. Below are some details that can help you make the right decision.

What Is the Rat Terrier Pitbull Mix Dog?

When you breed a pitbull with a rat terrier, you get a dog that is loyal, has a sweet temperament, and makes a great family pet.

While pitbulls and rat terriers seem very different, the hybrid dogs tend to take the best traits from both of these breeds to become one amazing animal. Once you discover the traits of each of the parent dogs, you’ll understand why this is so.

To get started, let’s take a look at each of the parents of the pitbull-rat terrier dog.

1. The Rat Terrier

Above all else, rat terriers are absolutely adorable. They are tiny and super-smart, and the breed is recognized by both the United and American Kennel Clubs.

Rat terriers today tend to be used as companion dogs and for pest-control purposes. They usually weigh 10 to 25 pounds yet are still considered a hunting dog. They are easy to train and grow to 10 to 18 inches at their shoulders.

2.  The Pitbull

Pitbulls have been given a bad reputation due to their aggressiveness, but the truth is, if they are trained properly and while they’re still very young, they are not aggressive at all.

Pitbulls are very strong animals and need a lot of exercise every day. If they don’t get it, they often become destructive and can easily start to destroy things. They also need a lot of room to exercise.

What Are Pitbull-Rat Terrier Dogs Like?

While pitbulls should never live in an apartment because they love to roam free and need tons of exercise, the pitbull-rat terrier dog can live just about anywhere.

Most people who get pitbull-rat terrier dogs keep them as pets, but some people use them as guard dogs as well. Contrary to what you might have heard, these hybrid dogs get along well with both small children and the elderly.

As far as their size is concerned, you can expect your pitbull-rat terrier dog to get anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds, so they never get to be very large dogs. They normally live around 10 to 15 years but since they were first bred in the United States, no other country’s kennel club recognizes the breed.

Still, they are nonetheless very popular dogs to choose as pets, both in the U.S. and elsewhere.

What Does the Pitbull-Rat Terrier Dog Look Like?

The overall color of your pitbull-rat terrier dog is determined by its two parents, but the possibilities include colors such as orange, black, brown, tan, and white, as well as a brindle mixture.

The color brindle means that the dog is a solid color but has irregular blotches of color all over its coat. They can be other colors, but these are the most common colors found in the pitbull-rat terrier dog.

As far as their size is concerned, while pitbulls can get very large, pitbull-rat terrier mixed-breed dogs don’t normally get any bigger than a medium size. This is why you can have them whether you live in an apartment or a farm, or anything in between these two.

And they have the personality to get along with people of all ages, regardless of where you live.

When you look at their coat, you’ll notice that it is sleek and smooth with very short hair and a single layer. This is because both the pitbull and the rat terrier have coats like this, so your new pitbull-rat terrier dog doesn’t really have a choice when it comes to its coat!

It is an attractive dog that you’ll easily fall in love with, and its size seems to be perfect for almost everyone.

What Is the Pitbull-Rat Terrier Mixed-Breed Dog Like?

Pitbull-rat terriers make great family dogs. If you spend time outdoors with one of these dogs playing fetch, they will be extremely happy with you. They tend to be very playful dogs that are also very social.

Indeed, the pitbull-rat terrier dog is so social in nature that they literally dislike being all by themselves. If you’re gone for long periods of time, they can become sad and sometimes destructive.

This is why, if you get home after being gone for a while and find that your pitbull-rat terrier dog has destroyed furniture or even your favorite magazine, this is likely a sign that you left them alone for too long.

Remember that these dogs are also extremely smart, so they can likely recognize that you’re planning to be gone for a while and may react to the situation.

One of the things you’ll want to remember when you have one of these dogs in your home is that they can sometimes feel neglected, whether those feelings are justified or not.

If your pitbull-rat terrier dog is destroying things in your home but you haven’t been anywhere lately, it might be simply because they are feeling neglected. These dogs are sensitive dogs that love their human families!

What About Grooming Needs?

All dogs need to be groomed regularly, but some dogs require more grooming than others. As far as the pitbull-rat terrier dog goes, their grooming needs are easy to accommodate.

While they don’t shed a lot, brushing their coat regularly with a slicker brush can keep that shedding in check. For the best results, brush your dog outside to prevent the hair from remaining inside of your home.

It is also good to train and socialize your pitbull-rat terrier from an early age, preferably when they’re still puppies.

Always use positive reinforcement instead of punishment, and make sure that you take them to places where they can be around other dogs so that they can get used to socializing with them. If you train and socialize your pitbull-rat terrier, it can prevent future problems from occurring.

To make training even easier and more effective, try to enlist the help of all of your family members. Remember that pitbull-rat terriers are super loyal and love being around you and your family, and the more you involve those family members in the training, the easier it will be for your furry family member to learn and be trained well. They have a great personality for this type of training!

Conclusion

The pitbull-rat terrier dog is loyal, friendly, and super easy to train. Despite the reputation given to pitbulls, this mixed-breed dog seems to take on only that dog’s pleasant traits because it is not aggressive, especially if you train them early.

This is why this dog makes an excellent family dog, especially if they are accompanied by their family members most of the time.

Pitbull-rat terriers are also perfect for small apartments and large properties such as farms, as well as everything in between. They are very adaptable dogs that are also easy to love!