The following article written by Linda Hibbard appeared in Highlights Magazine March 2005. The magazine is written and edited by Manchester Terrier Fanciers and is published out of England . Copies will be for sale at Crufts.

   "The Rat Terrier is an American breed with a history that dates back to England during the 1820's. His development resulted by crossing the Black and Tan Manchester to the Smooth Fox Terrier. The crossing of the two breeds produced offspring superior in tenacity and hunting ability to either of their parents. The English referred to the small hybrid as a Feist, since he was well suited to hunt rats and other vermin that threatened the environment.

     As word traveled throughout Great Britain of the exceptional ratting abilities of the Feist demand and purpose increased. The English started using the Feist in the sport of pit baiting. It was a popular betting sport, bringing together the various social classes for an evening of entertainment and socialization. Pit baiting consisted of having several hundred rats placed in a pit with the ratting Fiests. Betting took place on which Fiest would kill the most amounts of rats in the shortest amount of time.

     For the next 60 years the Feist remained in England and was relatively unchanged. It was not until the 1890's when Americans exported the Feist to the new World that changes took place within the strain. The first major change took place when Theodore Roosevelt the 26tth. President of the United States changed the name of the Feist to Rat Terrier. Roosevelt was in need of a dog that could rid the White House of unwanted varmints. He acquired several of the terriers and let them run loose in his Mansion. Within a short time the Feists rid the White House of the unwanted rodents. Roosevelt loved the dogs, owning many of them. It was not unusual for him to give one of the small Rat Terriers to a visiting dignitary.

     Other important changes that followed were infusions of various strains and breeds. By selective breeding additional Smooth Fox Terrier was added with the expectation of lessening the dominant hunting characteristics and producing a more master oriented dog. The additional Smooth Fox Terrier did in fact produce a more master oriented dog without interfering with his excellent hunting ability. Another interesting change in the at Terrier was that of his coat color and pattern. He went from having the coat color and pattern of the Manchester to that of a predominately white dog with black spots. 

      In geographically different locations of the US other breeds were being infused into the Rat Terrier, mainly the Whippet, Beagle and Greyhound. As a result of such diversity the Rat Terrier's coat pattern and color were undergoing change. Rat Terriers were taking on the color and patterns of the beagle and Greyhounds.

     Change was also reflected in physical characteristics such as ear set and length of body and legs. With all of the diversity in the Rat Terrier strains one thing remained constant and that was his ability to hunt and make a fine companion. Many of the Rat terriers were used as working terriers in the Southern Regions of the States. They made excellent varmint dogs and provided hours of entertainment for Southern hunters that enjoyed squirrel and treeing and trailing.

     During the 1930's changes took place that made the Rat Terrier decline in popularity. The more fanciful poodles replaced the Rat Terriers that were used as performing dogs in circuses and other entertainment arenas. Also the Southern people were becoming involved with larger trailing and treeing hounds that could hunt not only the small game but the larger game as well.

     With the growth of cities that favored the ownership of smaller dogs over the larger breeds, the Rat Terrier gained a considerable amount of popularity during the 1980's. The American Rat Terrier Association wrote a standard for the breed breaking it down into the large and the mini. Physical standardization of the of the breed took place. Various coat and color patterns were also standardized. additionally, articles and books were being written about the most marvelous and diversified Rat Terrier. This popularity grew from being classified as a rare breed to being accepted by the United Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club.   

Linda Hibbard