The Rat Terrier Dachshund mixed dog breed is a crossbreed of two pure breeds, “The rat Terrier and the Dachshund”, and is also known as the “Rat Doxie”.
The Rat Doxies are a small to medium crossbreed type of a pet dog in terms of height, and this mixed dog breed is known to be very good in hunting, tracking and is an excellent watchdog too.
The breed also makes an excellent family dog because it is friendly, loves to laze around, and is full of energy and loves playing a lot too.
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about this crossbreed such as:
- The origin of the Rat Terrier mixed with a Dachshund
- The physical appearance of the crossbreed
- Temperament/Characteristics
- Food requirements
- Training requirements
- Grooming requirements
- Health Issues of the crossbreed
- Lifespan
The origin of the crossbreed
The Rat terrier has origins in England and was used in the sport of rat baiting, later on in the 1890s, the dog was made known in America and that’s when they became recognized as house pets because of their keenness, intelligence and perfect self groomed appearance.
This hybrid ranges from about 10 to 25 pounds and stands 10 to 18 inches at the shoulders.
The Appearance Of The Rat Terrier Dachshund Mix
Toy Rat Terrier mixed with Dachshund comes in a variety of coarse colors such as:
- Black tan point with piebald spotting tan
- Chocolate,
- Blue,
- Pearl
- Lemon and apricot, and more.
The Rat Terrier Dachshund mixed dog is also known to be both intelligent and stubborn, but they are also synonymous for being one of the best family pets because of their high energy and compatibility with kids
The Dachshund has origins in Germany, where it was used to hunt animals Badgers and den animals such as foxes, then it was made known in America in the 19th century around 1885, that’s when it was then recognized by the American Kennel club and then started increasing in popularity around 1930s.
The dog weighs 16 to 32 pounds and stands 8 to 9 inches. The coat varieties include smooth ( Shorthaired), long haired, and wire-haired, the color of the coat include black tan, fawn beige, blue, chocolate and red, the dog may have different markings such as dapple, piebald, brindle and sable.
The Dachshund is known for being friendly, affectionate, child-friendly and intelligent.
Similarities between the Rat Terrier and the Dachshund
So after looking at the history and characteristics of these purebreeds ( Dachshund and Rat Terrier), we spotted some similarities between them. These are:
- Both friendly and affectionate
- Both very intelligent
- Both child-friendly, making them good family pets.
So by looking at these similarities, we can as well tell that the hybrid will also be friendly, affectionate, and child-friendly.
The physical appearance of the Ratshud
The physical appearance of a Ratshud cannot be precisely the same all the time since it’s across Breed and the dominant genes always take the lead.
But usually, the Ratshud is small in size, weighs 10 to 28 pounds, and stands 10 to 18 inches tall.
When it comes to the coat, expect anything from short smooth, medium to long, straight it wazy, wiry or silky the colors to expect from this crossbreed include white, black, brown, lemon, blue, red and fawn.
The dog has ears that look down, a cute nose and cute brown or black eyes.
Temperament/ Characteristics of the hybrid
Rat terrier Dachshund crossbreeds have many characteristics it inherits from both sides of the family. Here are the Characteristics you should expect from a Ratshud:
They are friendly and loving
This is a trait they inherit from both sides of the family. The Ratshud is very friendly with children and other animals as well.
Ratshund mixed breed enjoys being around people so that it can show affection by sitting next to them and listening to commands.
These traits are what make this hybrid to be favored by many dog lovers.
– The Ratshud is intelligent: This again is a trait the dog inherits from both sides of the family. The dog is quite smart and will respond fast to training and commands.
It is also often used as a therapy and service dog because of its intelligent, sweet and affectionate nature.
Rat Terrier Dachshund mixed breeds are protective.
This is a trait the hybrid inherits from the Dachshund side of the family. Historically, the Dachshund dog breed was used as a watchdog.
So the combination of Dachshund and Rat Terrier genes makes the hybrid dog a naturally protective, very sensitive dog who will bark or haul once they notice or see something unusual happening to them.
According to dog intelligence world rankings, Dachshund rank at 92 out of the best 138 most intelligent dog breeds. That also means any dog breed that has mixed genes from the Dachsund will certainly inherit the smartness of the parents from which purebreed they come from.
They are affectionate
Ratshund as a hybrid breed, loves to be around people and may suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long. The hybrid tends to be very attached to one owner, though also very friendly to the entire family.
The Ratshud is energetic
The high energy trait the Ratshund enjoys is inherited from both sides if the family, they live to run around, play around and enjoy doing other activities. No wonder this dog breed is a hit with families that has kids as it is a must that you spare some time for your dog.
Food requirements of the Ratshud
The Ratshud needs to be fed twice a day. The best foods recommended for this hybrid include the following:
Wellness Core natural grain-free dog food: This food provides a meat formulary and also poultry formula that helps meet the unique needs of your hybrid.
The food is made up of protein-focused nutrition and is grain-free and has all of the best protein from Turkey, chicken, and vegetables.
Blue Buffalo life protection dry dog food
This is the best dry food to feed your Ratshud in every stage of it’s life because it comes with all the essential product benefits to keep your Ratshud healthy and energetic.
The food is made of Buffalo’s precise blend of vitamins, minerals and includes natural antioxidants, has a high-quality protein that promote muscle support, and maintains the whole-grain carbohydrates.
The Blue Buffalo dog food provides satiety energy that will keep your Ratshud full of energy and satisfied for an extended period.
The Canidae Grain- Free pure dry dog food: This dog is affordable and tasty for your Ratshud. The food provides omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids that promoted the skin and coat of the Ratshud.
The food also has fresh salmon formula made with eight simple key ingredients that dogs with sensitive stomach can easily digest.
The top ingredient of this food are fresh salmon, salmon meal, manhaden fish, sweet potatoes, peas canota oil, alfalfa and potatoes.
Training requirements of the Ratshud breed
As we said before, this hybrid is very energetic and active too. The dog loves digging, hunting, taking walks and enjoys swimming and playing any doggy games.
So to deal with the energy this dog had, you should give it a 15 minutes walk every day, and also take it to the park where it can be 100% free abd be able to play, run free and also socialize with other dogs.
Grooming requirements of the Ratshud
It’s hard to tell exactly how much brushing and grooming this hybrid requires because it’s coat varies depending on which coat it inherits from the purebreeds parents.
Some coats they inherit shed a lot and some just a bit. Those that she’d a lot will require brushing at least 2 to 3 times a week, if you’ve got enough time you can as well brush it daily in order to keep the cost healthy, debris-free and shiny.
A bath should be given to your Ratshud lest he smells… Caution has to be taken as the idea for bathing your dog regularly may appear ideal for your; however, it should be avoided because it affects his natural oils, and this tends to leaf to skin and coat problems.
You should brush the Ratshud’s teeth at least three to four times a week. Always check if its ears are clean.
If Ratshund’s ears are dirty, take your time to clean them before they get yeast overgrowth that leads into a dog ear infection. The dog’s nails should also be regularly trimmed, especially once you realize they are too long.
Health Issues of the Ratshud
This hybrid is generally a healthy dog, but there are health issues the dog may be prone to or inherit from the parents. Here are the health issues the Ratshud may have to face:
- Back problems
- Epilepsy
- Eye problems
- Deafness
- Diabetes
- Patellar luxation
- Incorrect bite
- Allergies et.c
If you see your dog having any strange symptoms, it’s imperative to rush it to the veterinarian for help because some of these health issues, if not cured in time, maybe life-threatening.
The lifespan of the hybrid
The life expectancy of the Rat terrier mixed with Dachshund is no different to any other pet… And that’s because no pet owner looks forward to a day when they have to bid farewells to their beloved mixed dog hybrid.
The good news is that Rat terrier dachshund mix are one of the dog breeds with a long lifespan.
So, if well taken care of, this hybrid will live for 12 to 15 years. So you need to feed your Ratshud well, make sure it’s in good health and groom it the best you can, and then your dog will have a longer Lifespan.
