The Rat Terrier vs Teddy Roosevelt Terrier difference comes down to legs and body proportion. The Rat Terrier is built only slightly longer than tall, while the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a short-legged, clearly longer-than-tall terrier. Both breeds grew from the same American farm ratters, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) gave the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier full recognition in the Terrier Group on January 1, 2026. This guide puts the AKC and United Kennel Club (UKC) standards side by side, including where the two registries disagree.
Were the Rat Terrier and the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier once the same breed?
Yes, the Rat Terrier and the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier started as one breed. The AKC states plainly: “Originally, Teddies were a variety of the Rat Terrier.” Early farm ratters produced long-legged and short-legged puppies in the same litters. Deb Botruff, President of the American Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Club, told the AKC: “In every litter long- and short-legged terriers appeared.” Breeders labeled the long-legged dogs “Type A” and the short-legged dogs “Type B.”
In the 1990s, breeders divided the two types into separate breeds, and the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier received its own standard in 1999. The UKC recognized both the Rat Terrier and the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier on January 1, 1999. The AKC moved more slowly. The Rat Terrier gained AKC recognition in 2013, while the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier entered the Foundation Stock Service in 2016, moved to the Miscellaneous Class in July 2019, and joined the Terrier Group in January 2026.
Not every registry accepts the split. According to a UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory report, the National Rat Terrier Association (NRTA) still classifies the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier as a Type B Rat Terrier, so the breed name on a dog’s papers depends on the registry.
Why does a short-legged Rat Terrier fail the Rat Terrier standard?
A short-legged Rat Terrier fails because both major standards treat short legs as a departure from Rat Terrier type. The AKC Rat Terrier standard says directly: “Shortness in leg is a serious fault.” The AKC describes the Rat Terrier as “just slightly longer than tall,” and short legs break that outline.
The UKC Rat Terrier standard goes further. The UKC sets the Rat Terrier’s length-to-height ratio at 10:9 and lists as a disqualification “a short-legged dog whose proportions vary significantly from the 10:9 ratio.” A short-legged Rat Terrier is not a smaller Rat Terrier; that body shape is the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier’s outline.
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier standard turns the same trait into the breed’s identity. The AKC Teddy Roosevelt Terrier standard sets height to length at roughly 7:10, with the distance from elbow to ground about one third of the height at the withers. That is why a dog that fails one standard can fit the other.
How tall can a Rat Terrier and a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier be?
Under AKC rules, a Rat Terrier stands 10 to 18 inches at the withers, and a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier stands 8 to 14 inches. The AKC Rat Terrier standard splits that range into two varieties. A Miniature Rat Terrier measures at least 10 inches and not more than 13 inches. A Standard Rat Terrier measures over 13 inches, up to and including 18 inches.
Height carries real weight in the AKC Rat Terrier standard. Any Rat Terrier 6 months or older that measures under 10 inches or over 18 inches is disqualified. The UKC Rat Terrier standard caps its Miniature variety at 13 inches. For the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, the AKC standard asks for at least 8 inches and no more than 14 inches, and an AKC breed history article gives a weight range of 8 to 25 pounds.
Is there such a thing as a toy Rat Terrier?
No, neither the AKC nor the UKC Rat Terrier standard includes a toy variety. The AKC recognizes only Miniature and Standard Rat Terriers, and the AKC disqualifies any Rat Terrier 6 months or older under 10 inches. A dog sold as a “toy Rat Terrier” therefore has no matching size class in either of the two major registries.
The “toy” label does exist elsewhere. The UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory report notes that the National Rat Terrier Association lists a Toy variety of 10 pounds or less. That variety belongs to the NRTA alone. Buyers who see the word “toy” on a Rat Terrier listing can ask which registry the dog is papered with and which standard the breeder follows.
Which coat, ear and color traits disqualify both breeds?
Both AKC standards disqualify kinked or curly coats, hairlessness, and color patterns that lack white, but the details differ. The AKC Rat Terrier standard disqualifies a kink, a curl or any other coat type, while the AKC Teddy Roosevelt Terrier standard names wire, broken and long coats specifically.
Ear rules show the clearest registry split. The AKC disqualifies cropped ears on a Rat Terrier, while the UKC disqualifies hanging ears on a Rat Terrier. The AKC Teddy Roosevelt Terrier standard disqualifies both hanging and cropped ears. A Rat Terrier’s ear carriage can therefore pass under one registry and fail under the other.
- Ears: Rat Terrier (AKC) cropped; Rat Terrier (UKC) hanging; Teddy Roosevelt Terrier (AKC) hanging or cropped
- Coat: Rat Terrier kink, curl, other coat type or hairlessness; Teddy Roosevelt Terrier wire, broken, long, hairless, kink or curl
- Color: Rat Terrier solid other than white, bi-color without white, white under 1 inch, brindle or merle; Teddy Roosevelt Terrier merle or no white
- Eyes: Rat Terrier any blue; Teddy Roosevelt Terrier wall eye
Tails are flexible in both breeds. The AKC Rat Terrier standard accepts a docked tail, a natural bobtail or a natural long tail, and the AKC Teddy Roosevelt Terrier standard accepts docked, bobtail or full tails with no preference among them.
These rules describe show-ring conformation, not pet quality or health. A Rat Terrier with hanging ears or a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier with a long coat is the same dog at home; the dog simply cannot be shown under that standard. For any question about a dog’s growth, legs or general health, consult your veterinarian rather than a breed standard.
Why do the AKC and UKC Teddy Roosevelt Terrier standards give different numbers?
The AKC and UKC Teddy Roosevelt Terrier standards differ because each registry writes and revises its own document. The AKC Teddy Roosevelt Terrier standard took effect in 2019, and the UKC Teddy Roosevelt Terrier standard was revised in 2023. The two documents do not match on height or leg length.
On height, the AKC caps the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier at 14 inches, while the UKC caps the breed at 12 inches. Both start at 8 inches. On legs, the AKC puts elbow-to-ground at about one third of wither height, while the UKC sets the front leg at 40 percent of wither height and calls 50 percent or more a serious fault. The UKC expresses body proportion as length to height of 10:7. Anyone comparing a dog against “the standard” should first ask which registry’s version applies.
How do the Rat Terrier and Teddy Roosevelt Terrier compare side by side?
Side by side, the Rat Terrier is the leggier, squarer dog, and the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is the lower, longer one. The table below summarizes the core differences, naming the registry wherever the AKC and UKC set different numbers for the same trait.
| Point | Rat Terrier | Teddy Roosevelt Terrier |
|---|---|---|
| Body shape | Slightly longer than tall (UKC 10:9) | Clearly longer (7:10 or 10:7) |
| Leg length | Short legs: fault (AKC), DQ (UKC) | Short legs are breed type |
| Height (AKC) | Mini 10-13 in, Std over 13-18 in | 8-14 in |
| Size DQ (AKC) | Under 10 or over 18 in at 6+ months | None by height listed |
| AKC full recognition | 2013 | January 1, 2026 |
With the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier added, the AKC recognizes 205 breeds. AKC President and CEO Gina M. DiNardo said in the announcement: “As always, it’s extremely important to do your research to find a breed that matches your lifestyle.” For anyone weighing a Rat Terrier against a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, that research starts with leg length, height range and the registry behind a dog’s papers.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier compete in AKC conformation shows?
Yes. Since full AKC recognition in the Terrier Group on January 1, 2026, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier can compete in AKC conformation events.
How much does a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier weigh?
An AKC breed history article gives 8 to 25 pounds for the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier.
Is the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier just a short Rat Terrier?
It depends on the registry. The AKC and UKC treat the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier as a separate breed, while the NRTA still lists it as a Type B Rat Terrier.
Sources
- American Kennel Club, “Official Standard of the Rat Terrier” (approved 2009-11-11, effective 2010-07-01) – https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/RatTerrier.pdf
- American Kennel Club, “Standard of the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier” (effective 2019-07-03) – https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Official-Standard-of-the-Teddy-Roosevelt-Terrier-07.03.19.pdf
- American Kennel Club, “Terrier Group Breed Standards” (amended 2026-04-01) – https://images.akc.org/pdf/judges/groups/Terrier_Group.pdf
- American Kennel Club, “Breeds by Year Recognized” – https://www.akc.org/press-center/articles-resources/facts-and-stats/breeds-year-recognized/
- American Kennel Club, “The Pack Is Expanding! The American Kennel Club Welcomes Three New Breeds to the Registry” (2025-12-30) – https://www.akc.org/press-releases/the-pack-is-expanding-the-american-kennel-club-welcomes-three-new-breeds-to-the-registry/
- American Kennel Club, “Meet Three Newest AKC-Recognized Breeds for 2026” (2025-12-30) – https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/newly-recognized-breeds-2026/
- American Kennel Club, “Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Breed History” (2026-01-02) – https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/teddy-roosevelt-terrier-history/
- American Kennel Club, “Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Facts You May Not Know” (2026-01-05) – https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/teddy-roosevelt-terrier-fun-facts/
- United Kennel Club, “Rat Terrier” breed standard (revised 2004-01-01) – https://www.UKCDogs.com/docs/breeds/rat-terrier.pdf
- United Kennel Club, “Teddy Roosevelt Terrier” breed standard (revised 2023-01-02) – https://www.ukcdogs.com/docs/breeds/teddy-roosevelt-terrier-ukc.pdf
- UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, “Genetic Diversity Testing for the Rat Terrier” (table updated 2020-06-19) – https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk15116/files/media/documents/RatTerrier20200708.pdf