COMPARISON OF AKC AND UKC RAT TERRIER BREED STANDARDS
AKC: The tail set is a continuation of the spine. Tails are custom- arily docked between the second and third joint, or can be a natural bobtail or left naturally long and tapering to the hock joint. Length is unimportant. The carriage is variable, depending on attitude, car- ried from slightly below horizontal to almost erect, but not over the back or as a ring tail. Comparison: UKC prefers a docked or natural bob tail, while a natural, full tail is allowed and is no fault. AKC says tail length is unimportant. Otherwise, the tail is pretty much described as the same. COAT UKC: The coat is short, dense, and smooth, with a sheen. Whis- kers are not removed. Disqualifications: Wire or Broken Coat; Long Coat. AKC: A short, close lying, smooth and shiny coat. Texture varies; a very slight ruff or wave along the back is allowed, but is undesir- able. Any suggestion of kink or curl is cause for disqualification. Whiskers must not be removed. Absence of coat (total genetic hair- lessness) is a disqualification. Comparison: Both Standards suggest a nice, tight coat. How- ever, AKC states hairlessness is a DQ, while UKC states that a long coat is a DQ. Both want a short, tight coat. GAIT UKC: The Rat Terrier moves with a jaunty air that suggests agil- ity, speed, and power. Rat Terrier gait is smooth and effortless, with good reach of forequarters without any trace of hackney gait. Rear quarters have strong driving power, with hocks fully extending. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward a center line of balance. AKC: A ground-covering, efficient trot with good reach and drive, suggesting agility, speed, and power. The legs are parallel at a trot, but as speed increases, the legs converge toward a center line. There should be no elbowing out, weaving or rolling action while in motion. Comparison: Very similar. UKC does state that there should be no trace of a hackney gait. AKC warns against elbowing out. UKC states a strong driving power from rear legs with fully extending hocks. AKC warns against rolling or weaving action. TEMPERAMENT UKC: The Rat Terrier is an energetic, alert dog whose curios- ity and intelligence make him easy to train. The Rat Terrier has sometimes been described as having a dual personality. He is a fear- less, tenacious hunter with seemingly unlimited energy. When he is not hunting, however, the Rat Terrier is an exceptionally friendly companion, getting along well with children, other dogs, and even cats. Rat Terriers enjoy human companionship immensely and will enthusiastically share any activity with their owners. Rat Terriers should not be sparred during conformation judging. AKC: Keenly observant, devoted, full of energy, yet easily trained and obedient to command. The Rat Terrier is a non-sparring breed and generally friendly with other dogs, but may be reserved with strangers. Submissiveness is not a fault. Overt aggression and exces- sive shyness should be penalized. Comparison: Compares very well. Both Standards describe a dog with a lot of energy; easily trained and ready to please. Both agree that Rat Terriers are not to be sparred in the ring. Both Stan- dards state that extreme aggression or shyness should be penalized.
UKC PREFERS A DOCKED OR NATURAL BOB TAIL, WHILE A NATURAL, FULL TAIL IS ALLOWED AND IS NO FAULT. AKC SAYS TAIL LENGTH IS UNIMPORTANT. OTHERWISE, THE TAIL IS PRETTY MUCH DESCRIBED AS THE SAME.
DISQUALIFICATIONS UKC • Unilateral or Bilateral Cryptorchid; • Viciousness or Extreme Shyness; • Unilateral or Bilateral Deafness; • Albinism; • A Short-Legged Dog Whose Proportions Vary Significantly from the 10:9 Ratio; • Hanging Ears; • Wire or Broken Coat; • Long Coat; • Brindle; • Merle; • Absence of White; • Bi-Color where Neither Color is White. (A dog with a Disqualifica- tion must not be considered for placement in a conforma- tion event and must be report- ed to UKC.)
AKC • Any Dog Over Six
Months of Age Measur- ing Less Than 10 Inches;
• Any Dog Over Six
Months of Age Measur- ing Over 18 Inches; • Any Blue Color in the Eye(s); • Cropped Ears; • An Absence of Coat (Genetic Hairlessness); • Any Suggestion of Kink or Curl or Coat Type Other Than Described; • Solid Colorations (Other than White); • Bi-Colors without White, or Dogs with a Patch or Strip of White Measuring Less Than One Inch at its Widest Dimension; • Brindle Color Patterns; • Merle Color Patterns.
Comparison: Some things vary here, but both Standards mention varying penalties in other sections of the Standard. For example, extreme shyness is mentioned above in the AKC Stan- dard, but is mentioned in UKC as a DQ. Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid is not mentioned in AKC’s Standard while it is a DQ in UKC.
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