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S TANDARD OF THE T EDDY R OOSEVELT T ERRIER History : The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a small-sized American hunting terrier. While they are lower-set with shorter legs, more muscular, and have heavier bone density than their cousin, the American Rat Terrier, they share a common early history. Descended from the terriers brought over to the United States by English miners and other working-class immigrants, their ancestors probably included the old English Black and Tan, the Smooth-Coated Fox Terrier, the Standard Manchester, the Old Bull Terrier, the now extinct English White Terrier, the Wry-Legged Terrier, and the American Bench-Legged Feist. Other possible dogs which may be in the ancestry are the Turnspit, the Beagle, and the Italian Greyhound or Whippet. Teddies haven't always been known by their Presidential name; they have been called the "Type B” Rat Terrier, the Short -legged Rat Terrier or the Bench- Legged Feist in years past. It wasn’t until 1999 that they became known as the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier in honor of the much-loved 26th President of the United States. He was an avid Hunter, Sportsman and Preservationist, and his affinity for his family's hunting feist, which rid the White House of vermin, caused him to coin the name Rat Terrier and drew attention to the usefulness of these tenacious hunters. General Appearance: The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a low-set rectangular shaped small hunting terrier; strongly built, giving the appearance of agility and balance. Originally bred for ratting and farm work, this multipurpose companion is capable of hunting rodents and vermin above or below ground and treeing small game but is not a spanned breed. This is a working terrier and must have the agility, speed, and strength to do the work for which he was developed. They are a slow maturing breed, not reaching full maturity until 2 to 3 years of age. They are a devoted companion but can be reserved with strangers. Size Proportion, Substance: Size - At least 8 inches, not to exceed 14 inches. A properly proportioned Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is longer than tall with an approximate height to length ratio of 7:10, exhibiting an overall balance front to rear. Height is measured vertically from the ground to the highest point of the shoulder blade and length measured vertically from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttocks. Substance - Substantial bone for a small breed; not course or fine. A well muscled dog, shown in good physical working condition. Head: The head is proportionate to the size of the body. The expression should be kind and intelligent yet lively and alert. The eyes are oval in shape, somewhat small and set obliquely. Eye color ranges from light to dark and corresponds with coat color. Disqualification - Wall eye. The ears are V-shaped and set at the outside edges of the skull. Ears are carried erect, semi- erect, tipped or button, without preference but should be matching in carriage. Non-matching ear carriage should be penalized to the degree of variation but ear carriage in dogs under one year of age should not be penalized. Disqualification - Hanging or cropped ears. The skull is broad, slightly domed and tapers slightly toward the muzzle. The stop is moderate but distinct. The muzzle is filled-out under the eyes, chiseled and tapers slightly from stop to the nose, without appearing snipey. When viewed from the side, the muzzle and skull should be of equal length. The nose is self-colored, corresponding with the body color and is completely pigmented. The
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