Rat-cha

The Rat-cha is a cross between two other famous breeds –Rat Terrier and Chihuahua. These are playful and kittenish dogs that demand very little care. All they need is love and affection from their family. By characteristics, they are small, like their parents, and often get the face of the Chihuahua.
Rat-chas usually have a short coat, but some individuals might inherit the long hair from the Rat Terrier. They have alert, roundish eyes, small but strong legs, a black nose, and a long tail. The ears might either be bent or pointy, depending upon their genes.

Rat-cha Pictures

History of the Rat Terrier Chihuahua Mix

The Rat-chi was introduced for the very first time in the 1990s, and since then, it has often been claimed as the ‘best’ designer dog.

Temperament and Personality

The Ratchas are affectionate and mostly long for attention. These intelligent dogs yearn for human touch, sleeping on their masters’ laps, or trying to dig a burrow on the bed and cuddle fondly.

The RatChas are not true Terriers, though they can exhibit similar disposition, including suspicion towards strangers, and other dogs at large, very much like their Chihuahua parents. Because of their small size, they might have a hard time interacting with bigger dogs, or coming close to them.

Despite being playful, it is because of their inherent suspicious and outwardly nature that these miniature canines are not much comfortable with kids. Hence, it is recommended to keep younger kids away from them, since the boisterous nature and the rough play of your children might get into your dog’s nerves.

They are territorial and over-protective, being keen to acquire whatever they cherish.

Care

• Exercise

• Grooming

• Health Problems

Take your Ratchas out for short walks every day. They are active and playful and need some means to burn off their calories. Remember, these dogs also prefer spending time in the warmth of your bed. Still a lot of lazy hours might trigger destructive or yappy behavior.

Intense grooming is not required. Simply brush them with a soft bristle comb once or twice a week to keep their coat healthy and clean.

Apart from general dog issues (like allergies, etc.), you should also consider the following points:

• The female rat-chas have often been seen having difficulty during whelping.
• Extreme care is recommended while taking your dog out in the cold weather, or expose them for too long. Dogs from the chihuahua bloodlines might fall into a coma in such weather conditions. Cover them thoroughly in dog sweaters or something similar.
• Diabetes is also not uncommon with chihuahua-cross dogs.

Also remember, care must be taken while you pick up these small dogs.

Training

• To help your dog socialize and mix with other canines safely, plan for doggie-meetings outside its ‘territory’ (your house), in a neutral area, to prevent your Rat-cha from feeling territorial, and at the same time, not letting your dog intrude inside the territory of the other dogs. The apt place for such meetings can be the area in between you and your neighbor’s yard or may be a small, quiet area in a park.
• Possessive toy behavior can often enhance the inborn tendencies of aggression instead of suppressing them, which can potentially be a very dangerous condition. If you discover your Rat-cha is too much food or toy possessive, it is best left for veterinarians or training professionals.

Diet/Feeding

Schedule for meals that consist of highly nutritious dog food. The quantity is similar to dog breeds of its size and energy levels.

Interesting Facts

• With a maximum life expectancy of 18 years, the rat-cha is one of the longest living crosses.