They excel in most any companion event, including Scentwork, Agility, Barn Hunt, Dock Diving, Earthdog, Obedience, Coursing, Rally, and FastCAT.

You might think those little chondroplastic legs would hold Teddies back, but they don’t. They have retained their prey drive without being belligerent or obsessively compulsive, but they are not sparred in the show ring. This multi-purpose companion is capable of hunting rodents and vermin above or below ground, and treeing small game however, they are not a spanned breed. They have been proven to be amazing truffle hunters, shed finders, blood trackers, and cadaver dogs, all because of their excellent noses and innate tracking abilities. Teddy Roosevelt Terriers are natural hunters, originally bred for ratting and farm work, but their skills expand beyond the farm. Teddy tails may be docked, natural bob or natural tail, without preference. The ears may be carried in any manner, as long as they are matching, with the exception of pups under a year of age, as their carriage is not yet solidified.

Teddy Roosevelt Terriers come in a large variety of colors with four patterns to choose from, but they must also always have some white somewhere on the body. Immature dogs should be evaluated with their potential at maturity when considering depth of chest, density of bone, and muscling. They should be shown in good, physical working condition. They are a slow-maturing breed, with females reaching full maturity at 2-3 years of age and males at 3-4 years of age. Teddies should, at maturity, have an elbow-to-ground height of approximately one-third the withers height. The bone density should be substantial, but should not be so heavy as to be coarse or too light as to be fine. A 10-inch Teddy Roosevelt Terrier can weigh as much as 18-20 pounds if proportioned properly. There is no weight requirement for Teddy Roosevelt Terriers, but the height requirements are 8 inches at a minimum and 14 inches as the maximum, with the average in the breed of 10-11 inches. They are longer than tall, with a ratio of 7:10, height-to-length, their height being measured from the highest point of the shoulder blade to the ground, and length being measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttocks. Since President Theodore Roosevelt brought so much attention to the “ ratting” community as a whole, when it came time to select our “new” name, we were named in homage of this beloved President for his contributions to the canine community.Ī properly proportioned, mature Teddy will exude balance, front-to-rear, exhibiting a deep chest, well-developed shoulders, short legs, and a muscular hip. We haven’t always been known as “ Teddy Roosevelt Terriers.” Prior to their separation from their sister breeds, the American Hairless Terrier and the Rat Terrier, in 1999, the “ Teddies” were also referred to as Type B Rat Terriers or Bench Legged Feist. They are strongly built, with substantial bone for a small breed, making them an easy choice for an eventing or conformation companion for those who want a “ grab-and-go” breed. The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a chondroplastic, low-set, rectangular-shaped, small hunting Terrier.

Feist dog breed temperament