American Rat Terrier Puggat – Awesome Facts Revealed

American Rat Terrier Puggat

The puggat is a cross between the Pug and the American Rat Terrier dog breeds. The puggat is unquestionably affectionate, people-friendly, and easily trainable. So, it makes for a good companion pet. Rugrat is a popular nickname for this unusual crossbreed developed in the United States. 

Background History Of American Rat Terrier Puggat

Let’s try to get a good understanding of the American rat terrier puggat’s background. The Pug is an ancient dog breed that has been recorded as part of the royal landscape of China. Unfortunately, the breed’s history is not well documented. 

This miniature dog was the most treasured pet of the Chinese royal family, and it accompanied them everywhere they went throughout the world. The pug was granted official recognition by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and then grew in recognition in the United States.

On the other hand, the Rat Terrier is a purebred dog that was developed in the United States. The Rat Terrier is descended from Fox Terriers and other European Terriers (Bull Terriers, Manchester Terriers, and English White Terriers).

Later, the dog breeders expanded their offspring to include Beagles, Greyhounds, and Whippets. The history of this breed may be traced back to the early 1900s when it was employed on farms as a vermin hunter, a herder, and a dog for herding sheep. 1999 saw it become formally registered with the UKC, and 2013 saw it get acceptance with the AKC.

Traits Of An American Rat Terrier Puggat

This small-sized dog exhibits a wide variety of characteristics. It can have medium-sized ears that fall like a Pug or long ears that stand up straight like a Rat Terrier. It has tiny arched feet, and its back is generally rather sturdy and only slightly arched.

The coat may have a smooth texture, a length in the middle, and feathering on the ears, chest, body, and legs. His skin will be made of buckskin and will range in color from very light cream to a deep golden tan.

The average adult Puggat weighs between six and ten kilograms. In addition, he will probably have a shoulder height of between 11 and 16 inches. As a consequence of this, the female dog is far more petite than its male counterpart.

Puggat gets along well with young children and will require daily exercise to maintain both their physical and mental health. This hybrid has a shorter than average lifespan, which is the only drawback associated with it. It is possible for it to live for approximately 12 years if it is given the utmost care and attention.

Temperament/Personality Of A Puggat

Puggats are typically outgoing, ecstatic, devoted, and playful. Their incredible intelligence and eagerness to please make them easy to teach and amusing to watch. While their personalities can be somewhat different from one another, they often fall somewhere in the middle of their parents’ traits.

People generally say these dogs are exceedingly friendly, good-natured, and devoted to their owners. They have a naturally playful disposition and get along well with other tiny animals and young children. 

Like most breeds of dogs, Puggats tend to enjoy life more when provided with a significant amount of mental and physical stimulation. While they are not easily agitated, lack of adequate exercise can result in undesirable behaviors on the part of puggats.

It is advisable to begin to expose your furry friend to other people and animals as early as possible. Get him involved in a lot of daily movement and activities to forestall the development of unpleasant behaviors.

Read more about How Long Till Puppies Open Their Eyes?: Amazing Facts Exposed!

Nutrition Of An American Rat Terrier Puggat

Every animal species is unique and has its needs. This holds when it comes to selecting a diet for your canine companion, as well. Kibbles of the highest quality, are organic and grain-free.

A dog’s diet is dependent on factors including age, activity levels, and dietary requirements. The best person to determine and approve your puggat’s diet is a veterinarian.

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Proper Grooming Of A Puggat

A puggat hardly sheds its hair. To maintain a tidy appearance, a dog brush needs to be used on its coat at least once a week. And so that its long fur does not get in the way of its eyes, its long fur should be trimmed regularly with dog clippers.

Compared to other breeds, the puggat has minimal drooling and odor. So, you won’t need to use a dog deodorizer on a puggat.

The Well-being Of An American Rat Terrier Puggat

When you expose your puggat to other animals in a controlled manner, they are likely to get along with them just fine. To aid a smooth process, it will be helpful to begin socialization activities early. 

Whatever training the puppy receives early in life is what they will maintain throughout their life. Because of his extroverted nature, you should never for a second imagine that he would be happy living in the backyard or an outside kennel. The puggat is at its best when surrounded by other people.

Extreme temperatures are not the turf of this furry companion. So, you need to arrange for more exercises in the winter to keep them warm and minimal exercises in the summer to balance things up.

To prevent their nails from getting too long, trim them with some Nail Clippers for Dogs.

Frequently Experienced Health Issues Of A Puggat

There is a chance that Puggats will inherit a health condition from one of their parent breeds. The Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS) is the pug’s most worrying health issue. This illness makes it difficult for them to breathe. 

Because pugs have such short snouts, they are more likely to suffer from eye conditions such as Brachycephalic Ocular Syndrome. They cannot regulate their body temperature effectively, which puts them at risk of health issues such as heat stroke.

In addition, they are at an increased risk of having high blood pressure, passing out or collapsing (due to trouble breathing), and having hemivertebrae (spine deformities).

On the other side, Rat Terriers are dogs who tend to have good health and don’t have too many reasons to be concerned about their medical status. 

However, they frequently suffer from allergies and frequently have misaligned jaws that need to be fixed by a veterinarian if the problem does not go away on its own when the dogs are still puppies. 

Patellar luxation and demodectic mange are two other common health issues that might affect Rat Terriers (sometimes called demodicosis).

Cost Of Buying A Puggat

If you are drawn to the appearance of the Puggat, you will be relieved to learn that the cost of this hybrid canine does not go very high—between $300 and $700—making it an affordable option. 

The price of this dog might occasionally reach as high as $800, but more often than not, it is offered at a fair price.

Conclusion On American Rat Terrier Puggat

Although the American Rat Terrier puggat might not be a purebred dog; as it is a mix between the pug and the American Terrier, they are quite affectionate and have a lot of energy.

With proper care and attention, the American Rat Terrier Puggat can live up to 14 years of age. Proper care has to be taken to reduce the onset of high blood pressure and breathing troubles in these lovely furry friends, as they are prone to them.

Altogether, the American Rat Terrier Puggat is a lovable dog, and you don’t have to break the bank to keep one!

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