The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an American hunting terrier that is low-set, muscular, short legged, and has a heavy bone density. There is much diversity in the history of the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier breed and it shares a common background with the Rat Terrier breed. It is said their background stems from the terriers that were brought over by the English miners and other working class immigrants.

In developing the breed they were known to have crossed many versatile terriers including the Bull Terrier, the Smooth Fox Terrier, the Manchester Terrier, the Whippet, the Beagle, the Italian Greyhound, and the now extinct White English Terrier. These dogs were bred primarily with the intention of developing strong hunting instincts, along with power and speed, to kill rats and other ground vermin. Hence, these terriers are referred to as “ratters” and have become part of the ratting terrier breeds that we know today.

Due to such diversity within its history, matings often produced two “body types” of ratting terriers, distinguished primarily by leg length. The long-legged, leaner built, Rat Terrier (type A), and the short-legged, muscular built, Teddy Roosevelt Terrier (type B).

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