 |
King Rat |
|
He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
Great Britain <> U.S.A. -> U.S.A. | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen |
A brief presentation of the King Rat |
| The King Rat is a hybrid between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Rat Terrier. Although this dog isn't exactly the king of rats, it is a highly sophisticated and intelligent breed that loves nothing more than to spend every moment with its owners. The King Rat is a small dog with a very big personality that is capable of being both a calm and affectionate companion dog, as well as a hunter and exercise companion. Because both of the King Rat's parent breeds like to please their owners, you can expect the King Rat itself to be easy to train and fun to play with. You shouldn't have to worry about your four-legged friend ignoring your commands or running away from home when you have a King Rat, they like to stay close to their humans and have a strong sense of loyalty that drives them to please you in every way possible. If you're looking for an ideal breed for a first-time dog owner, one that won't disturb the neighbors with a constant barrage of barking and is an excellent mix of calm and energy, the King Rat may be the perfect pet for you. |
History of the King Rat |
| Because the King Rat is a new hybrid breed, not much is known about its origins. Fortunately, we can glean some important details about why this breed may have been created based on the history of its parent breed. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Rat Terrier have been around for some time and have a lot of history about the what, when, where and why of their creation. |
A little of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
||
| Like all Spaniels, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel originated in Spain. Over time, these popular dogs made their way around the world, and the Cavalier's predecessors landed in England. Toy Spaniels, as they were known, were popular throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries as royal companion dogs. Some of the most famous people to own the little Spaniels were monarchs such as Queen Mary and her son, Charles I. Charles I and Charles II loved these Spaniels and took them everywhere, so this breed was quite the symbol in England. Unfortunately, like many royal tendencies, when King Charles II and King William ascended the throne, the King Charles Spaniel almost disappeared. Indeed, the new king's favorite dog was the Pug, and people began breeding the two breeds together, creating the Cavalier look we know and love today, with a more squashed nose and domed head. The once beloved Spaniel breed would have been completely forgotten had it not been for a certain wealthy American by the name of Roswell Eldgridge. In 1920, Eldridge offered a reward to anyone who could recreate the Spaniel breed Eldridge had seen in portraits from the 17th and 18th centuries. Eight years later, a breeder named Mostyn Walker presented the first Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, so named to distinguish them from the flat-faced, domed-head version of the King Charles Spaniel. Although it took some time for the breed to be accepted again, in 1945 the American Kennel Club recognized the breed and they are now used as show dogs and companions all over the world. | ||
 |
||
| Standard of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | ||
A little of the Rat Terrier |
||
| The Rat Terrier is an all-American breed born from the combination of the Fox Terrier, Bull Terrier, Manchester Terrier and Old English White Terrier. All these unique traits were combined into one to create a small, lightweight Terrier that was excellent at catching vermin and other prey on farms. In the Midwest, the Rat Terrier was also bred with Whippets and Greyhounds to increase the breed's speed and athletic nature to cope with the hare problem in this region. You'd think this versatile little dog would stop there, but no. To enhance its sense of smell, the Rat Terrier was then crossed with the Beagle to increase its oriented nature and enable its sense of smell to be extremely sharp. Needless to say, all this mixing and matching made the Rat Terrier a strong, intelligent and fast little breed, perfect for hunting. In fact, the Rat Terrier was so good at his job that he even earned himself a place in the White House. President Teddy Roosevelt loved the Rat Terrier, which is why another name for the dog is the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier. Surprisingly, the Rat Terrier is a relatively new breed that was only fully recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2013. This dog has always been a companion and working animal, and remains so to this day. | ||
 |
||
| Presentation of the Rat Terrier |
Appearance of the King Rat |
| The King Rat is a hybrid breed, which means that its appearance can vary considerably even within the same litter. Depending on which parent genes are stronger, the King Rat may have large ears like the Rat Terrier, or loose ears like the Cavalier. Although these traits may differ considerably, the typical appearance of the Rat Terrier is that of a small dog with a short body, small legs, a slightly domed head and a short but prominent muzzle. As the Rat Terrier has a longer muzzle, this seems to be most common in the King Rat, overcoming the Cavalier's smaller nose. The coat of this breed tends to be short and soft, available in a variety of piebald colors, and falls seasonally. The eyes are large and round, with an intelligent light shining through the magnificent dark brown coloring. |
Temperament of the King Rat |
| The King Rat is a very gentle, affectionate, loyal and intelligent dog. Although the balance between Cavalier and Rat Terrier prevents him from being too energetic, he's no couch potato either. This little dog will love nothing more than to spend as much time as possible with his master. Most likely, he'll follow you around the house, ready to play when you are, and ready to be calm when you ask. Because the King Rat is not a big barker, he's the perfect dog for any apartment with close neighbors. Its eager-to-please disposition and friendly attitude make the King Rat an excellent choice for new dog owners, as housetraining and teaching good manners won't be too complicated. The Terrier is a naturally stubborn breed, so there may be a few instances where this trait will shine through, but for the most part, the King Rat is a gentleman who is ready to make you proud. It would make an excellent companion for anyone with children, other pets or even the elderly. Just make sure he's socialized early and has room for exercise to keep him on his best behavior. |
Needs and activities of the King Rat |
| The King Rat is an excellent balance between calm and energetic. This is because the Cavalier is a more reserved breed, built for palaces and royalty, so it's a calm, gentle companion who likes to play from time to time. The Rat Terrier, on the other hand, is a Terrier to the bone and was bred to hunt and farm, so it's a more energetic, high-energy breed. Fortunately, the King Rat doesn't pick on one side more than the other in most cases. This breed will be perfectly happy with a long walk once a day and a good game of fetch or training in the yard. For this reason, the King Rat is the ideal companion for the elderly and those without a large house or garden. Just bear in mind that, because of its intelligence, regular training and mental stimulation will be important to keep your King Rat from getting bored, as well as maintaining its manners. |
Maintenance of the King Rat |
| The King Rat's shorter coat makes it a very low-maintenance dog. The only major problem is that it tends to shed often, so brushing is a must in order to minimize shedding. Using a simple, smooth brush, groom your dog at least once a week to remove any loose hair or dirt that may be on the body. Bathing should only take place once a month, or if your King Rat gets into something he shouldn't. This breed doesn't have a bad dog smell. The final step in the grooming process is to maintain your dog's paws. Be sure to trim his nails every few weeks to keep the paws healthy and snag-free. If you hear nails rattling against the floor, it's time for a trim. |
English (United Kingdom)