Image: Courtesy of New Rattitude, Inc. Rat Terrier Rescue100% of your donation goes towards the rescue & medical care of needy dogs.
Image: Courtesy of New Rattitude, Inc. Rat Terrier Rescue
Image: Courtesy of New Rattitude, Inc. Rat Terrier Rescue

14 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Rat Terrier


  1. Senior dogs typically leave you more time for yourself, because they don't make the kinds of demands on your attention that younger dogs do.
  2. Senior dogs love to sleep and cuddle the day away. And they love for you to join them.
  3. Most senior dogs have learned how to relax and entertain themselves, and don't expect you to provide continual stimulation.
  4. Senior dogs enjoy their daily walks, but are generally content to go at your pace--without pulling or stopping to pee on every bush.
  5. Taking a senior dog to the vet is usually a lot easier than taking a younger dog. They have learned the routine and will tolerate it.
  6. Most senior dogs have already learned life's lessons. They already know that bones are for chewing but shoes, furniture, and remote controls are not.
  7. By the time a dog is a senior, it usually knows that pottying belongs outdoors. Your carpet will last longer and your back won't go out from stooping to clean up messes.
  8. Senior dogs fit into your household with more ease. They simply find the softest, warmest spot in the house, claim it for their own, then hope you'll share it.
  9. Senior dogs tend to settle in easily because they've learned what it takes to get along with others and be part of a pack.
  10. Senior dogs are happy to greet you when you get home, but normally they don't jump on you and leave muddy prints on your clothes or run your stockings.
  11. Ordinarily, senior dogs focus well because they've mellowed, and are more apt to watch for subtle signs of how to please you rather than expecting you to please them.
  12. Senior dogs have already grown into their personalities, unlike a puppy or young dog whose personality is still forming.
  13. Senior dogs have almost always learned what "no" means. If they hadn't, they wouldn't have gotten to be a senior.
  14. Senior dogs normally let you get a good night's sleep because they're accustomed to human schedules and don't feel the need to rise at dawn -- or earlier.

When Is A Dog A Senior Dog?

 There is no firm rule for when a dog becomes a senior because, like people, individual dogs age at different rates. But in general, we call a dog a "senior" when he is in the last one-third to one-quarter of his life, based on life expectancy. For a Rat Terrier, whose life expectancy is about 17-18 years, that would mean that a dog would start getting his senior citizen discount at about age 12-13. If you think in human years, here is how to assess a typical Rat Terrier:

Image: Courtesy of New Rattitude, Inc. Rat Terrier RescueImage: Courtesy of New Rattitude, Inc. Rat Terrier Rescue
Rat Terrier AgeHuman Equivalent
0-6 months0-7 years (baby/young child)
6-12 months7-15 years (child)
1-2 years15-23 years (adolescent/young adult)
3 years28 years (young adult)
4 years32 years (adult)
5 years36 years (adult)
6 years40 years (adult)
7 years44 years (adult)
8 years48 years (adult)
9 years52 years (older adult)
10 years56 years (older adult)
11 years60 years (older adult)
12 years64 years (older adult/senior)
13 years68 years (senior)
14 years72 years (senior)
15 years76 years (senior)
16 years80 years (senior)
17 years84 years (senior)
18 years88 years (senior)
19 years92 years (senior)
20 years96 years (senior)


Caring for Your Senior Dog

 People sometimes express reluctance to adopt an older dog out of concern that the dog will be sickly or debilitated, and will incur large medical expenses. While it's true that older dogs have an increased risk for conditions such as heart disease or cancer, the older dog's more mature lifestyle actually makes it less likely to incur accident-related expenses such as bone injuries (from jumping/climbing), intestinal blockages (from eating something it shouldn't), or puncture wounds (from dog fights). There are no health guarantees for any dog at any age, and many younger dogs do get sick and injured, so finances shouldn't be a major consideration for age of your adopted dog. All dogs, no matter what their age, require regular preventive medical care (annual exams, heartworm testing, vaccinations). To keep an older dog healthy and minimize age-related problems, follow basic and sensible healthcare:

1. Good Nutrition - A high-quality food in the appropriate amount can lengthen the dog's life and prolong good health. Cheaper dog foods are often heavily processed and do not provide the best nutrition; they're just junk food for dogs. Many high-quality foods are available in formulations just for seniors; they usually contain less protein and are formulated to promote digestion. Kibble for seniors is usually smaller, so it is easier to chew.

2. Regular Exercise - Rat Terriers should be lean dogs, and their fine bone and muscle structure does not support excess weight well. Keeping your dog's weight down also reduces the chance that the dog will develop diabetes as it ages. Exercise helps keep your dog trim and improves heart and circulatory function. A senior dog may not want to go jogging with you (although some may), but walking is excellent exercise. Even if you have a fenced yard, it's a good idea to take your senior dog for a walk at least once a day.

3. Attention to Dental Care - A little maintenance can help keep your older dog's teeth and gums healthy, so that you don't have to spend a lot of money on frequent veterinary cleanings. Feeding high-quality kibble, rather than soft food alone, is a big help. Hard chew toys (NylaBone, Booda Velvets, raw meat bones) improve dental health, too. You can also clean your dog's teeth regularly, either with a cotton ball or dog toothbrush, to help promote dental health.

4. Support for Arthritis - Most people develop some arthritis as they age, and so do many dogs. Regular exercise helps to delay the development of arthritis, as does keeping your dog at a good weight. Gentle exercise for dogs who already have arthritis helps, too; but be sure to demand only as much exercise as the dog can reasonably perform--a walk down the block and back might be all that one dog can do comfortably, while another dog may enjoy a longer stroll. A relatively inexpensive supplement is now available to help relieve arthritis pain and restore joint function. Your vet can help you find the right solution to this common problem.

5. Warmth & Comfort - Like older people, most older dogs get cold more easily than younger dogs. Be sure your dog has a soft blanket to curl up in, located away from drafts. Put the dog's bed in a warm place, like near a heater vent. Use caution about locating your dog's bed near the clothes dryer; while the dryer provides comfy heat when it is running, the dryer vents to the outside so is actually a source of cold drafts when the dryer is off. In cold weather, a sweater or coat is a good idea for those outdoor walks.

6. Soft Bed - Old dogs, like old people, lose muscle mass and fat, which means less cushioning for their bones. Be sure that your older dog has a thick, soft bed or cushion to curl up on.

Image: Courtesy of New Rattitude, Inc. Rat Terrier Rescue7. Less Frequent Bathing - Bathe your older dog less often than you would a younger dog. Their skin, like ours, gets drier with age, so frequent bathing can cause flaking and itching.

8. Soothing Touch - Older dogs love and benefit from gentle massage, which relaxes the muscles and promotes a sense of well-being just because it feels so good and because YOU are touching them. Older dogs may want to curl up next to you or on your lap; your physical presence is a comfort to them.

Ready to consider a Senior? We have senior dogs available for adoption from time to time, so please visit our Senior Rattie Album to browse our adoptable senior dogs and see if you can find one right for you!