Breeds / Small
Teddy Roosevelt Terrier puppies
Affectionate, sturdy and sociable for a terrier, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an American vermin dog that suits family life while keeping a strong instinct to dig and chase.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin United States
- Adult weight 3.6 to 11.3 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 8 to 25 lb
- Adult height 20 to 36 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth
- Typical lifespan 14 to 16 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
Where these come from:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
About the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an American farm terrier, a shorter legged relative of the Rat Terrier, developed to clear vermin out of barns and smallholdings. It is a compact, muscular little dog, 20 to 36 cm tall and 3.6 to 11.3 kg, with a smooth coat usually broken by white. The temperament is affectionate and comic at home and sharply focused outdoors, and the breed is unusually sociable for a terrier, rated five out of five with both children and other pets by the AKC.
Exercise needs are moderate: a couple of walks, a game of fetch and a short training session will do. Grooming is a weekly brush with a soft brush or rubber mitt. They live a long time, 14 to 16 years, so this is a long commitment. They dig, they chase small animals and they are clever enough to work out a latch, so fencing has to be sound. Supervision with young children still applies. New owners often let a small, charming dog get away with behaviour they would never accept from a large one.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
- Primary lens luxation and other inherited eye disease, detectable by DNA test and ophthalmologist examination
- Legg Calve Perthes disease, a malformation of the hip joint in young dogs, found on x-ray
From Teddy Roosevelt Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/teddy-roosevelt-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Teddy Roosevelt Terrier puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 3.6 to 11.3 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other small breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.