Welcome to Blackwood Rat Terriers, located in Northern Florida. I was first introduced to this wonderful breed back in 2003 and I fell in love with their intelligence, loyalty, prey drive and their overall silliness. I started showing in 2009 and I have been breeding since 2013. We test all our Rat Terriers for PLL, PRA-PRCD, patella and cardiac at the minimum prior to breeding to ensure we do our best to not pass along affected or unsound Rat Terriers. We breed to the American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC) breed standards and breed primarily for "standard" sized Rat Terriers, however we occasionally have produced some miniatures in the past. Our goal is to produce healthy, well-tempered standard Rat Terriers that conform to the breed standard, are biddable with a great hunt drive. Our dogs are American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC) registered, and excel at hunting, conformation and performance events. We do not believe in breeding purely to produce puppies, but in breeding to better the breed one litter at a time. All our dogs and litters are raised in our home, raised as part of our family and are not kenneled outside. We do NOT breed Merles. We consider ourselves a small hobby/preservation breeder and may have one to three litters a year.
PLL (Primary Lens Luxation)
Rat Terriers are an overall healthy breed. The main health concern is Primary Lens Luxation (PLL). PLL can be found in many terrier breeds and a genetic marker is now available for testing. There are three designations, clear, carrier and at risk. Clear will have no risk of the disease, however it can still have a lens luxate due to an eye injury. A clear can be bred with any dog regardless of their PLL status. Carriers have a very slight chance of acquiring it, but is not likely, and should never be bred to another carrier. At risk dogs will eventually have their lens luxate. The majority of affected dogs will usually luxate between 4 and 8 years old. Standard practice in our breed is to breed either clear to clear or clear to carrier. If a breeder does not know their dogs PLL status you are taking an unnecessary risk with a puppy from them. The genetic test has only been available for around ten years. Eventually, by using this test as a guideline the breed should stop seeing affected dogs without decreasing the gene pool and hence keeping our breed healthy.
- Personality: Friendly, lovable, inquisitive; fearlessly game for just about anything
- Energy Level: Very Active; A busy, active dog of seemingly boundless energy; however does have an off switch
- Good with Children: Yes, when brought up with them as a puppy
- Good with other Dogs: Yes, when brought up with them as a puppy and/or properly socialized
- Shedding: Yes, however minimal when groomed regularly
- Grooming: Occasional
- Trainability: Eager To Please
- Height: 10-13 inches (miniature), 13-18 inches (standard)
- Life Expectancy: 12-18 years
- Barking Level: Barks When Necessary
PLL (Primary Lens Luxation)
Rat Terriers are an overall healthy breed. The main health concern is Primary Lens Luxation (PLL). PLL can be found in many terrier breeds and a genetic marker is now available for testing. There are three designations, clear, carrier and at risk. Clear will have no risk of the disease, however it can still have a lens luxate due to an eye injury. A clear can be bred with any dog regardless of their PLL status. Carriers have a very slight chance of acquiring it, but is not likely, and should never be bred to another carrier. At risk dogs will eventually have their lens luxate. The majority of affected dogs will usually luxate between 4 and 8 years old. Standard practice in our breed is to breed either clear to clear or clear to carrier. If a breeder does not know their dogs PLL status you are taking an unnecessary risk with a puppy from them. The genetic test has only been available for around ten years. Eventually, by using this test as a guideline the breed should stop seeing affected dogs without decreasing the gene pool and hence keeping our breed healthy.
Other recommended breeders...
Dynamite Rat Terriers (SoCal)
Stone Pony Farm (TX)
Sugarloafer Rat Terriers (SoCal)
Sundance Rat Terriers (AZ)
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