Dog breeds / Small breeds
What a Rat Terrier really costs
The Rat Terrier is one of the cheapest breeds here to buy and maintain: puppies rarely top $1,500, the coat needs no groomer, and OFA screening shows low rates of joint and heart problems. Its long lifespan of up to 18 years means more years of routine costs, and its energy and digging need an outlet.
- Size
- Small, 10–25 lb
- Life expectancy
- 12–18 years
- Grooming
- Low
- Insurance risk
- Below average
- Puppy price
- $500–$1,500
- Food a day
- About 560 calories
Where the money goes each year
A typical adult year for a Rat Terrier with mainstream food, home grooming, no insurance, in an average-cost area. That's $780 less than the median breed.
- Illness and injury (average)$451
- Dental cleanings$425
- Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$404
- Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
- Food$292
- Toys, beds and everyday supplies$180
- Treats and chews$58
- Grooming$53
- License$20
- Typical year$2,210
Most years land between $1,790 (budget food, home grooming, lower-cost area) and $3,070 (premium food, groomer, insurance, big city). Dogs over about 8 add about $180 a year for senior checkups.
The first year
Buying a puppy front-loads the bill: the price, gear, puppy shots and spay or neuter.
Bringing a puppy home
- Breeder price$1,000
- Crate, bed, leash, bowls and gear$400
- Spay or neuter$490
- Microchip$50
- Puppy or basic obedience class$149
- Upfront$2,090
Running costs in year one
- Food$292
- Treats and chews$58
- Puppy vaccines and checkups$738
- Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$404
- Grooming$53
- License$20
- Illness and injury (average)$451
- Year-one running costs$2,020
First-year total: $4,110. Adopting instead brings it to about $2,330.
Make it your estimate
Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.
$184 a month in a typical year.
- Illness and injury (average)$451
- Dental cleanings$425
- Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$404
- Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
- Food$292
- Toys, beds and everyday supplies$180
- Treats and chews$58
- Grooming$53
- License$20
- Typical year$2,210
Health costs to plan for
No breed-level premium was found; we estimate below average because the Rat Terrier is small, long-lived, and shows low abnormal rates across OFA hip, knee and cardiac screening.
| Condition | How it affects Rat Terriers | Typical treatment | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patellar luxation | OFA rates 3.2% of 1,823 Rat Terrier knee exams abnormal; Pumpkin's vet notes the breed is prone to slipping kneecaps. Source | Surgical kneecap stabilization, per knee | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Legg-Calve-Perthes disease | AKC lists Legg-Calve-Perthes among the conditions Rat Terrier breeders screen for; it usually appears in the first year. Source | Activity restriction and pain relief up to FHO surgery | $300–$5,000 |
| Hip dysplasia | OFA rates 3.4% of 1,003 Rat Terrier hip X-rays as dysplastic. Source | Surgical treatment from FHO up to hip replacement | $1,500–$7,000 |
| Demodectic mange | Pumpkin says young Rat Terriers are prone to demodectic mange, an overgrowth of skin mites. Source | Skin scrapings, medicated shampoo or anti-parasitic medication and antibiotics | $300–$500 |
The yearly estimate already includes an average allowance of $451 for illness and injury. A single surgery can cost several times that, which is the case for an emergency fund or insurance.
What drives the cost of a Rat Terrier
- A lifespan up to 18 years means more years of food, preventives and senior bloodwork than most breeds.
- Professional grooming is unnecessary; Lemonade says home brushing handles the shedding.
- Rat Terriers come in miniature (10-13 in) and standard (13-18 in) sizes, which changes food and preventive costs.
- Knee and hip surgeries are the main big-ticket risks; ask breeders for OFA patella and hip results.
- High energy and a strong prey drive mean puzzle toys, daily exercise and secure fencing rather than paid grooming.
Breeder or rescue
- Reputable breeder
- $500–$1,500
- Rescue or shelter
- $50–$300
- Lifetime, from a breeder
- $35,900
- Lifetime, adopted
- $34,200
Pumpkin gives $500-$1,100 and Lemonade $500-$1,500 from reputable breeders; health-tested litters (hips, patellas, heart, eyes, PLL DNA) sit at the top. Lemonade puts rescue and shelter fees at $50-$300.
Similar-size breeds by yearly cost
- Italian Greyhound$2,170 a year
- Jack Russell Terrier$2,190 a year
- Chinese Crested$2,250 a year
- Papillon$2,260 a year
- Border Terrier$2,280 a year
- Basenji$2,290 a year
- Compare all breeds
Common questions
How much does a Rat Terrier puppy cost?
A Rat Terrier puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $500–$1,500. Adopting one through a rescue usually costs $50–$300.
How much does a Rat Terrier cost per year?
After the first year, a Rat Terrier costs about $2,210 a year, or $184 a month, for food, vet care, preventives, grooming, supplies and average illness costs. Depending on food, grooming, insurance and where you live, a typical year ranges from about $1,790 to $3,070.
How much does a Rat Terrier cost over its lifetime?
About $35,900 over a 15-year life when bought from a breeder, or $34,200 if adopted, in 2026 dollars.
Sources
- AKC breed page: Rat Terrier
- OFA disease statistics by breed (hips, elbows, patella, thyroid, eyes, cardiac, DNA tests)
- Lemonade: Rat Terrier breed guide (costs and health)
- Pumpkin: Rat Terrier breed profile (cost to buy, cost to treat)
Prices are averages from the sources above and the cost baselines on our methodology page, in 2026 US dollars. Your vet, groomer and city will differ. Updated October 14, 2026.