

The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an alert, compact ratter—a low-slung Erdhund (earth dog) bred to tenaciously rid American farms of rodents. Beneath his charming companion-dog appearance lies a true worker with lightning-fast reflexes.
Self-check
Answer 6 quick questions about your everyday life and see how well the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier fits you — including an honest cost estimate per month, per year, and across the dog's lifetime.
At a glance
The essentials — key facts, traits, and health priorities — before you dive deeper.
Lifespan
14–16 yrs
Shoulder height
20–36 cm
Weight
4–11 kg
Practical
Temperament
Daily life
What matters most
Especially with a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, choosing the right breeder is the single most important decision you'll make. Serious breeders consistently test the parents for inherited conditions, prioritize healthy early socialization, and stay accountable long after handover. A cheap puppy without health screening tends to become the most expensive dog later on.
See HonestDog breeder standards →Colors & coat
The coat colors that occur in the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier — including which ones fall outside the breed standard and which carry genetic risk.
Eye colors
Coat type
The real vibes check
A Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is like a highly sensitive motion detector on short legs. Indoors, he will devotedly snuggle under your blanket, but outside, a rustling bush is all it takes for the lapdog to transform into a highly focused hunter in milliseconds. If you love and can manage this charming terrier duality, you will have a fearless buddy for every adventure.
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a small but strong dog with a robust and athletic appearance. His muscles are well developed, which contributes to his agility and dexterity. The head is medium-sized with a pronounced stop and the ears are typically V-shaped, but can also be semi-erect or drooping. His eyes are dark and lively, conveying an expression of intelligence and alertness. The breed belongs to the terrier group, but is not recognized by the FCI. In contrast to other terrier breeds, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier does not differentiate between show and performance lines. The breed standard places great emphasis on health, lifespan and functional aspects, so that all animals can shine both in the show ring and as working dogs or family members.
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an incredibly versatile dog. His original breeding goal, hunting and catching vermin, has made him an agile and intelligent dog that likes to keep busy and learns quickly. His adaptability is also reflected in his role as a family dog. He is very people-oriented and loves being around people to be he to his family. He manages to show a calm, balanced side as well as being playful and active. The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier learns quickly and copes well with being alone, provided this is trained slowly and with positive methods. He has a certain hunting instinct, but this can be easily managed with appropriate employment and training. His alertness makes him a good watchdog, but not prone to excessive barking. The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier's temperament can be described as moderately active. Although he certainly has the stamina and energy for longer activities, he is also happy with leisurely walks and cuddle times. His playful and bright nature makes him the ideal companion for various activities, both indoors and outdoors. The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier's ability to enjoy both active and calm phases, his adaptability and his people-oriented nature make him a wonderful family dog. Its robustness and agility simultaneously offer many opportunities for various forms of employment and training. He is an active and lively companion who also appreciates quiet and cuddly moments with his family. With his cheerful and lovable nature, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier brings a lot of joy and life to his people's homes.
| Watchfulness Reports unusual activity but stays controlled. | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers Warms up quickly and is generally welcoming. | Friendly |
| Hunting or Herding Drive Noticeable drive — needs attention around small animals. | Moderate |
Fun Fact!
Although a relatively unknown breed, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the first rat terriers brought to America in the 19th century.
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a lively, friendly, affectionate dog that lives with its family, but can also be an only dog. Due to his strong protective instinct and well-developed pack behavior, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier gets along well with children (if he grows up with them), cats and other dogs. He is a courageous, tenacious hunter with seemingly unlimited energy, whose size and endurance make him an excellent hunter of squirrels and vermin.
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an adaptable dog that can live well in both rural areas and the city. He requires daily physical and mental activity but is also happy with quiet time at home. He usually gets along well with children and is also friendly towards other dogs. However, cats and other pets should be introduced carefully as his hunting instinct can lead him to hunt them.
Lives for its family — the born family companion.
Extraordinarily patient and loving — a true family dog.
Usually gets on fine with other dogs.
Small space, noise, lots of people — no problem at all.
Owning a dog is a privilege, but it's also a real responsibility. Before you bring one into your life, be honest with yourself about the commitment it takes.
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a smart and bright dog who enjoys learning. They respond well to positive reinforcement and reward-based training methods. Their high energy and agility make them well suited to various dog sports such as agility, flyball or obedience. It is important to encourage frustration tolerance and impulse control as this breed can sometimes tend to be impulsive and impatient. Care should also be taken to maintain a balance between activity and rest to avoid over-busyness.
As with all dogs, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier's diet should be balanced and tailored to his individual needs. They are generally not picky and can tolerate both dry and wet food well. However, portion sizes should be controlled as they are prone to obesity. Caring for the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is relatively straightforward. Its short, smooth and dense coat sheds moderately and requires only occasional brushing to remove dead hair and promote skin health. The breed does not have an undercoat, which can make it vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. However, they can live well in Germany as long as they are adequately protected in cold weather.
| Care Level Minimal effort — occasional brushing and bathing. | Low-maintenance |
| Exercise Needs Needs several hours of serious exercise every day. | Very active |
| Shedding Hair everywhere, always — no white clothing survives. | Very heavy |
| Trainability Picks up commands quickly and wants to please. | Eager to learn |
Our experts are still reviewing this information. Spotted something wrong? Email us at info@honestdog.de.
Solid, watch carefully
Health grade
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is basically a robust fellow, but due to its anatomy carries an increased risk of intervertebral disc disease caused by chondrodystrophy (CDDY). In addition, breeders must actively take action via genetic testing against Primary Lens Luxation (PLL), which can lead to blindness, and Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter (CHG). Anyone buying here should definitely insist on complete test results for the parent animals.
Grade is relative to other breeds — AI-assisted and editorially reviewed.
Methodology and data: HonestDog Dog Breed Health Report 2026
What matters most for this breed
Tap any item to see details.
With joint-friendly rearing, a healthy weight, and regular eye check-ups, most of these agile dogs stay fit for a very long time.
Reputable breeders have the parents' knees, eyes, heart, and nervous system tested and pay special attention to a healthy bone structure to reduce risks in the lineage.
Note: This health overview is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. It is for orientation only and does not replace veterinary advice.
What matters most for this breed — what's common, how much it affects the dog's life, and how to protect yourself as a buyer.
Tap a body region to see the inherited conditions linked to it.
The three most important risks
Pick a region on the map to explore other areas.
Tier 1 is the recommended health standard for this breed. Tiers 2 and 3 show how responsible breeders go beyond.
Recommended standard. These tests make up the recommended health standard for this breed — the baseline of any careful breeding program. Ask any reputable breeder for the results.
No entries in this tier.
Note: This health overview is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. It is for orientation only and does not replace veterinary advice.
A Teddy Roosevelt Terrier costs around ~€160 per month (€80 – €280, depending on your setup). The first year adds up to roughly ~€4,690 including purchase, equipment and puppy school; across the dog's life (15 years) it comes to about ~€30,750.
With surgery cover, running costs come to about ~€150 per month — in return, your share of a major operation drops from several thousand euros to around 20 percent.
Per month
~€160
In the first year
~€4,690
Across the dog's life
~€30,750
Estimated purchase price from a breeder: €1,500 – €2,500
Estimate at a mid-range setup (suburban, dry food, 1–2 hours of daily exercise), average German prices, as of July 2026.
HonestDog Concierge
We currently have no breeders for this breed who have passed our verification. Create your short buyer profile: we'll set up your search alert, review a possible source and email you within 28 days.

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Illustrative imageThe Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an American breed named after the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, who was known for taking terriers hunting on his estates. Originally, these dogs were known as Rat Terriers, a breed valued for their ability to hunt rats and other vermin. The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier has its roots in these rat hunters, but over time it has been developed into a breed in its own right. These dogs were particularly popular with farmers and ranchers because their size and agile nature made them very effective rat hunters. Additionally, they were valued as family dogs because they were friendly, loyal, and easy to train. The breed was recognized as a separate breed by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1999, with the name Teddy Roosevelt Terrier chosen to distinguish it from the larger and often lighter Rat Terriers.
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier was bred to be a versatile pest control farm dog and companion dog.
USA
1900
Many owners describe life with a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier as a mix of very snuggly companion and high-energy clown. Owners are especially quick to point out that the breed has a remarkable "off switch" at home: these dogs love to sleep and cuddle up close to their people or under blankets, but they can be fully switched on in a second once there's action.
Compared with the often more high-strung Jack Russell Terrier, experienced owners usually see the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier as a bit more settled and easier to manage day to day. It is considered an affectionate shadow of its people that fits in smoothly with the family or in multi-dog households, as long as it gets enough attention. Some owners note, however, that the breed tends to bond very strongly with one main person and that time alone has to be practiced consistently.
Sources:reddit.comanimalia.bio
On training and activity, people who know the breed emphasize two traits above all: a very quick mind paired with typical terrier persistence. According to owners, these compact dogs often learn house-training and tricks surprisingly fast. At the same time, training them takes a lot of patience, humor and consistency, since they have little interest in blind obedience and prefer to make their own decisions.
For most of these dogs, hunting and prey drive remain a challenge. Anything small, fast-moving or rustling in the yard, from mice to squirrels, immediately triggers their original drive as ratters. Owners report that living with cats or chickens is possible with early exposure, but unfamiliar small animals or rodents are rarely ignored. Owners also repeatedly mention a tendency to dig in the yard as something to address through training and activity. As an outlet, owners like activities such as scent work, trick training or flirt-pole training.
Sources:reddit.compaw-champ.com
In reports on fitness and health, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is mostly described as a tough, long-lived, hardy little dog that, despite its short legs, can run and climb a lot more than you'd expect. Many owners go on long hikes with their dogs without any problems and appreciate the uncomplicated, easy-care coat.
At the same time, people who know the breed and breed-specific records point to the risks that come with its low-slung build. Because of the genetics behind its short legs (chondrodystrophy), the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine and the intervertebral discs, needs extra attention. Owners therefore often make a point of strictly avoiding excess weight and limiting jarring impact on the back from uncontrolled jumps from high places, to protect the joints of these otherwise athletic dogs over the long term.
Sources:reddit.compaw-champ.com
Paraphrased from real owner reports · translated from German
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an active dog that needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Research the temperament, grooming needs, and space requirements before deciding.
The average life expectancy of a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is 14-16 years. With proper care and regular vet visits, your dog can live a long, healthy life.
Teddy Roosevelt Terrier grooming requirements include regular brushing, nail trimming, and dental care. HonestDog provides detailed grooming tips for every breed.
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier can be a great family dog. Proper training and socialization are key. HonestDog provides family suitability information for every breed.
The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier comes in these colors: White, Tricolor, Piebald, Black and white, Brown and white, Red and white, Black and tan, Bicolor, Sable, Brindle, Merle. Colors that fall outside the breed standard are marked as such on the breed page.
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