Brat Care

The Brat, as a hybrid of a Boston Terrier and a Rat Terrier, is a friendly, enthusiastic, and lively little crossbreed. And though these dogs can be a little stubborn and fussy, Brats are pretty "chill" compared to a lot of terrier breeds. Overall Brat care and maintenance won't take too much work, but will need to include some daily exercise--along with plenty of TLC, of course.

Below you'll find details on raising a Brat, including info about puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. Get answers to your questions about how to raise a Brat in the following sections!

These hybrids are lively and energetic--but since they're relatively small, Brat exercise requirements are only moderate. They're also intelligent, so Brats will need a variety of daily activities that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). They make good jogging companions as well.

Adult Brats, depending on their age and overall activity levels, will need about 45 minutes of dedicated exercise per day. You can start exercising your Brat puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Brat exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're nine months old
• High prey drive means a leash is required when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Might get cold easily; best not to exercise in freezing temps

It's a good idea to exercise your Brat every day. Though they're usually pretty good-natured and calm, a Brat without consistent activity may become fussy, disobedient, and destructive. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! Here are a few Brat exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging: Two 15-minute walks (or 10-minute jogs) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs usually love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Canine Sports: Brats can excel at obedience or agility trials and other events
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Brats enjoy the company of other dogs

When indoors, give your Brat access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn any excess energy. It's also recommended that you have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks or jogs after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

These hybrids don't need a ton of overall maintenance. Boston Terrier-Rat Terrier mix shedding is usually moderate, and drooling isn't an issue.

Brats normally have short, smooth coats that shed a fair amount throughout the year. Owners will be fine brushing their Brats once or twice a week with a bristle brush or grooming glove to keep the shedding to a minimum, and hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will only be required occasionally. (A few Brats may shed more heavily in the spring and fall, in which case brushing and cleanup will be needed more often during those shedding periods--but most Brats aren't seasonal shedders.)

And a Brats rarely drools at all. If your Brat is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

Brats' diet should include carbs, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids--but the most important nutrient for a Brat: protein, preferably from animals (like chicken, beef, or fish). All these nutrients help dogs maintain their health in the long term. This means the best food for Brats is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients.

Blue Buffalo, Royal Canin, and Eukanuba are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium dry food.

Adult Brats, depending on their age, size, and activity levels, will need about two cups of dry food per day, divided into two meals. Brat puppies will need a bit less: again depending on age, about 1½ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months old.

For more info on feeding these hybrids, see this Brat feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by mixing in adult formula with the puppy formula, in slowly increasing amounts with each meal, for one week.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. If constantly overfed (and under-exercised), these dogs can become overweight--and a fat Brat will have numerous health problems and a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your Brat's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your Brat is overweight, try this simple test: run a hand along the dog's side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!