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About Rat Terriers in Calgary
Rat Terriers are smart, energetic little dogs originally bred as farm ratters, and that working heritage shows in their drive and quick minds. They are alert, affectionate, and highly trainable, making them excellent companions for active Calgary owners who can keep them busy with walks, play, and games. Their short coat is easy to care for, but their high energy means a bored Rat Terrier can become mischievous.
Rat Terriers are not common in Calgary rescues, and those that are surrendered often come from situations where their energy outpaced the owner's lifestyle rather than any flaw in the dog. Before adopting, plan for daily exercise and mental enrichment, and be ready to manage a strong prey drive around small pets and wildlife. Early training and socialization help channel their intelligence in positive directions.
All Rat Terriers listed below are sourced from 15+ Calgary-area rescues. Listings are updated regularly. Purebred Rat Terriers appear infrequently in local rescues, so consider setting up an adoption alert or browsing all available small dogs to find a Rat Terrier or Rat Terrier mix when one becomes available.
Looking at all small dogs in Calgary?
Browse every available small dog from 15+ Calgary rescues — including Rat Terriers, Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Maltese, Shih Tzus, French Bulldogs, Pomeranians, Cavaliers, Boston Terriers, and small mixes — in one place. Listings refresh regularly.
Browse all Calgary small dogs → Read the small dog adoption guide →Rat Terrier Adoption FAQ
How many Rat Terriers are available for adoption in Calgary?
As of September 2026, 4 Rat Terriers are available for adoption in Calgary across 2 rescues on LocalPetFinder. Listings update regularly as dogs are adopted and new ones arrive — browse the current Rat Terriers above and apply directly through the rescue.
Are Rat Terriers good family dogs?
Yes, Rat Terriers are typically affectionate, playful, and good with children when properly socialized. Their energy makes them a fun match for active Calgary families who enjoy outdoor activities. Supervise them around very small children and other small pets due to their terrier prey drive.
How much exercise does a Rat Terrier need?
Quite a lot. Rat Terriers are high-energy dogs that need a couple of good walks plus play and mental stimulation each day. Calgary owners often pair them with off-leash park trips, fetch, and training games to burn off energy. A well-exercised Rat Terrier is a much calmer housemate.
Are Rat Terriers good for first-time owners?
They can be, especially for first-time owners with an active lifestyle who are committed to daily exercise and training. Rat Terriers are eager to learn and respond well to positive methods, which makes them rewarding to train. The main challenge is meeting their energy and enrichment needs consistently.
Where can I adopt a Rat Terrier in Calgary?
Check the listings on this page, which pull from 15+ Calgary-area rescues such as Calgary Humane Society, AARCS, and ARF Alberta. Rat Terriers are uncommon locally, so an adoption alert is the best way to be notified when one is listed. Rat Terrier mixes show up more often than purebreds.
How much does it cost to adopt a Rat Terrier in Calgary?
Adopting a Rat Terrier in Calgary typically costs $300 to $600, and puppies usually carry a premium at $500 to $900. The exact fee varies by rescue, and older dogs are often reduced. That fee is not a purchase price. It covers work already done on the dog: spay or neuter, vaccinations, deworming, microchip, and a basic vet workup, which would cost several hundred dollars more if you arranged it yourself after buying. Buying the same breed from a registered breeder generally runs well over $1,000, usually with a waitlist. Ask the rescue what is included before you apply, since a few include extras like a starter bag of food or a first-month insurance trial.
Are these Rat Terriers for sale in Calgary?
Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Rat Terrier here comes from a Calgary rescue or shelter, not a breeder, pet store, or classified seller. Adoption fees are typically $300 to $600, with puppies at $500 to $900 and already include vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter when age-appropriate, versus roughly $2,000 to $5,000 or more to buy a Rat Terrier from a breeder. If you searched "rat terrier for sale calgary" or "rat terrier puppies for sale," adopting gets you a healthy, vetted dog for a fraction of the price.
Where can I buy a Rat Terrier in Calgary, and should I?
You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable Rat Terrier breeder typically charges $2,000 to $5,000 or more and often has a waitlist, while a rescue Rat Terrier costs $300 to $600, with puppies at $500 to $900 fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap rat terrier-for-sale ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are frequently backyard breeders or puppy-mill resellers with unvetted, sometimes sick animals and no health guarantee. If you do buy, insist on seeing where the puppies were raised and getting vet records. For most families in Calgary, adopting a rescue Rat Terrier is cheaper, faster, and gives a dog in need a home.
Are there free Rat Terriers in Calgary, or rat terriers under $500?
Adoption is the closest honest answer, and it is not free. A rescue Rat Terrier in Calgary typically costs $300 to $600, with puppies at $500 to $900, so the lower end lands under the "$500" people search for and the rest does not. What the fee buys is work already done, the vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter, which would cost more than the fee itself if you arranged it yourself, and it is still far below breeder prices. Be wary of genuinely free rat terrier listings. An animal advertised free to a good home has usually not been vetted, and free rehoming ads are the route flippers and unregistered breeders use to move animals with no health guarantee and no recourse. Paying a rescue fee buys you a dog someone has already examined, treated, and been honest with you about.
Are there Rat Terrier puppies in Calgary, or only adults?
Both, but adults far outnumber puppies, and it is worth knowing that before you start looking. Most Rat Terriers arriving in Calgary rescue are adolescents and adults, because that is the age at which first homes tend to give up. Puppies do come through, usually as accidental litters or with a surrendered mother, and they are typically spoken for quickly. Setting an alert beats refreshing the page. It is also worth asking whether you actually want one: an adult arrives with a temperament a foster has already observed and described, where a Rat Terrier puppy is a prediction, and for this breed in particular knowing what you are getting is the more useful thing.
Where can I find a Rat Terrier near me in Calgary?
Start with the listings on this page, which pull from Calgary rescues and shelters and are refreshed regularly, so what you see is what is genuinely available rather than a stale directory. If nothing suits today, that is normal for this breed: rescue intake is intermittent rather than steady, and a breed with none listed this week often has several next month. Setting an alert beats checking back, and it is worth widening to nearby towns, since most rescues serving Calgary will adopt out across a reasonable driving distance rather than only inside one municipality.
Need to rehome a Rat Terrier?
If you can no longer keep your Rat Terrier, you can list them for free on LocalPetFinder. Your dog stays in your home until you find the right family, you screen who applies, and there is no surrender fee. Not sure yet? Our guide to surrendering a dog in Canada walks through every option first.
List your dog for free →Free tools for Rat Terrier owners
Need to rehome your Rat Terrier?
If you are on the other side of this page and need to find your rat terrier a new home, we have a breed-specific guide: the rescues worth contacting first, realistic timelines, and how to screen adopters. Listing on LocalPetFinder is free.
How to rehome a Rat Terrier responsibly →Browse More Breeds
Looking beyond Calgary?
Alberta rescues transport between cities and several operate province-wide, so it is worth checking Rat Terriers elsewhere in the province before you give up on a match in Calgary.