I researched the Decker and decided that was exactly what I wanted. Milton began his journey in the 70s by acquiring thelargest Rat Terriers he could find to use as breeding stock. She is the most loyal dog I have ever met. Anyway my Scrappy was a full Ratty but he was also 26 pounds, very lean, and about 14 inches at the shoulder. He is a little over 40 pounds. Im happy that many breeders of the decker giants stay true to milton deckers idea of the dog. This is Sedona I believe she is a decker, she has gotten up to 45 lbs but it is always muscle, solid never an once of fat. She has taken down rabbit, mice, ground hogs, and other rodents. Young to pass for a Decker. Bob and Mark, just to be clear, your comments here should not be construed as an endorsement. The dog was great with people had a awesome personality. She would bark like a beagle & still does when prompted. Were sorry for your loss, Rich and while theres no good time to lose a beloved companion, wow, that is a very impressive age for your Lab to have reached. But he was a coon killing machine one-a-day and hed be tired for a couple of days and then go back at it again. We are wanting to get a Decker after we get over the heartbreak. That said, thanks for sharing Louies picture, hes a cutie! Never doing it again. I will not be hunting but the breed sounds like an awesome companion dog. Or did you mean 3 years old !! Apparently she was brought in off the street. Unfortunately he passed away in 2018. Jax sounds like he was a great dog & my condolences for his loss. He was a purebred Rat terrier and was large at 27 lbs. Follow us on facebook for the most up-to-date stories and news. That also makes the Decker not a rat terrier. Looking for a female puppy. Its a mixed breed with rat terrier in it. He looks like a big rat terrier to me. very mild temp but does not like dogs. National Purebred Dog Day Official Poster for 2022, Herding Dogs Keeping Everything Together, Faithful Pacheco (*and the difference between nude and naked), http://deckerratterrier.nrta.com/index.shtml. Shell be turning 2 years old in a couple weeks and weights 23lbs. We did she her mother & she was heavy but looked just like a regular Rat Terrier. Bernards!! Lightning quick and can jump REALLY high. They will hunt all day and then be happy to cuddle up as a lap dog in the evening. He was 19 pounds of muscle. My Abby is very out going and a jumper and fast runner. This sounds like this is due to a poor early upbringing. This is Brooke and Foxys great-grandsire Ace of Spades., Copyright 2021 Hard Point Kennels - All Rights Reserved. What are the chances he is in the Decker bloodline? After a lot of reading and nosing around, that is the consensus, that she is Decker through and through. How are Deckers with cats in the house? Any ideas for a good breeder? wow wow girl is 9 yrs old, she has been with me for 8 yrs. Thanks for your thoughtful reply. Im curious to find out if he is a decker rat terrier he is 30lbs. Any comments would be helpful to me and very much appreciated. My Decker spends most of his time in the gym, bench pressing St. Share on Twitter If you get a chance, wed love to see her picture! She was such a healthy dog until the end. Perhaps its best to take any further communications between you privately. Adopted a dog while stuck at home during the pandemic. They enjoy boating, hunting and cool off in the pool the chill out from texas summer. I will always own a Decker now. And I am in the market for a puppy soon. I have never seen a dog that looks as close to my Koda as yours does! My father had a rat terrier when I was born and I LOVED that dog. -! Debbie, Abby is wonderful! Is there a such thing as a minature or toy Decker? The Decker and Old Dominion Terrier has been developed by hunters but has a unique people friendly disposition that makes it not only an elite working dog but also a loyal and loving family dog. Its always helpful to hear from people who actually live with a breed, so thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! an>Cu3xz j?_}>7u8D9QPHF$vT4yz#wF+g-hpAEHy;`G:LiNAwIz.Op5G>$Xjldu KoG)7 ;#[w?. If anything he vocalizes like a Basenji. All will be males. We have wondered if our dog is a Decker. Consequently, our dogs are getting registered with Old Dominion Terrier Club as well as the UKC to distinguish this amazing cross. He has amazing endurance and patience and can box jump about 5 feet. Everything Ive read suggests Decker Rat Terrier, only shes got haunting grey eyes! As the story goes, Milton, the owner of a plant nursery near Eugene, Oregon, was shopping for plant stock. He is very protective and takes a while to warm up to strangers or male dogs. What a marvelous breed! I live inTampa and found a Breeder in Glenville, GA. Clan ClArk Deckers. I lost my Ratty to cancer 3 weeks ago. He wasnt used for hunting but I am relatively active. Well it turned out that she was pregnant. The slang term, cankles (a combination of the words ankle and calf) describes legs in which there is little definition between a persons lower calf and ankle. LOL, thanks for the update, Shannon. They thought she was a cattle dog/boxer mix. Got it. Update, this dog is now 65lb but look like a HUGE rat terrier still. {|aD@09}b|cZ_G9{ She behaves otherwise like all these descriptions abovehunter, loving, loyal. I am a dog trainer and I need a smart, obedient dog to help me with training. Were so sorry for your loss, James. Im not sure if you are still looking but I have Decker Terriers that was born on 9/16/18. We rely on the experts to help us out here, Shannon, the people who breed and own Rat Terriers and Decker Terriers. Among a pack of barking dogs one night, I found this little probably 3 month old dog jump from the pack into darkness, pulling out a possum that he shook violently until stunned and laid the helpless, unconscious critter at my feet while the other dogs just kept their distance barking.I knew then that he was fearless. Thanks for writing and for sharing his story with us! Sniff. I hunted with mine and he remained the most gentel animal. Do you think a Decker will work? Wodehouses character Bertie Wooster) is a terrific dog regardless of his breed and we love him as unconditionally as he loves us. She & one of our other Rat terriers catch & kill rabbit in our yard. Her dogs name is Sheba, looks like a rat terrier but is bigger, weighs 36 pounds & is 8 years old. R. Flanagan, My love, Mugsy, born July2, 2003. We adopted our decker, Scooter (aka Scooby, Stiff Adams, Scoot McGoot) in Eugene, OR in January 2020! She is super loyal to me. I got one from her 10 years ago. In the summer, we get her pool out and she swims. Box 123 Milton Decker was smitten. Not every breed is right for everyone and this helps! Came via a rat terrier rescue, and seems to have the look, but we dont know much about his history. Mainly because I enjoy taking my dog with me when I am trail riding with my horses. Um texting and sometimes its changing my words. A DNA test came back with about 12 different breeds. She grew into a tall, elegant 26 pound lady with long legs. Shes calm most of the time, but I do exercise her a lot with walks and she has a big back yard to run in. Jackie Hagberg in Madera, Ca. She loves hiking and has been in every environment in north America. My question would be why was it hidden and lied about? Might you get another? They bred dogs & her mother didnt get pregnant so they gave her away. Probably after January when I have money lol, Shane, your Decker sounds like he had more personality and grrrrr than dogs three times his size! We play together, and even he sleeps with me. Aiello automatically went to take a knee, but before his knee could hit the ground, he heard a gunshot. I love this interesting history of a decker rat terrier, which I didnt know before. What do you say about this? Mr. Milton Decker himself identified him as a Fox Terrier mix. They puppies should be ready for their new homes around November 11th. We rescued her and the sellers claimed she was shitzu and corgi. Bother parents are 40lbs+. Eventually. Check out what theyre capable of hunting! I would imagine he would have been an ideal hunting dog. Are there any Decker Rat terriers breeders that may breed with less of a hunting drive? We have a Decker Rat terrier. He got bigger than we thought How can I find out if Bob is a decker? Do they have any health issues and what is life expectancy? Why do you all think its so great that these Deckers kill other animals? What a wonderfully vivid description of a Decker, Glenn! Dont want? I came to know the Decker Terrier from my cousin, who started breeding them. Evelyn, We dont put a lot of stock in DNA tests because the results can come back so outlandish. Im pretty skeptical of DNA tests too. she went after pit and slashed his ear. Best. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. They dont stand a chance. She has grown into a 35lb lovely dog with mild temperament and loves to hunt and run. The button ears are pretty suggestive! He is always on a leash because he is a runner. Margaret, we can see from the photograph that your dog is suffering on that armrest (chuckle). Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. (6J(lK{lsd>]Ig0ceik]W)Z P4;;yG3G~)4 ;hnei! Except for sweets she has a sweet tooth and will eat anything she can if it is left out if no one is around. Unfortunately, the name Decker is not allowed by UKC and is referred to as Rat Terrier. Loving, cuddly, rowdy, silly and smart as hell. Jax loved long hikes and runs, swimming and games of fetch. Shes not a huge barker, but when she does bark, you need to pay attention because shes barking for a reason. So, we brought home this girl and named her Kori! I am sure she was a Decker. We found it here: http://deckerratterrier.nrta.com/index.shtml, My Decker Ace is also 13 and soundly went deaf and is currently unable to walk due to rear hip pain, not sure why yet. Shes a cutie, John, and your account of her sounds now familiar as we learn about the Decker. We have a Decker. That said, when we saw Woosters picture, we thought, Hmmmm. And so we ran it past our experts, and many agree that yes, he could be a Decker, but he just might be a smooth Fox terrier. Were sorry for the late reply, Ryan, we found your note in a spam file. We had no idea that we stumbled upon a new obsession. Ever. After I get past the loss and save up some money. He really didnt care for the water. As for getting along with your males, its hard to say, as different factors may impact the new dynamic, including whether or not the males are all neutered, how long theyve been together, etc. She is prey driven but watches and stays close to me. The Decker Terrier comes from a cross of Rat Terrier and Basenji (African Hunting Dog). Clearly had a rough time before coming to the shelter; mange, fleas, tie-out neck injuries, etc. I just put down my decker giant down and found one of his offsprings that i will be adopting. Because of her size & she looks just like a Rat terrier we feel certain she is a Decker Rat Terrier. She has chased deer, squirrels, and even a fox several days ago. Bottom line, Wooster (named after P.G. He was the most muscular dog and so fast. I may adopt again, but honestly Jax is the closest thing to the most ideal dog Ive ever come across. Milton began his journey in the 70s by acquiring the. "LLL #yl|EVc[Fx_6IZO ZOT2Oli7B1r8Eh.GtM7Mi(I Idv.x+ AX~q*]/-l_yJ|Iq`xZm&b>!SCb8vJ|*wxBw)b ey Some good friends of mine own a Decker Terrier. Hands down. He is the most precious, loving boy and he makes us laugh every day (except when he sneaks off his leash and goes for a run around the neighborhood precisely why he was dropped off at the humane society). Wanting to preserve Henrys qualities, Milton set out to find Rat Terriers he felt would create his ideal of the perfect dog a strain of uber-prey-driven hunting Rat Terriers, but with the proper temperament: Miltons son, Ellis Decker, would later say, Temperament definitely played a large role in the creation of these dogs. Shes 6 months old , 25 lb., and looks so much like a Basenji I am stopped often to answer what kind of dog is that? She was a gentle dog but 3 neighbor boy abused her when werent outside with her & she doesnt like people. By the time he was satisfied with the results of his breeding program, he had developed a dog that stood taller at the shoulder than other Rat terriers, and was heavier, weighing between 25 and 35 pounds. Is there a DNA test that includes Decker Rat Terrier DNA in its database? wvG[;9~| "q P?l:-_,ULMlPvZ>NH2 It sounds like you found your breed, and we wish you luck in finding your next one (though s/hll have big paws to fill!). When I got her as a 6 week old puppy in Pacifica, CA (from a little farm), I was told she was a rat terrier. Almost more than hunting ability. Some sources say that Decker added a few other breeds into his breeding program, such as the Basenji (which would account for the wrinkles), but the breed makeup is still mostly Rat Terrier. Share on Linked In ), dont they? Incredibly intelligent, he understands commands instinctively and is a great compliment to my beagle. May I ask what happened? Thank you Milton, whatever anyone wants to call them, we love our Deckers! Not sure how much time he has left. I dont hunt but he did }s7_K,;gs5bR7[86Iht740/Rfyo~"',svrZR$hq ';i-;zqciPLCOZ"|ZTUc_S\Disq^XyM_5-f16<8g`.t,g;l?$bFdT2%C)A( |g2qrqw[[;"slgme$s7dpC+z~$ 9txj0Fe! Their dog Flash almost never barks. And lucky for him he found you! But that could be his personal history. She was very timid; hand and neck shy (understandably) and wouldnt go near the car when we got her. Very sweet, incredibly athletic and an efficient and very patient hunter. While Deckers are generally larger than average Rat Terriers, some breed enthusiasts insist that its bloodline, not size, that makes a dog a Decker. You could be right about her, she has the size of a Deckerperhaps one of our Decker owning readers can share their opinion, as well? He is not blood thirsty, its all about the chase for him. No sooner had he pulled into the driveway of the wholesale nursery of Betty and Chris Lindseth when several Rat terriers flew out of the house to check him out. I just very recently lost my 18.5 year old Labrador I live on my ranch in Northern California, and would enjoy another buddy dog. He was an amazing companion fiercely loyal, obedient and affectionate and great with babies and kids. He found us after having been dumped at a dog park I guess because he was instinctively too active. Some sites say that Basenjis were used as part of the founding for Deckers, but my guy Reggie doesnt look to have any of that breed in him. P.O. Biggest raccoon ever killed with him with 44lb. Greats with kids. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. www.workingdogmagazine.com/uswda-aiellos-memorial-to-k9-stormy-mwds/. She was kept in an outside kennel close to another kennel with beagles. He does bark now at strangers arriving to the property and in pursuit of squirrels and groundhogs specifically. We unfortunately lost our Frankie to kidney disease at 13 recently. Does your breeder have any for sale? I had a Decker rat terrier. They are a hunting team machine. I have a 17 pound Rat Terrier named Louie. Dad was careful to choose for many reasons, and temperament was at the top of the list. Later we discovered he had a special chip from a breeder that had not been registered. Shes amazing and we are looking for an adult companion for her, preferably over five or six. Tina. They are like people, all have different personalities.. An incredibly fit, muscular, and lean dog. Not sure where you got the idea that we support fun-hunting, Kathi, but when vermin is a problem, its more human to use a ratting terrier than poison. The website is http://deckerratterrier.nrta.com/index.shtml, and the email address is: deckerrat@cox.net. No copying of any content allowed unless given permission. I cant spend a single second without him. Hard to say, Dale but hes pretty cute! Im looking for another DRT. He is such a magical dog. Linda, :t.6Kc:o4jqjKu]U4y6)p0]in;|'DNvMTO#)LtsZ7R$#Y n/:d,sy(-md@(Y2Zq&U^qJd){ DPqK?/2N@ @Be5}ULm*kGN$lm4Byi{ "loK1R[i0s X`Mdrr"D>iYRHF aq?k#*0J]"I}]fID He lived til 15 years old. Your email address will not be published. (C0x/ \9WqQ?kID|mxWCIt|D"lRiMq8-q@:29+#s A. You say you got him after the Great Recession, which Im assuming is December 2007? While there are people who want to insist they are something else, we, the owners of them continue to favor this type of dog above all others, and always go for a Decker, for our next dog. Anyone? Jax was lovely, such a happy expression! Got her as a puppy in 2004. I hunt with mine and she is the best on pheasant and quail. Thats a nice line of ratters on the couch there, Michele. Once she understands what you want; bam, shell do it every time. "Pu3M\! b3? Shes an incredible dog. Adding later, the breeding males from Andy Johnson. We are not Rat Terrier experts, and merely try to share information about the glorious dog breeds out there. We may have found the PERFECT DOG! We picked up our Decker without knowing what we had. Hoss comes in at 44 pounds and is pure mucle!. Thank you, Were so sorry to hear that, Jack. My dog Roscoe . She is about 10 years old now not sure we adopted her. Sorry for your loss I know the feeling too well. At 28+ lbs, hes too big for a Rat Terrier so I want to be sure the Decker Rat Terrier breeds DNA is included in any DNA test kits database. Thanks! He would retrieve geese and that was comical. She is a terror around other dogs and runners. These dogs are great all around. She usually only breeds 1 or 2 litters per year, but apparently, her male got out of the house one day and knocked up 2 females! We got ours a year ago from a shelter here in Phoenix. We started out pups from the elite breeding of Briar Beys Decker Terriers. She passed away a couple of years ago. The people we bought her from got her mother in Kentucky. FG25n-Cq gAU~J&M,=y^vHIdA!/`0 VQJ `2al!`rm] We imagine hell be a wonderful companion and agility dog as it sounds like there isnt much this breed cant do. He was the total package: friend, companion, caretaker. Up until this year he was perfectly healthy. Denver, CO 80001. While there are many opinions about Milton Decker project, those of us who own Decker Rat Terriers are great fans of Milton and the strain of Ratties he produced. That said, it seems Jax only lived to be about 10. Were come across a few bullet points as to what the subtle differences are that sets Deckers apart from any other size of Rat Terrier (but as always, we defer to the breed experts):A Deckers skull is somewhat broader and tends to wedge into the muzzle and square off;Face wrinkles are common, as is a regal elegance to the dog, and, of course, theres the size. This is my first one. A delightful picture, than you for sharing it with us. He is now 4.5 months old and just hit 30lbs. Yes it is the Basenji that makes a Decker Terrier. I am so excited, I can hardly wait. The DECKER / OLD DOMINION TERRIER! Hopefully, one of our readers can offer some suggestions for you, but until then, the Decker Rat Terrier club has a section on breeders, wed start there: http://deckerratterrier.nrta.com/index.shtml. Once you own a Decker and are amazed at the intelligence and loving attitude, you realize you truly have the best dog in the world! My Lily was a DRT, in her prime she weighed in at 37 lbs, unfortunately I lost her yesterday due to cancer at the age of 16. The beagle sniffs out and the terrier retrieves immediately. Who was the breeder in TN? What a visual, you paint, Emily! All Rights Reserved. Their gifts and talents also include incredible athleticism as well as high teachable intelligence. He gets along so well with our dogs, hes great around kids, and is just a bright light in these strange times! She was super easy to potty train and train in general (sit, shake, come, etc). We loved her so much, we are adopting a second Decker Terrier in two weeks! Everything you stated is exactly my Abby. He did this at 3 months old ?? I always knew he was a terrier something but everything everyone assumed he was never looked similar to me. Thor and Thunder are my old boys and Molly and Hoss are my 8 1/2 month olds UKC deckers. He was an avid better Hunter and retriever never lost a bird wounded. Same mother and father as Kori, so they will be sisters. I dont think the pain of losing him will ever go away. 0kf""gGU~DHAfYN{}3816 +@tCGJmJ9W=.N6!}" J.)+T;xkk*sO&.8 m0-]3JQI XC4;xCxv/i;S?I--1pieM$Y[(iM[ 2mUD. We still are heart broken over it. I have been researching the Decker Rat terrier for some while now, and would like to have my next buddy dog to be a Decker. Perhaps one of our readers experienced with the Decker can offer an opinion on your dog? Odd to have picked up a pure Decker from a shelter. She is now 8 years old, got her when she was 2 months old. He is treeing a squirrel here. The he would drag all these backwards. Was wondering if you thought he could be a Decker Terrier? David, how wonderful that you found her, and that you know what youve got!! If you are still interested send me an email at sandersm982 @yahoo.com with your contact info. The foundation dog, Henry, was not a Rat Terrier. She contacted me and asked me if I wanted a puppy. Insert photo of Henry.. I was told by source he is a rat terrier and another he could be a heeler mix but that he shouldnt get larger than 30lbs. But boy, she has come out of her shell, and she does EVERYTHING we ask of her. Dog. Brave, and loyal, trusting and loving. The picture that I added was when she was younger, she is now 3 1/2 years old. Clan Clarks Seamus. LOL, Brittany, it looks like hes even searching for squirrels on the high seas! They gave birth 2 days apart. Her ideal weight was about 11-12 pounds. Found a breeder in TN and I pick up my baby on April 22. She could run so fast! Were so sorry for your loss, Jim. I have a Decker Terrier! As for your friends Decker having Basenji in him, sources do say that a number of Basenji dogs contributed to the breeding project to improve the dogs size as well as hunting instincts. She was an amazing ratter and as agile and graceful as they come. I am wondering if we have a decker. Required fields are marked *. Were not dog trainers, and can only offer a laymans opinion to make introductions carefully, and initially in neutral territory. Let us know how it goes! Milton picked Henry, the quietest of the bunch. I sure would enjoy a Decker after February 2020, when Ill be ready to train another dog around my property with various farm animals, and I will have the time. Who doesnt love hearing that some rare breed is in their new dog, but how likely is it, really? Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Cant say enough. Henry had natural treeing instincts, was great on upland birds, and would hunt any pest alive. very clean and love people not dogs. Weighing at 33 lbs. I just love her, I know two of her siblings and they are nothing like mine. What a wonderfully insightful comment, Emily, and to have a picture to boot! He was lean though and showed some whippet physicalitys. These dogs do sound like amazing companions! Thats how we found our Decker! Best, We have to be very careful because of her size but could she be a Decker? We would never have any other dog but a rattie. https://www.badriverolddominionterriers.com/. Love my Deckers! In some parts of the country, Deckers are used extensively for hunting, and depending upon whom you ask, theyre regarded as great squirrel dogs, and unequaled as a jump dog for deer in brushy areas (so called because theyll seek out the deer, jump him and chase him about 200 yards while yipping shrilly, then return to their master). Looks just like his daddy!! Theres have stayed so much smaller and very timid and shy. According to them, the Decker terrier has basenji in their breeding lineage. We did come across a Rat Terrier chapter that may be of help, but we know nothing about it, and thus cant vouch for it. Hi Nelle, congratulations on your Decker. She passed at the age of 14. 2020 National Purebred Dog Day.