10+ years
Sugar Plum
Sugar Plum is a 12-year-old Rat Terrier with a tiny body, a big personality, and a serious love for snuggles. At just 10 pounds, she’s happiest curled…
Pet Haven Inc. of MN • St. Paul, MN
Senior Rat Terrier dogs
Senior Rat Terrier dogs for adoption
Meet 47 adoptable senior Rat Terrier dogs (age 7+) from shelters and rescues across the country. Older dogs are often calm, house-trained, and ready to love from day one. Showing 31–47 of 47 below.
Senior Rat Terriers are often overlooked in favor of puppies, yet they're frequently house-trained, settled in temperament, and ready to bond immediately. Because they're fully grown, you already know roughly how big they are and what they're like — making an older Rat Terrier one of the most predictable and rewarding dogs you can welcome home.
Last updated July 12, 2026 at 9:30 AM EDT. Listings refresh automatically, usually every 12 hours.
Available senior Rat Terrier dogs
10+ years
Sybil (OR)
After being adopted to a loving home for almost 10 years, Sybil found herself back with New Rattitude after her person fell too ill to care for her an…
New Rattitude, Inc. • Atlanta, GA
10+ years
Zeke
Zeke is a quiet gentleman looking for a home to spend his golden years. He enjoys sunbathing, short leisurely walks and naps in a comfy bed. Zeke woul…
HOPE FOR ANIMALS (formerly CCCARL; Clear Creek County Animal Rescue League) • Georgetown, CO
10+ years
Bulba (FL)
Hi! I'm Bulba (short for Bulbasaur), a 17 lb., 10-year-old purebred rat terrier, and my current family says I am both classically handsome and an incr…
New Rattitude, Inc. • Atlanta, GA
Senior confirmed
Woodford
Meet Woodford! If you're looking for an easy and chill boy, Woodford is absolutely for you. With some young dog spunk still left in those bones, he's …
Lucky Pup Rescue SC • Greenville, SC
Senior confirmed
Fawn
Meet Fawn! Fawn is estimated to be eight years old and has a lot of spunk and love to give. She is dainty in size but strong in heart and body. Fawn p…
Lucky Tales Rescue • Ft. Thomas, KY
10+ years
Ciabatta
Why you will love him... The Athlete: Ciabatta has plenty of energy and loves to run. Whether it’s a long walk, a jog, or just zooming around a big ba…
Legacy Humane Society • McKinney, TX
Senior confirmed
Linky West
Hello, my name is Linky West! I'm around 9 years old and I weigh about 15-20 pounds. I think I'm a rat terrier mix. I'm spayed, vaccinated, microchipp…
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue • Alpharetta, GA
Senior confirmed
Lola (ae)
We rescued Lola from Memphis Animal Control on 4-26-25. She was found close to their facility, with another dog and was very underweight. She becomes …
Last Chance Pet Rescue, Inc • White Bluff, TN
Senior confirmed
Bonnie
All of our adoptable animals are up to date on routine vaccinations, microchipped and spayed or neutered. If the animal is too young a certificate for…
Texarkana Animal League • Texarkana, TX
Senior confirmed
CHRISTINA
A little dog with a big heart! Christina is a 37-pound Rat Terrier Mix who is the sweetest little doggy in the world! She is potty trained and walks o…
Humane Society of Central Texas/City of Waco Animal Shelter • Waco, TX
Senior confirmed
Ana
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING THE FIRST STEP IS TO FILL OUT AN ADOPTION APPLICATION ON OUR WEBSITE AT: https://www.caninecastaways.org/adoption-ap…
Canine Castaways, Inc. • Arcadia, FL
Senior confirmed
CHANG
Hi! Thanks for noticing me! I am currently at the Norfolk Animal Care & Adoption Center on stray hold while I wait for my owner(s) to come find me. Du…
Norfolk Animal Care Center • Norfolk, VA
10+ years
Jax (WA)
Dapper 12-year-old Jax is an active and smart boy who will be a wonderful companion for the right person! Jax is a 25 lb. rat terrier. He is in excell…
New Rattitude, Inc. • Atlanta, GA
10+ years
Charlie (CHI)
Charlie is up to-date on all vaccines, preventatives, heartworm negative neutered and is microchipped.
Community Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) • Columbus, IN
10+ years
Mooshu (Please Read My Story)
Hello humans, The name is Mooshu (not the dragon) and I am only 10 years old (not hundreds of years old like my namesake). I am a legend in my own rig…
Carolina Animal Rescue And Adoption • Sanford, NC
Senior confirmed
Sugar
Sugar is a Rat Terrier mix born approximately August of 2016. She likes to run around in the yard and hang out with her human once she gets to know yo…
Straydog Inc • Gun Barrel City, TX
Senior Rat Terrier dogs by state
Other breeds
Adopting a senior Rat Terrier — FAQ
What counts as a senior dog?
Most shelters and vets consider a dog "senior" around age 7, though large breeds often age sooner and small breeds a little later. Every dog listed here is 7 years or older.
How do I adopt a senior Rat Terrier?
Open a dog's profile to see the shelter or rescue caring for them, then follow the adoption link or contact details to apply directly with that organization.
Are senior Rat Terrier dogs a good fit for first-time adopters?
Often, yes. An older Rat Terrier is usually past the high-energy puppy stage and may already know basic commands, which can make ownership easier to ease into. Each profile and shelter can tell you about that dog's individual personality and needs.
Why adopt a senior dog instead of a puppy?
Senior dogs are calmer, usually house-trained, and let you skip the chewing and sleepless nights — and because they are the hardest to place, adopting one can quite literally save a life that might otherwise run out of time.
Are senior Rat Terrier dogs good with children or other pets?
It depends on the individual dog more than the breed alone. Each dog's profile and the shelter or rescue caring for them can tell you about their history with kids, cats, or other dogs. Senior dogs are often calmer and more predictable than puppies, which can make reading compatibility easier before you commit.
How much does it cost to adopt a senior Rat Terrier?
Adoption fees vary by shelter and rescue, but senior dogs are frequently discounted or even sponsored — because they wait the longest, many organizations offer reduced fees or cover initial vet care. Open a dog's profile and ask the organization directly for their current fee and what it includes.
Can I foster a senior Rat Terrier instead of adopting?
Many shelters and rescues offer a foster program, sometimes with a foster-to-adopt path. Fostering a senior Rat Terrier gets them out of a kennel and into a calm home — which is especially beneficial for older dogs who find shelter life stressful. Ask the organization on any dog's profile whether fostering is an option.
Know a senior dog who needs a home?
Shelters and rescues can list adoptable senior dogs for free.