Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Dog Names

The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is not an overly popular breed, but in recent years people have begun to see these energetic dogs in a new light. They are loving, devoted and always happy. Yes, they are typical terrier and can indeed be yappy! The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier began as a Rat Terrier. The Rat Terrier then split into two different breeds, one with short legs and one with longer legs. The short legged variety was eventually called the Teddy Roosevelt Rat Terrier. President Theodore Roosevelt has been credited with helping with the development of the breed. Many believe this is why the breed was named after him, even though there is no written documentation that supports this claim. There is documentation that Theodore Roosevelt and his family did indeed own several short legged terriers that closely resembled the TRT. Many of these dogs graced the halls of the White House while he was President of the United States. After a time, the Teddy Roosevelt Rat Terrier became the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier.

Theodore Roosevelt had a favorite dog that was a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier named Skip. Historians classified Skip as a short legged Rat Terrier instead of by the breed’s new official name of Teddy Roosevelt Terrier. Roosevelt found Skip when he was on a bear hunt in the Grand Canyon. When Roosevelt stumbled upon Skip, Skip stood his ground against the hunting party. It is reported that Roosevelt felt an instant bond with Skip because of his ability to face anything head on. Once Skip was brought into the White House, he quickly made himself at home and wiggled his way into the hearts of all Roosevelt’s children, especially his son Archie. Archie was about seven years old when Skip was brought home and the two quickly became inseparable, racing down the polished hallways of the White House.

At night, after Archie had been put to bed, Skip would go find Roosevelt and sit on his lap while he was reading the paper. There are many reports of the many pets that the Roosevelt family brought into the White House during Theodore’s presidency but the most cherished seemed to be Skip the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier and Jack the Manchester Terrier. There is little documentation about the other TRTs owned by Roosevelt, with the exception of mentioning he had bred a few of his dogs and allowed others to breed to his short legged Rat Terriers or Teddy Roosevelt Terriers. Jack the Manchester Terrier was buried at the White House but his coffin was exhumed and transported to the family home at Sagamore Hill in New York. Skip was also buried at Sagamore Hill with his own headstone, same as Jack. Sagamore Hill is now a historical residence where people can tour the home and grounds and even see the gravestones of Skip and Jack along with other Roosevelt pets.