About BattleBorn Terriers
Lovingly Bred with Heart
Our names are John and Denise Crites and we own BattleBorn Terriers located in Dayton, Nevada just minutes from Carson City! My husband and I are relatively new to breeding, as well as to showing our Rat Terriers in AKC Conformation. We are branching out with our current show dog, GCH CH BattleBorn Lettin' The Axe Fall, into AKC sports including FastCat, Barn Hunt and Agility. My husband is a retired Captain with CalFire and I am a retired portrait photographer. Our lives revolve around our pack and we would not have it any other way! We live on a third of an acre in a subdivision with grass and a swimming pool. We love to go camping in our motorhome and take our pack with us. We converted the two bunkbeds to carry their crates for travel. We strive to be a breeder of quality Rat Terriers.
The Crites' Rat Pack
Our pack of 8 is our family, lovingly raised in our home. We diligently health test each of our foundation dogs and perform the required OFA testing as recommended by the Rat Terrier Club of America. We currently have two breeding pairs. We only breed colors that are acceptable in AKC, so we do not breed merles or brindles. Puppies are raised with Puppy Culture to provide puppies with a foundation of experiences and skills that will help them grow into confident, well-adjusted adult dogs.
The Rat Terrier
Rat Terriers are one of the calmest of the terrier breeds, nonetheless they are high-energy dogs who require exercise, daily walks and lots of companionship. They are affectionate with family, good with young children if raised around them. They are happy-go-lucky, playful and portable companions. Balanced, compactly built Rat Terriers are tough but elegant-looking. Rat Terriers are keenly observant, devoted, full of energy, yet easily trained and obedient to command. The Rat Terrier is a non-sparring breed and generally friendly with other dogs but may be reserved with strangers.
Meet The Crites' Rat Pack
GCH CH Rosethorn Phineas McGee, call name Phin, was our first Rat Terrier. At the time he joined our home, we had no intention of showing him let alone breeding! My wonderful breeder Candace Drake of Rosethorn Terriers, encouraged me to consider showing Phin in AKC conformation and she agreed to mentor me in our breeding program as well. I figured why not! Phin achieved his AKC Championship at the age of eleven months. He went on to earn his Grand Championship eight months later at the prestigious dog show in Palm Springs. In 2022, Phin was the number seven Owner-Handled Rat Terrier in the United States, earning him (and me!) an invite to participate in the National Owner-Handled Series in Orlando, Florida. We accepted the invitation and made the long drive to Orlando in our motorhome with our pack! While we did not place, it was the experience of a lifetime! Phin is now retired but we are considering a sport for him, possibility agility. Phin has sired three beautiful litters! Phin is a red sable piebald. DOB 6/19/2020. Phin is fully health and OFA tested. CHIC#173252.
Rosethorn Connery McGee
Rosethorn Connery McGee, call name Conner, is littermate to Phin. We did not plan on two Rat Terriers, but when Conner became available, we said, why not? It was the best decision ever!~ Conner is a black tri-colored piebald and he stands approximately 12" at the withers, so he is considered a mini. Conner is a very sweet boy, very active and very loving. Conner was in his first conformation show in March 2023 and Was Winner's Dog and Best of Winners his first time in the ring! Since his first win in March, he has won Best of Breed and Best of Opposite over some very nice specials! Conner has been genetically tested and is a carrier for PRA/PRCD. He has passed all of his recommended OFA testing . Conner has a very sweet temperament and has never met a stranger he did not want to kiss! Conner is a proven producer, having been bred to Bella, producing four beautiful puppies! He is available for stud. DOB 6/19/2020. CHIC#173897
Rosethorn Just Call Me Beautiful
Rosethorn Just Call Be Beautiful, call name Bella, is a chocolate and white Irish-marked mini. She stands 11.5" at the withers and weighs about 13 pounds. She is a force to be reckoned with! Although she is the smallest of the females, she is the lightest! Bella takes a few minutes to warm up to strangers but once she does, she is wagging her tail and jumping into your lap! Bella was bred to Conner and delivered four beautiful piebald puppies via c-section on March 27th. Her puppies were very large and we chose to have her spayed. It broke our hearts but her health is more important than anything! Bella is very athletic and I have plans to start her in agility. Bella has been genetically tested and is clear for everything. She has had her recommended OFAs performed.
DOB 11/5/2020.
The Crites' Rat Pack
Rosethorn Crystal Blue Persuasion CHIC # 161220
Rosethorn Crystal Blue Persuasion, call name Shondell, joined the Crites' Rat Pack at the age of 2 1/2 years of age. My goal was to show her and finish her championship but she just did not like the show ring! Shondell stands about 15.5" at the withers and weighs about 24 pounds. She is blue tri-colored Irish-marked. She has a very sweet temperament and loves nothing better than to sit on your lap! Shondell is genetically tested and clear for all genetic issues. She has had all of her OFA tested performed and has her CHIC number. DOB 10/6/2018. CHIC#161220
CH Rosethorn @ BattleBorn Paintin' The Town Blu
CH Rosethorn @ BattleBorn Paintin' The Town Blu, call name Gypsy, is a blue tri-colored Irish-marked female. She is from a litter of 10!!!! Gypsy has been in the show ring since she was 6 months old and finished her championship in May 2023 by winning Winner's Bitch not once but twice for the two majors she needed! But she did not stop there! She went on to win Best of Breed each day over two very nice specials! Gypsy stands about 14" at the withers and weighs about 14 pounds. She has a very sweet temperament and loves playing with Bella. Gypsy has been genetically tested and is clear. She has had the recommended OFA tests performed. We are planning to breed Gypsy to Axel this Fall for a litter in January 2024. Applications are now being accepted! DOB 5/2/2021 CHIC#184082.
GCH CH BattleBorn Lettin' The Axe Fall
GCH CH BattleBorn Lettin' The Axe Fall , call name Axel, is BattleBorn Terriers' first bred-by puppy! Axel was born on November 13, 2021 and has been in the show ring since he was 4 months old. He finished his AKC Championship at 10 months of age and finished his Grand Championship in March 2023. Axel is currently ranked #6 in the National Owner-Handled Series. The top 10 will get an invite to compete in the NOHS this December in Orlando, Florida. Axel is a red sable piebald and stands almost 16" at the withers. He is solid and weighs in around 25 pounds. He is very sweet and takes a bit to warm up to strangers. Axel has been genetically tested and is clear. He had his OFAs performed and passed them. He will have a hip final when he is two years of age to obtain his CHIC number.
CH BattleBorn Watchin' The Ravens Fly
Raven was born January 27, 2023 and is a Phin/Shondell puppy. She is a black Tri-colored Irish-Marked and will be a small standard. Raven started handling classes at 3 months and started showing in Beginner Puppy at 4 months! She excelled in the show ring, earning a Puppy Best in Show at the Redmond, Oregon show last July! She earned her AKC Puppy of Acheivement certificate at 5 months! Raven finished her AKC Championship in a big way, earning a Terrier Group 3 for a 4-point major, the last one she needed! Raven was just a few days over 8 months of age! She then earned an Owner-Handled Terrier Group 2 and another Terrier Group 3! We have great plans for this little spitfire!
About Us
The High Desert Litter Whelped 1/26/2023
We welcomed NINE gorgeous puppies on January 26, 2023. We named this litter the High Desert Litter, as we live in the high desert of Nevada. There were two females and seven males!!! Lots of color and all are thriving! This litter is out of GCH CH Rosethorn Phineas McGee and Rosethorn Crystal Blue Persuasion. All the puppies are reserved and will begin going to their FURever homes beginning March 23rd!
The Motorhome Litter Whelped 1/31/2023
The Crites' Rat Pack welcomed five beautiful puppies on January 31st! We had two females and three males. There is blue fawn, two red sables, one black tri and one blue tri. This is Gypsy's first litter and she is turning out to be a really good puppy momma! All puppies are reserved. This litter was not planned at this time (planned for May) and was conceived in our motorhome, hence the litter name!
The Move It Move It Litter 3/27/2023
Rosethorn Connery McGee and Rosethorn Just Call Me Beautiful had four beautiful puppies via c-section on March 27th. Her puppies were too big to safely allow her to free whelp. To protect her health, we made a very hard decision to have her spay. She has been a wonderful mommy to her puppies!