Ratting With Dogs

MP-44 · February 4, 2002, 06:25 AM

Is there any rat hunters here?
When I was a kid I had a Rat Terrier. I would take him to a likely area with boards or large junk laying on the ground that would make good rats nest. When ever he would show interest( understatement, he would go crazy) in an object I would turn it over. In a flash he would be down to his shoulders in the dirt. He would pop up for an instant to yank the rat out of the ground, dead from a single bite then go down for another. There could be up to five dead rats in a matter of seconds. At the time I did not appreciate this dogs ability. My Grandfather breed them and all his dogs were like that so I just took it for granted.
I am thinking about getting back into it but need to find a good dog. Several years ago I bought two Rat Terriers. I was very disappointed. They had no prey drive and were very nervous dogs.
Does anyone know of a good breeder of proven ratting dogs?

Art Eatman · February 4, 2002, 09:27 AM

Yeah, when I was a kid, my grandmother had a stray "take up" terrier that was quite a ratter.

Dunno where you'd go, these days. Maybe at the dog pound, looking for something that "looked likely".

Art

dZ · February 5, 2002, 11:37 PM

pssst:

http://knitehunt.homestead.com/

redneck · February 6, 2002, 09:15 PM

I've seen a few border collies that were good about getting rats. They were farm dogs and got all kinds fo stuff though. I think it depends on the dogs temperment and training than breed. Just a thought, I don't really know anything about it.

stinger · February 6, 2002, 10:11 PM

how about a cat?!?

February 4, 2002, 06:25 AM	#1
MP-44 Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: VA Posts: 396	Ratting With Dogs Is there any rat hunters here? When I was a kid I had a Rat Terrier. I would take him to a likely area with boards or large junk laying on the ground that would make good rats nest. When ever he would show interest( understatement, he would go crazy) in an object I would turn it over. In a flash he would be down to his shoulders in the dirt. He would pop up for an instant to yank the rat out of the ground, dead from a single bite then go down for another. There could be up to five dead rats in a matter of seconds. At the time I did not appreciate this dogs ability. My Grandfather breed them and all his dogs were like that so I just took it for granted. I am thinking about getting back into it but need to find a good dog. Several years ago I bought two Rat Terriers. I was very disappointed. They had no prey drive and were very nervous dogs. Does anyone know of a good breeder of proven ratting dogs? Last edited by MP-44; February 4, 2002 at 08:00 AM.

February 5, 2002, 11:37 PM	#3
dZ Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	pssst: http://knitehunt.homestead.com/ __________________ "O tell the Lacedomecians to damn the torpedoes." BOTR, Chapter V: Some Monsters

February 6, 2002, 09:15 PM	#4
redneck Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 364	I've seen a few border collies that were good about getting rats. They were farm dogs and got all kinds fo stuff though. I think it depends on the dogs temperment and training than breed. Just a thought, I don't really know anything about it. __________________ Fix it right the first time... Use Baling Wire !

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February 4, 2002, 09:27 AM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Yeah, when I was a kid, my grandmother had a stray "take up" terrier that was quite a ratter. Dunno where you'd go, these days. Maybe at the dog pound, looking for something that "looked likely". Art

February 6, 2002, 10:11 PM	#5
stinger Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: west texas Posts: 772	how about a cat?!?