ARE RATTING DOGS THE SOLUTION TO RAT INFESTATION?
Ratting dogs? Who has ever heard of such a thing? Cats hunt mice and rats, yes. But dogs? Come on now, even the nursery rhyme The Farmer in the Dell knows that the dog takes the cat, who takes the rat, who takes the cheese.
Apparently, we who grew up watching Tom and Jerry are in the wrong. Domesticated cats do not really hunt rats for the hunt – they probably will if they’re bored and want to present you a rodent gift, but they will not do it all the time. Dogs, on the other hand, have long been chasing, catching and killing different kinds of vermin.
While any dog can be used for ratting, the toughest and the most effective dog breed for the job is the terrier. Referred to by some people as “earth dogs,” terriers
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The Norfolk terrier is an affectionate and friendly little dog. Like the Yorkshire terrier, the Norfolk terrier makes a very good vermin catcher because of its size. This easy to train breed comes in coat colors like tan, red and black. Playful and energetic, this dog breed is ready to hunt all the time – so if you don’t have rats to think of, make sure to spend a lot of time playing with it. 5. The Jack Russell terrier is not just one of the most popular terrier breeds – it is also one of the best ratters there are, having come from a breed that hunts foxes. Besides being ideal rodent hunters, dogs from this breed are clever and can be taught to do many tricks. Energetic and playful, they are also good with children, as long as the children treat them well. They need long daily walks in order to expend their energy.
6. The West Highland White terrier counts among the most popular of the terrier breeds in the United States and the United Kingdom. Also known as the Westie, this terrier breed is raised to control rodent reproduction in farms. Some Westies can be very stubborn, but good training can turn them into loyal and friendly members of the family who will love playing with the