Ratter (dog)

"Rat terrier" redirects here. For the American breed of ratter, see Rat Terrier.

A ratter is any dog used for catching and killing rats and similar vermin.[1] Specialized rat-catching breeds are found in many countries. A typical ratter is small to medium-sized and has a short and smooth coat, however a wide range of dog breeds and landraces may be used.[2][1][3] The use of ratting dogs is widely considered to be the most environmentally friendly, humane and efficient methods of exterminating rodents.[4][2] Ratting dogs are considered more efficient than domestic cats.[1]

History[edit]

German Ratting Dog published in 1895

Ratting has existed for centuries, especially in Europe.[4][5] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list over 20 diseases directly linked to rats, making ratting dogs popular as a way of curbing disease[4] [6][2] Rats are associated with damage to crops and buildings.[7][2] In Medieval times, rat-catchers were employed to curb the spread of disease. Rat-catchers who employed dogs were considerably more successful and rat-catchers with packs of ratting dogs would frequently travel from town to town.[2][5][3]

Many of the first documented ratters were during the mid to late 1800s in the United Kingdom. As the population in London grew, overcrowding and inadequate waste management systems caused the hygiene levels to fall and the use of rat-catchers and their ratting dogs rose in popularity.[4][5][8]

The Guinness Book of World Records lists as the "fastest canine rat catcher" a bull-and-terrier dog named Billy, who killed 100 rats in 5 minutes 30 seconds (average of one rat every 3.3 seconds) at an event in 1825.[9] Guinness also credits Billy with having killed 4000 rats within a 17-hour period (average of one rat every 15.3 seconds) on an unspecified occasion;[9] other sources, including the 1993 edition of Atlas of Dog Breeds of the World, credit him with killing 2501 rats within a 7-hour period (average of one rat every 10 seconds).[10][11][12][13]

During World War I, ratting dogs were used to control rat populations in trenches.[2]

The use of ratting dogs is increasing again in many areas as rats have developed an immunity to rat poisons.[14][15] Ryders Alley Trencher-fed Society (R.A.T.S.) is a New York City group founded in the 1990s[16] that conducts organized rat hunting with dogs. The group was named by founding member Richard Reynolds after Ryders Alley in Manhattan, which was once rat infested, and the trencher-fed pack assembled to hunt.[17][18][19] The group often hunts in Lower Manhattan locations like Theatre Alley where garbage is accessible to vermin.[20][21]

Sport[edit]

Rat-baiting in 1873

Rat-baiting is a blood sport that involves releasing captured rats in an enclosed space with spectators betting on how long a dog, usually a terrier, takes to kill the rats. It is now illegal in most countries.

An earthdog trial tests the working ability and instinct of the small, often short-legged terriers or Dachshunds. Earthdog trials involve man-made tunnels that the dogs must navigate, while scenting a rat, "the quarry". The dog must follow the scent to the quarry and then "work" the quarry. Depending on the sanctioning organization, "working" means barking, scratching, staring, pawing, digging; any active behavior. The quarry is protected at all times by wooden bars across the end of the tunnel. The hunting encounter is controlled, and neither the dog nor the quarry (usually two rats) are endangered by the activity.[22][23]

Barn Hunt is the competitive sport of finding rats hidden within hay bales. Tame rats are placed in a hard tube to prevent injury and hidden in hay bales while the dogs find them.[24]

Ratter breeds[edit]

Among the many breeds used for ratting are several terriers, various pinschers and schnauzers, and the ratonero breeds of Spain. Rat-catchers will also use cross-breed dogs to catch rats. including lurchers and pointer crosses.[3]

Terriers and Feists[edit]

A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of the terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, game, and fearless.[25] A feist is a small hunting dog crossed with a terrier, developed in the rural South by breeders for hunting small game and eliminating vermin.[26] Terrier and feists commonly used as ratters include:

Ratoneros[edit]

Ratting Dog in Basque country

There are five regional breeds of ratonero or ratter in Spain:

Pinschers and Schnauzers[edit]

Many dogs of pinscher and schnauzer type were traditionally used to catch rats; modern breeds derived from those include:

Other[edit]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ratters.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Robertson, DVM, Elizabeth (2021-04-21). "The Best Dog Breeds For Killing Rats | National Canine Research Association Of America". Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Barn Hunt Association". www.barnhunt.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  3. ^ a b c d e Matthews, Ike (1898). Full Revelations of a Professional Rat-Catcher, after 25 Years' Experience. The Friendly Societies' Printing Co., Ltd.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Rat Hunting Dogs: The History Of Rat Terriers and Ratcatchers". A Life of Dogs. 2020-02-24. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  5. ^ a b c Chronicler (2022-02-01). "Professional Rat Catchers Became The Pride of A Filthy Europe". Lessons from History. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  6. ^ "How to Control Wild Rodent Infestations | Healthy Pets, Healthy People | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  7. ^ Chicago, Casey Toner, Mina Bloom, Block Club (2023-08-31). "Why Chicago is Losing the War on Rats". Illinois Answers Project. Retrieved 2023-09-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "The Rat-Catcher Job And Rat-Baiting: Myth And History | Weird History Facts". weird-history-facts.com. 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  9. ^ a b "Fastest canine rat catcher". Guinness World Records. 1825-04-13. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  10. ^ Wilcox, Bonnie, DVM; Walkowicz, Chris (1993). Rat Terrier. Vol. 2 (4th ed.). Neptune, New Jersey: T.F.H. pp. 714–715. ISBN 0-86622-873-X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Rat Terrier savearescue.org
  12. ^ a b c "newratstandards1". www.nrta.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  13. ^ "HISTORY OF THE RAT TERRIER". ratattacknc.tripod.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  14. ^ a b c d e Henton, Alexandra (2015-02-11). "Ratting with terriers. Which terrier is top?". The Field. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  15. ^ Schappi, Colin (2023-04-12). "Rat-Hunting Dogs in Bushwick". Curbed. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  16. ^ Leah Bitsky (March 23, 2017), "Meet the fearless dogs solving NYC's rat problem", New York Post
  17. ^ Corey KILGANNON (November 21, 2013), "In Manhattan Alleys, Dogs on Rat Hunts Find Bags of Fun", The New York Times
  18. ^ WILL NEWMAN (December 9, 2014), Spending a Night with New York's Finest Rat-Hunting Club, Vice.com
  19. ^ Emma Patti Harris (August 11, 2014), "The Rat Catchers of New York", The Dark Room (Photo essay), The Baltimore Sun
  20. ^ Corey Kilgannon (December 7, 2013), "Brits can keep their foxes; New Yorkers do rat hunts", The SeattleTimes
  21. ^ a b Mitch Moxley (2013), The Rat Hunters of New York, Roads & Kingdoms, retrieved 2017-10-02
  22. ^ Lee, Muriel P. (2012-04-17). Fox Terrier. Fox Chapel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59378-630-4.
  23. ^ "About the American Working Terrier Association (AWTA)". American Working Terrier Association (AWTA). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  24. ^ a b Gillespie, Kerry (2022-04-15). "'In it for the treats': Ratting, where dogs sniff out live rats for awards, is making a comeback". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  25. ^ Roeder, Oliver (2016-02-16). "Terriers Were Once The Greatest Dogs In The World". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  26. ^ a b "Breed Standards : Mountain Feist | United Kennel Club (UKC)". www.ukcdogs.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  27. ^ Morris, Desmond (2008). Dogs: The Ultimate Dictionary of Over 1,000 Dog Breeds. Trafalgar Square. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-57076-410-3.
  28. ^ a b c Morris, Desmond (2008). Dogs: The Ultimate Dictionary of Over 1,000 Dog Breeds. Trafalgar Square. pp. 207–208. ISBN 978-1-57076-410-3.
  29. ^ Thompson, Noah (2016-05-18). "Ratting Dogs: Dogs, Not Cats, Are the Ultimate Rat Hunters!". Rat Relief. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  30. ^ Morris, Desmond (2008). Dogs: The Ultimate Dictionary of Over 1,000 Dog Breeds. Trafalgar Square. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-57076-410-3.
  31. ^ a b Las Razas Españolas Archived 2013-12-16 at the Wayback Machine. Real Sociedad Canina de España. Retrieved May 24th 2014.
  32. ^ History. Club del Ca Rater Mallorquí. Retrieved May 24th 2014.
  33. ^ Estudio Sobre el Ratonero Murciano. Asociación Canina de la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia. Retrieved May 24th 2014.
  34. ^ Castillo Matías, J. & Mediavilla Iglesias, M. (April 2008). "5. Villanuco de las Encartaciones". Los 26 tesoros de nuestra comunidad, p. 72. Spain: La Anunciata Ikerketa. Retrieved May 25th 2014.
  35. ^ "Breed History - Affenpinscher Club of America". www.affenpinscher.org. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  36. ^ a b Morris, Desmond (2008). Dogs: The Ultimate Dictionary of Over 1,000 Dog Breeds. Trafalgar Square. p. 200. ISBN 978-1-57076-410-3.
  37. ^ Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2016-10-04). Farm Dogs: A Comprehensive Breed Guide to 93 Guardians, Herders, Terriers, and Other Canine Working Partners. Storey Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-61212-593-0.


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