what are the best ratters?

[OzTerrier 21]

Old thread I know but I wanted to add my 2 cents,

Nearly all terriers wil make decent rattin dogs you donr need anything special

 

^ this I agree with, its in their instinct to hunt small critters, I haven't seen all that much ratting so Im the furthest thing from an expert by any means, the only dogs I have seen ratting are JRT's, Australian Mini Foxies, whippets, highland terriers and an Aussie Terrier. The best of of the lot of them was the Aussie mini foxie x JRT. Now im not saying they are the best ratters, this dog just happen to be the best that "I" personally have witnessed. TBH we dont have plague proportions of rats over here like you lads do in the UK and Ireland. Well not that I have seen.

[buster gonads 862]

I,d still go for a Plummer , buster.

[OzTerrier 21]

I,d still go for a Plummer , buster.

Yeah they seem to be very popular over in the UK and Ireland. I dont even know if there is anyone over here that has a line of them. The first time I ever heard the name Plummer Terrier was on here a couple of months back when I joined. They sure get the job done on rats though from what I have seen. The Wiki page on them was a little worrying though. Alarm bells were ringing straight away when it mentioned it they from long periods of inbreeding.

[.WARREN. 288]

ones that kill them quick

[CorkyJohn 808]

 

I,d still go for a Plummer , buster.

 

Yeah they seem to be very popular over in the UK and Ireland. I dont even know if there is anyone over here that has a line of them. The first time I ever heard the name Plummer Terrier was on here a couple of months back when I joined. They sure get the job done on rats though from what I have seen. The Wiki page on them was a little worrying though. Alarm bells were ringing straight away when it mentioned it they from long periods of inbreeding.

And???

Some of the best working lines are the ones that have been bred tight for years

[the_stig 6,614]

russells for me --but each to there own....

[gonetoearth 5,144]

Whippets x Maltese terriers

Edited December 9, 2013 by gonetoearth

[the_stig 6,614]

Whippets

my old whippets accounted for a fair few when out with the terriers .....

Edited December 9, 2013 by the_stig

[CorkyJohn 808]

Its like anything, if a dog is out regular killing rats in numbers every week it should be far better at it than dogs who do a bit every so often or at the end of the shooting season.

[OzTerrier 21]

 

 

I,d still go for a Plummer , buster.

Yeah they seem to be very popular over in the UK and Ireland. I dont even know if there is anyone over here that has a line of them. The first time I ever heard the name Plummer Terrier was on here a couple of months back when I joined. They sure get the job done on rats though from what I have seen. The Wiki page on them was a little worrying though. Alarm bells were ringing straight away when it mentioned it they from long periods of inbreeding.

And???

Some of the best working lines are the ones that have been bred tight for years

 

A much weaker immune system, more prone to various illness's and less able to combat various illness's and common sickness's, unnatural behavior problems (window lickers), harmful mutations hip dysplasia, the list goes on. It seems to be fairly common and accepted in the UK though, not over here, im sure it takes place but its not very common at all. Each to their own though, if the dog does what its bred for and your happy with the dog go for it, not my cuppa tea though. Ill take a mutt any day.

Edited December 9, 2013 by OzTerrier

[CorkyJohn 808]

You've quoted the very worst possibilities....do you take everything quoted on the internet as gospel? If it didn't produce the goods folk wouldn't bother. Do aussie dogs have morals? I thought all dogs would ride anything if it was in season!

[Moll. 1,770]

Not all terriers will be good at ratting. If you get out a lot with various dogs and people you can see it. Plus as with all other types of hunting, there are those that can do it, and those that can do it very well. And there is scrounging about for the odd rat, and there is ratting!

 

I've seen everything from bull/greys to dachshunds ratting. For me as a breed terrier wise, even though i dont own one, the old strain stocky plummers were good dogs on rats, i haven't seen any of the new whippety ones working so cannot comment.

And not being biased because she is mine but the best dog i have seen out ratting for nose, determination, stamina and reluctance to feel any pain has to be my staff x whippet.

 

 

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/topic/280811-molls-ratting-report-2/

 

 

 

[socks 32,253]

I think you would be hard pushed to beat a little pack of whippet cross staffies ........

[Millet 4,497]

From my experience they is no dog that is better than the other in a good pack..they all have there good point's and bad point's and aslong as they can find trench on and kill plenty of rat's and please there owner's that is all that matter's..

[whippet 99 2,613]

it all depends where your ratting too,........ little russells are handy in right places........ie clearing sheds.....and longer legged breeds in the open spaces