Staffies For Ratting

[jimmy8 6]

I lost my two yr old border terrier a year or so ago and keep toying with the possibility of getting another dog.

The other half would like a staff and I was wondering if anyone uses them for ratting.

[johnpee 214]

Am sure there's a lad on here that does urban ratting in Liverpool uses a staffy. Sure he will put one of his vids up for you or you could search for them on here.

[BEARINATOR 2,868]

Use my staffy on them and bushing, but plenty of places a good little terrier will get more

[Penda 3,341]

Any dog will work it's just bringing out that working side

[whitefeet4190 1,725]

I lost my two yr old border terrier a year or so ago and keep toying with the possibility of getting another dog.

The other half would like a staff and I was wondering if anyone uses them for ratting.

Chav!!! Lol

[northern lad 2,292]

Personally I wouldnt get a staff for ratting,theres far better breeds for it .I have a 12 yr old staff at my feet as I type this,she watched my old Border kill quite a few rats and never showed the slightest inclination she wanted to join in,she has no prey drive whatsoever (GSD,s aside,for some reason lol) nose is useless too....I know theres some out there will do the job,but not with the speed of a well bred terrier,and as someone else said a smaller dog can get in smaller places.On the upside I found her to be the most intelligent dog,I,ve ever had,and by far the easiest to train,plenty of socialising with other dogs and you will have a cracking family dog.Myself,Id have another Border in a heartbeat,love em.....ATB with whatever you choose

[jimmy8 6]

Loved my border mate first time i had a terrier grew up with rotties dobermans and german shepherds,

[Aussie Whip 4,097]

I had a small buckskin pit that was a top ratter,also the most stable dog I've seen,She died at 13,two pups I have out of her to an American bulldog are great guards but no hunting instinct.

[HGN 150]

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/topic/367636-pups/

[eastcoast 4,121]

There are breeds far more suited to make good rat hunting dogs as we know. Working bred terriers and whippets or small lurchers will nail many rats the larger or less mobile Stafford will miss. Another thing to consider is how and where you will be doing your rat hunting. If the dog's ability to use it's nose is important then a pure Stafford could, but not necessarily, be found lacking. I've seen a few that certainly caught rats. Even a couple of EBT bitches that belonged to a mates girlfriend at the time. I think the process of producing a ratter from this breed would be harder work than bringing a working terrier on and special consideration should be paid to the slower maturing process. It may seem daft that a breed with the heritage of a Stafford could be overmatched, mentally, by a tiny rodent if started too young but could happen. But, unless you're planning on starting up a rat clearing business with the dog you should get one if that's what you want. This life isn't a dress rehearsal, go for it.

[jigsaw 11,863]

I kept pits/staffs for years..prickedabout with them at times on rats...Found them way too slow..beaten to the punch by diminutive terriers,way more adaptbale ...and my bulls were no show ponies at the time either.

[Terrier15 52]

My mate uses a staffie to rat. It normally just lurchs around the edges and picks up the pieces.

Doesn't have a very good nose and it doesn't even really go looking for anything.

 

To be honest the only catches it makes are after rats bolt and go near it. Definitely not quick off the mark, not very agile and can't climb stuff as quick as my small terrier.

 

That being said a rat doesn't stand much of a chance if it gets near the jaws!