Do you have a ratting terrier on your farm (especially in Northeastern US)?

[Offshoreorca]

Our previous two jacks weren't from actively working lines and they were great at rodent hunting - it varies with other breeds so you have to do your research, but with Jack Russells the working traits haven't been bred out of them.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'd highly recommend a rat terrier. They are bred to rat or hunt squirrels. They are less intense that the Russel terriers. My first rat terrier had a 1/4 Jack Russell and was a wicked good ratter. Many rat terriers are still bred true to form and purpose. I'd avoid the toy size.

 

[Cee]

My

Hello!

I am having a serious rat and mouse problem on my farm and therefore I am considering getting a terrier to help with the rat problem. I have tried other methods of rat removal (cats, poison, plaster of paris, glue traps, electric traps, traps, digging up their nests where I find them, using smoke bombs, keeping animal grain in steel bins in a secure shed, Irish spring soap in the tack room, and others) that just haven't worked or we get a new batch soon enough so I am not super interested in other methods because chances are I have tried it. I am also looking for something preventative not just getting rid of them in the short term.
Therefore I am looking at getting a ratting terrier. I am not picky about the breed but I would like to get one from a working line breeder or another farmer who keeps or breeds terriers that hunt rats. So to any of you who have terriers (or other dogs that hunt rats) on your farm, do you find that they help keep the rat population down or keep them away entirely? Where did you get your terrier? Did you get them from a working line breeder and if you did, would you be willing to tell me what breeder? What kind of training did you do to get them to hunt? I would also be happy to hear anything else about hunt rats with dogs.
(Also just for reference, I am quite knowledgable about dog training as I work with hunting hounds so I would be up to a training challenge if need be)
I am located in southern New England so I would be looking for a breeder in the northeast or probably no further south than SC.

Thank you!

My best friend has a rat terrier named Trixie. Her temperament is more mellow than my sister's jack.
Trixie is a fantastic ratter/mouser.
I've often seen her napping in the chicken coop. Leaves the chicken alone. Goes after everything that is a rodent.

 

[pkarkos]

Our previous two jacks weren't from actively working lines and they were great at rodent hunting - it varies with other breeds so you have to do your research, but with Jack Russells the working traits haven't been bred out of them.

Yes I imagine they probably all still have the instinct. I think I will still try to find a working line breeder but it is good to know that it doesn't necessarily have to be a working line because they are very hard to find, especially in New England

 

[pkarkos]

I'd highly recommend a rat terrier. They are bred to rat or hunt squirrels. They are less intense that the Russel terriers. My first rat terrier had a 1/4 Jack Russell and was a wicked good ratter. Many rat terriers are still bred true to form and purpose. I'd avoid the toy size.

That's good to know! Something a bit more mellow that a Jack Russel might be good because they are a lot! I don't think we would have enough rats to keep one busy all the time and I don't want them to get bored.

 

[pkarkos]

My

My best friend has a rat terrier named Trixie. Her temperament is more mellow than my sister's jack.
Trixie is a fantastic ratter/mouser.
I've often seen her napping in the chicken coop. Leaves the chicken alone. Goes after everything that is a rodent.

So that's another vote for rat terriers! It's good to know that they leave chickens alone.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's good to know! Something a bit more mellow that a Jack Russel might be good because they are a lot! I don't think we would have enough rats to keep one busy all the time and I don't want them to get bored.

Rat terriers settle down in the house. They are always willing to play, but also enjoy cuddling up. I used to want a Jack Russell too, but I found rat terriers, and they were exactly what I was looking for.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Here's a bit more information.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Terrier

 

[Offshoreorca]

I just want to mention that if you get Jacks from the right lines, they settle extremely well in the house too. Our current JRT was an easier pup and is a far more relaxed dog then most other breeds I’ve raised (including short-haired pointers, border collies, and Great Pyrenees, which shocked me). Sure, they’re high energy, but as long as you have another dog of any breed or something for them to do - toys, rodent hunting, a pen outside to run around, sport - they don’t cause much trouble. Trouble in Jacks almost always stems from boredom. Ours conks out at about 6:30pm and is the most cuddly dog you’ve ever met from then until bed time He lazes many other times of the day too (even right now, just an hour after getting up). All of our other jacks have been like this too, despite coming from different places and backgrounds. How you train them and socialize them when young, really determines what sort of dog you will end up with.

But I’m also terribly biased because the phrase “once you go Jack, you never go back” is very much reality - I have friends with rat terriers and I know that they do enjoy them too. But I will never change from the Jacks as their is something endearing about their high energy and quirky personalities that I wouldn’t trade the world for And they are the best snugglers and companion dogs I’ve ever met - the old Irish/Scottish/British/Welsh men know where it’s at when it comes to their pub dogs and I’d imagine this is why everyone seems to have Jacks over there. My sister is a vet in Wales and I was shocked at how common JRTs are there. Almost every farm has a Jack for rodents and a border collie for livestock!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It does matter what traits are most important to a person when picking a breed. We all can find something that's a good fit for us and our lifestyle. Thank goodness there's lots of types and breeds to pick from. It's definitely an individual thing, and picking any dog shouldn't be taken lightly for the best overall outcome.