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Ratting.

Discussion in 'Staffordshire Bull Terriers' started by manitasdeplomo, Aug 13, 2013.

  1. Maybe I didn't use the search function correctly so please don't jump on me.

    I'm having a hard time finding anything on the subject of ratting with Staffords, even with google. I know that there are terriers purposely bred for ratting, but are there any of you guys out there that use their dogs for this? And could a stafford be effective at it, or are they too big?
     
  2. django

    django Pup

    They can make great ratters. No dog is really too big.
     
  3. killadev300

    killadev300 Big Dog

    i always wondred about ratting the spot as it was done in England as a sport in those days. Wouldn't the dog be subject to all the diseases rats carry? Or was the dogs especially vaccinated before the event? i would doubt the rats were vaccinated as they would be just caught and put into the pit with the dogs.
    I read some articles about a famous ratting dog awhile back would try and find it and post it OP
     
  4. killadev300

    killadev300 Big Dog

  5. django

    django Pup

    I dont think they worried about vaccines in those days mate.Even in my lifetime when i was a kid only posh people had dogs jabbed.
     
  6. killadev300

    killadev300 Big Dog

    ok makes sense but rats do carry alot of diseases
     
  7. Torresbeag

    Torresbeag Big Dog


    If you vaccinate as a pup, and then allow the dog to kill rats on a constant basis, he will be exposed to the diseases they carry, their should be no need for boosters for Lepto etc...
     
  8. Naustroms

    Naustroms CH Dog

    Don't take much to kill a rat your dog should be alright.
     
  9. Vaccines for Weil's disease were probably not even around back then. And if they were, I doubt people would spend that much money on their dogs.
     
  10. Torresbeag

    Torresbeag Big Dog

    Takes a little to kill a lot of them though......seen dogs go half hearted at them after a while.....
     
  11. django

    django Pup

    its better if they have to work for them like digging,with you helping aswell with a spade. I dont like smokers.They clog a dogs nose.
     
  12. toom

    toom Big Dog

    A staffy could and would but why would you use a dog that big on rats.I would go with a den terrier,,jack Russell,,rat terrier or a patt.Anybody ever see any good rat terriers working?
     
  13. sunbeam

    sunbeam CH Dog

    a stafford will usually kill rats but will not do it as quickly or as effectively as a dog more suited like a patterdale, jack russell, plummer terrier etc.
     
  14. django

    django Pup

    we used to use 8 or more terriers and visit diffrent farms and places where they were plenty. We would kill our fare share but when a rat bolts and a terrier grabs it the rest will join in the worry even at the expense of other rats getting away.Thats why its better to spend time blocking exits or ring fencing. A mate of mine who managed an egg production farm had two staffies that killed lots of rats over there life time. They were quicker at killing because they didnt worry the rats as much but just snapped them,although I should say that at the farm the rats were corralled more or less and the dogs new the routine.
     
  15. BLUE8BULL

    BLUE8BULL CH Dog

    We used to clear rats+trap em,,etc;when we were kids used to make small traps/cages..to catch had a few staffs that were very good at snaping them..as s-beam said some other terrier types are better than others..a good dog will have the rat's back broke+dead before the rat has a chance to bite.....had some great days out clearing dem out......
     
  16. blanch

    blanch Big Dog

    I've never seen one that was any good at it,not switched on enough and obsess over destroying (and in my case eating) every rat they catch,while the rest are all escaping.

    There proably are some that are good at it,I've just never seen one.
    It will have a good time though.
     
  17. malcom

    malcom Pup

    a good stafford shouldnt tolerate another working dog when its turned,iv never seen a decent ratting stafford,iv never seen a decent stafford work with other dogs
     
  18. Mickeyg

    Mickeyg Top Dog

    My Stafford works beside a boarder terrier but they have grown up with each other a Stafford wich as been teached to work are wicked ratters the prob like Mellcome said is the other dogs we all no wat will happen if a strange dog try's to take a Staffords prize they get the sane treatment as the rat lol but I think if u took a staff pup working evey week with working dogs from a pup they would be some of the best workers on the field

    I showed a very well known running dog man my Stafford on the lamp he couldn't believe how well she works the lamp she didn't catch any rabbits lol but he was blown away by her hart the willing to work !!!
     
  19. Torresbeag

    Torresbeag Big Dog

    Seen a very good half staff/half pit that would rat and hunt with terriers and lurchers, you would have to keep a close eye on her in case anything went awry. Seen plenty of good staff's in the field that wouldn't mind a dog when hunting, and i seen useless one's that would....
     

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