A ratter is any dog used for catching and killing

rats Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include ''Neotoma'' (pack rats), '' Bandicota'' (bandicoot ...

and similar vermin. Specialized rat-catching

breeds A breed is a specific group of breedable domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist seve ...

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. The use of ratting dogs is widely considered to be the most environmentally friendly, humane and efficient methods of exterminating rodents. Ratting dogs are considered more efficient than domestic cats.

History

Ratting has existed for centuries, especially in Europe. The

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the National public health institutes, national public health agency of the United States. It is a Federal agencies of the United States, United States federal agency under the United S ...

list over 20 diseases directly linked to rats, making ratting dogs popular as a way of curbing disease Rats are associated with damage to crops and buildings. In

Medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

times,

rat-catchers A rat-catcher is a person who kills or captures rats as a professional form of pest control. Keeping the rat population under control was practiced in Europe to prevent the spread of diseases, most notoriously the Black Death, and to prevent dam ...

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. Many of the first documented ratters were during the mid to late 1800s in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. 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. ''

The Guinness Book of World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, listi ...

'' lists as the "fastest canine rat catcher" a

bull-and-terrier Bull and terrier was a common name for crossbreeds between bulldogs and terriers in the early 1800s. Other names included half-and-halfs and half-breds. It was a time in history when, for thousands of years, dogs were classified by use or func ...

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. ''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; 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). During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, ratting dogs were used to control rat populations in trenches. Ratting on a farm 2015 with the Plummer terrier rat pack

The use of ratting dogs is increasing again in many areas as rats have developed an immunity to rat poisons. Ryders Alley Trencher-fed Society (R.A.T.S.) is a New York City group founded in the 1990s 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. The group often hunts in

Lower Manhattan Lower Manhattan, also known as Downtown Manhattan or Downtown New York City, is the southernmost part of the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The neighborhood is History of New York City, the historical birthplace o ...

locations like

Theatre Alley Theatre Alley is a block-long cobblestone alley in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York City, between Ann and Beekman Streets. It is one of Manhattan's few alleys that is not privately owned, and prior to the expansion of 5 Beekman Stre ...

where garbage is accessible to vermin.

Sport

Rat-baiting Rat-baiting is a blood sport that involves releasing captured rats in an enclosed space with spectators Gambling, betting on how long a dog, usually a terrier and sometimes referred to as a Ratter (dog), ratter, takes to kill the rats. Often, t ...

is a

blood sport A blood sport or bloodsport is a category of sport or entertainment that involves bloodshed. Common examples of the former include combat sports such as cockfighting and dog fighting, and some forms of hunting and fishing. Activities charact ...

that involves releasing captured

in an enclosed space with spectators

betting Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of value ("the stakes") on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three ele ...

on how long a dog, usually a

terrier Terrier () is a Dog type, type of dog originally bred to hunt vermin. A terrier is a dog of any one of many Dog breed, breeds or landraces of the terrier Dog type, type, which are typically small, wiry, Gameness, game, and fearless. There are fi ...

, takes to kill the rats. It is now illegal in most countries. An

earthdog trial An earthdog test or earthdog trial tests the working ability and instinct of the small, often short-legged terriers or Dachshunds. These dogs were bred to hunt vermin and other quarry which lived in underground dens. Earthdog den tests involve huma ...

tests the working ability and instinct of the small, often short-legged

terriers Terrier () is a type of dog originally bred to hunt vermin. 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. There are five different groups of terrier, wi ...

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. 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.

Ratter breeds

JERRY THE CELEBRATED CHAMPION RATTER OF AUSTRALIA c1865

Among the many breeds used for ratting are several

s, various

pinscher The Pinscher is a group of German dog breeds, developed originally as ratters on farms or as guard dogs. In the twenty-first century they are commonly kept as companion animals. Origins It is considered that the German Pinscher is a proto ...

s and

schnauzer A Schnauzer ( , ; plural , ; ) is a dog breed type that originated in Germany from the 14th to 16th centuries. The term comes from the German word for "snout" and means colloquially "moustache",

s, and the breeds of Spain. Rat-catchers will also use cross-breed dogs to catch rats, including lurchers and pointer crosses.

Terriers and Feists

is a dog of any one of many

landraces A landrace is a domesticated, locally adapted, often traditional variety of a species of animal or plant that has developed over time, through adaptation to its natural and cultural environment of agriculture and pastoralism, and due to isolat ...

of the terrier type, which are typically small, wiry,

game A game is a structured type of play usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or video games) or art ...

, and fearless. 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. Terrier and feists commonly used as ratters include: *

Airedale Terrier The Airedale Terrier (often shortened to "Airedale"), also called Bingley Terrier and Waterside Terrier, is a dog breed of the terrier type that originated in the valley (''dale'') of the River Aire, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. It ...

Bedlington Terrier The Bedlington Terrier is a dog breed, breed of small dog named after the mining town of Bedlington, Northumberland in North East England. Originally bred to hunt, the Bedlington Terrier has since been used in dog racing, numerous List of dog s ...

Border Terrier The Border Terrier is a British breed of small, rough-coated terrier. It originates from the area of the Anglo-Scottish border, and shares ancestry with the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Bedlington Terrier from the same area. The dogs were tr ...

Brazilian Terrier The Brazilian Terrier is a breed of dog developed in Brazil. It is one of several terriers and one of the two worldwide recognized native breeds of Brazil. Description Origin One theory about the origin of the breed is that Jack Russell Terrie ...

Cairn Terrier The Cairn Terrier is a terrier breed originating in the Scottish Highlands and recognised as one of Scotland's earliest working dogs. The name "Cairn Terrier" was a compromise suggestion when the breed was brought to official shows in the Unite ...

* Chilean Fox Terrier *

Irish Terrier The Irish Terrier () is a dog breed from Ireland, one of many breeds of terrier. The Irish Terrier is considered one of the oldest terrier breeds. The Dublin dog show in 1873 was the first to provide a separate class for Irish Terriers. By ...

* Jack Russell Terrier * Jadgterrier * Lakeland Terrier *

Manchester Terrier The Manchester Terrier is a breed of dog of the smooth-haired terrier type. It was first bred in the 19th century to control vermin, notably rats, at which it excelled. So efficient at the task was it that it often appeared in rat-baiting pits ...

Miniature Fox Terrier The Miniature Fox Terrier is a small, fine, lightweight working terrier developed as a hunting dog and vermin router. It is known colloquially in its native Australia as the “Mini Foxie”. Appearance A balanced, smoothly-muscled dog bre ...

Mountain Feist The Treeing Feist is a breed of feist from the Southeastern United States. Originally considered a single breed, Treeing Feist and Mountain Feist are now separately recognized by the United Kennel Club. Feist, originally bred to hunt squirrel ...

Norfolk Terrier The Norfolk Terrier is a British dog breed, breed of dog. Prior to gaining recognition as an independent breed in 1964, it was a variety of the Norwich Terrier, distinguished from the "prick eared" Norwich by its "drop ears" (or folded ears). T ...

Norwich Terrier The Norwich Terrier is a breed of dog originating in England, and was bred to hunt small rodents. One of the smallest terriers, these dogs are relatively rare. Their drop-eared variety is the Norfolk Terrier. Description Appearance These ...

Parson Russell Terrier The Parson Russell Terrier is a breed of small white terrier that was the original Fox Terrier of the 18th century. The breed is named after the Reverend John Russell (dog breeder), Jack Russell, credited with the creation of this type of dog. It ...

Patterdale Terrier The Patterdale Terrier is a breed of dog descended from the Northern terrier breeds of the early 18th century, originally bred in Patterdale, Lake District. Description Appearance There are three breed standards for the Patterdale Ter ...

Plummer Terrier The Plummer Terrier is a working terrier. It was originally bred by Brian Plummer to primarily be a Ratter (dog), ratter and hunt vermin. The breed, while unrecognized by any kennel club, is known for its rugged determination and hardiness. ...

* Pražský Krysařík *

Rat Terrier The Rat Terrier is an American dog breed with a background as a farm dog and hunting companion. They share much ancestry with the small hunting dogs known as feists. Common throughout family farms in the 1920s and 1930s, they are now recognize ...

Teddy Roosevelt Terrier The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a small to medium-sized American hunting terrier. It is lower-set, with shorter legs, and is more muscular with heavier bone density than the related American Rat Terrier. Much diversity exists in the history of ...

Tenterfield Terrier The Tenterfield Terrier is a dog breed developed in Australia. They are a strong, active, hardy and agile dog, their smooth short coat making them 'easy care' family companions. Appearance Tenterfield Terriers come in a variety of colours, ...

West Highland White Terrier The West Highland White Terrier (commonly shortened to Westie) is a dog breed, breed of dog from Scotland with a distinctive white harsh coat and somewhat soft white undercoat. It is a medium-sized terrier, though with longer legs than other ...

Yorkshire Terrier The Yorkshire Terrier, also known as a Yorkie, is a British breed of toy dog of terrier type. It is among the smallest of the terriers and indeed of all dog breeds, with a weight of no more than . It originated in the nineteenth century in the ...

Ratoneros

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

Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz The Andalusian Terrier
Fédération Cynologique Internationale, 2024. Retrieved Sep 7th 2024.

from

Andalusia Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...

''Las Razas Españolas''
. Real Sociedad Canina de España. Retrieved May 24th 2014. *

Ca Rater Mallorquí The or is a Spanish breed of dog of ratter type, found on the island of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands. History The origins of the breed are unclear, with no documentary evidence before the late nineteenth century. In the early twentieth ...

or Ratonero Mallorquín of

Mallorca Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest of the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain, and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of the island, Palma, Majorca, Palma, i ...

* Ratonero Murciano from

Murcia Murcia ( , , ) is a city in south-eastern Spain, the Capital (political), capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia, and the Ranked lists of Spanish municipalities#By population, seventh largest city i ...

* Valencian Terrier or Ratonero Valenciano of

Valencia Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...

* Villanuco de Las Encartaciones in the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country

Pinschers and Schnauzers

Many dogs of

and

type were traditionally used to catch rats; modern breeds derived from those include: * Affenpinscher * Austrian Pinscher * Danish–Swedish Farmdog, Danish-Swedish Farmdog * Dutch Smoushond * German Pinscher * Miniature Pinscher * Miniature Schnauzer * Standard Schnauzer

Other

* Brussels Griffon * Dachshund * Lurcher * Schipperke * Small Međimurje Dog

References

{{Terriers Dog types Mammal pest control Pest control