Ratting, anyone?

Bob A · Mar 25, 2021

I have two American Staffordshire terriers - at least, that's what they look like, both rescues - who take me for walks in downtown Silver Spring late at night.

They've figured out where to find the local rat population, and are really hot to trot. Even though we walk on a leash, with them hooked to one another, they occasionally surprise me and spring after a rat, yanking the leash from my hand. (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.)

Their enthusiasm is so strong that I'd like them to have the opportunity to hunt rats in their native rural habitat. I'm thinking farm, where there would be enough rats to keep them busy for a while.

A few years back, someone posted a video of this sort of affair, and it looked like a lot of fun, except maybe for the rodents. These dogs are bred for taking out vermin, and I'd like them to be able to use their instincts while performing a public service. Letting them scrabble around dumpsters in an urban setting is not the best solution, IMO.

So if there's anyone who has this sort of circumstance who would welcome a couple extra volunteers. my dogs would be happy to know about it.

John from MD · Mar 25, 2021

Bob A said:
I have two American Staffordshire terriers - at least, that's what they look like, bith rescues - who take me for walks in downtown Silver Apring late at night.

They've figured out where to find the local rat population, and are really hot to trot. Even though we walk on a leash, with them hooked to one another, they occasionally surprise me and spring after a rat, yanking the leash from my hand. (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.)

Their enthusiasm is so strong that I'd like them to have the opportunity to hunt rats in their native rural habitat. I'm thinking farm, where there would be enough rats to keep them busy for a while.

A few years back, someone posted a video of this sort of affair, and it looked like a lot of fun, except maybe for the rodents. These dogs are bred for taking out vermin, and I'd like them to be able to use their instincts while performing a public service. Letting them scrabble around dumpsters in an urban setting is not the best solution, IMO.

So if there's anyone who has this sort of circumstance who would welcome a couple extra volunteers. my dogs would be happy to know about it.

As I recall, the video was in Europe somewhere. They do still used dogs for what God made them for unlike us who make them couch potatoes. :lol:

outrider58 · Mar 25, 2021

My cat brings home rats all the time. I won't let him eat them for fear of poisoning. English sparrows...have atem'.

John from MD · Mar 25, 2021

My cousin's cat of yesteryear, Satin, lived up to his name. He was a big cat and used to bring in everything from snakes to groundhogs in through the dog door - ALIVE. He would then drop whatever he had at Margene's feet before she could even react. Luckily she was a tough broad and was able to handle it. The camel crickets get my wife shrieking so she would have a stroke if some of the things Marge had to deal with came in. :lol:

Doco Overboard · Mar 25, 2021

I have undocumented terrier that likes to kill stuff like rats. Shes getting bigger and eyeing up things like cattle and other furry-feathered creatures that move.
If you ever let them get loose, make sure they have a collar that can be broken if they get hung up on something.

4g64loser · Mar 25, 2021

Not sure where you are located but I would think hay farms and orchards would be your primary targets. I had a place a few years ago that let me waste rats, mice, starlings, etc. With a suppressed .22 as long as my ammo held out. The farm is now owned by a big outfit so that game is over. Sadly. As long as the farmer you approach doesn't have any livestock (or you can demonstrate that the dogs won't harm it) you shouldn't have to knock on that many doors to get a chance to try.

Get the dogs breakaway collars if they will be near any buildings or equipment and be darn sure they are up to date on all shots. Rats tend to be flea heaven.

lowoncash · Mar 25, 2021

Try the statehouse in Annapolis.

4g64loser · Mar 25, 2021

lowoncash said:
Try the statehouse in Annapolis.

Um.....rats carry fleas and some other diseases. What they might catch from the vermin in the state house ain't getting cured by a couple shots at the vet.

Redbone1 · Mar 25, 2021

If you want to see some good ratting videos look up "Joseph Carter The Mink Man" on YouTube. He uses a Dutch Shepard that he is cross training in personal protection, various other dogs and mink that all work together to kill rats at various places like farms, old buildings, various businesses and ect. with rodent problems. He also uses them to hunt muskrat and raccoon. He also is training an Argus Monitor lizard to hunt rodents as well. Very interesting fella that breeds, raises , trains, and hunts lhis animals. Found him one night while I was trying to stay awake while working midnight and was diving down the rabbit hole of YouTube.

Rich1911 · Mar 25, 2021

outrider58 said:
My cat brings home rats all the time. I won't let him eat them for fear of poisoning. English sparrows...have atem'.

If he wanted to eat them he would eat them before he brought them home...

boothdoc · Mar 25, 2021

Maybe go down to the capital and turn them loose. They could eat well

Muleskinner · Mar 25, 2021

If you facebook take a look at this page out of the U.K. Ratting of all sorts is popular there and many members of that group use small terrier dogs to kill rats.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/954235824623568

Bob A · Mar 26, 2021

lowoncash said:
Try the statehouse in Annapolis.

4g64loser said:
Um.....rats carry fleas and some other diseases. What they might catch from the vermin in the state house ain't getting cured by a couple shots at the vet.

boothdoc said:
Maybe go down to the capital and turn them loose. They could eat well

Protected species, alas.

Bob A · Mar 26, 2021

Muleskinner said:
If you facebook take a look at this page out of the U.K. Ratting of all sorts is popular there and many members of that group use small terrier dogs to kill rats.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/954235824623568

One of the great pleasures of browsing bookstores is finding odd stuff that turns out to be surprisingly amusing. I picked up a copy of Brian Plummer's Tales of a Rat-Hunting Man on a whim; a Welsh schoolteacher who had a thing for hunting with ferrets. It's a fantastic read.

Here's what someone else wrote of it:

Tales of a Rat-Hunting Man
by D. Brian Plummer

After the initial shock of even considering a rat-catching professional, the title and content of this book are intriguing. The rat is "the unheralded game-animal of Great Britain," so much so that its proponents are feared and reviled as not quite "right." But from the time D. Brian Plummer received his first rat terrier at the age of 10, he dedicated himself to the sport of rat-catching using either dogs or ferrets. He actually enjoys killing rats and is pleased to share his techniques. Thank goodness for Plummer's wit and charm, which make the experience of reading about such nasty creatures a delight.

If this sparks anyone's interest, it's good to know that it is being printed-on-demand for a reasonable price; original copies are fetching nearly a hundred bucks for the paperback edition.

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=brian%20plummer&bi=0&bx=off&cm_sp=SearchF-_-Advtab1-_-Results&ds=30&recentlyadded=all&sortby=17&sts=t&tn=rat-hunting

Markpixs · Mar 26, 2021

This is an old story but loved the idea of rat-hunting in NYC alleys - https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/...eys-owners-send-their-dogs-on-a-rat-hunt.html

Doco Overboard · Mar 26, 2021

Radio station in Baltimore used to have rat hunting with fishing rods in Alley's years ago.

Sealion · Mar 26, 2021

Don't judge me, but this showed up in my YT recs a while back...

teratos · Mar 26, 2021

Bob A said:
One of the great pleasures of browsing bookstores is finding odd stuff that turns out to be surprisingly amusing. I picked up a copy of Brian Plummer's Tales of a Rat-Hunting Man on a whim; a Welsh schoolteacher who had a thing for hunting with ferrets. It's a fantastic read.

Ferrets are still used for ratting. My daughter had some mice in her room (her fault, food on the floor :rolleyes:

) and we let the ferrets run around in her room for an evening. Pretty sure they got them. Ferrets probably ate them, but haven't seen them since.

slsc98 · Mar 26, 2021

Doco Overboard said:
...
If you ever let them get loose, make sure they have a collar that can be broken if they get hung up on something.

If anyone winds up monitoring this thread ^this^ should appear in the first post and solely constitute the last one, in the thread! :thumbsup:

eruby · Mar 26, 2021

How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead.

Ratting, anyone?

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

όυ φροντισ

American Patriot

Eats Bacon Raw

American Patriot

Ultimate Member

Bad influence

Baned

Bad influence

Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

όυ φροντισ

όυ φροντισ

Active Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

My hair is amazing

Ultimate Member

Confederate Jew

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics