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Pit Bull Chat Forum

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Ratting

A

AMinNJ

Puppy
Our wonderful Dogs were once trained to chase and destroy tons of Vermin (Mainly Rats). My question is what is your thought or thoughts on training an APBT to "Rat"?
 
_unoriginal

_unoriginal

Cow Dog
Why worry about training when there's breeds that do it naturally? Yes, APBTs are terriers and most have intense prey drives, but there were terriers specifically bred for ratting.
 
ignitethis

ignitethis

Good Dog
With any terrier, you should be able to just show it a rat and it will do what it needs to. Yes, there are terriers specifically bred to rat, but... it's pretty straight forward.
 
_unoriginal

_unoriginal

Cow Dog
My dog has some intense prey drive, I just don't see him being stealthy and graceful enough to catch a rat or similar prey. :lol:
 
A

AMinNJ

Puppy
Would you all say I was wrong for training my dog to do so? Question why is my family has 2 farms and own many animals. Horses, pigs, sheep, cows etc. I have my dog there almost every day.
He seems to love to catch the rabbits and the mice/rats that are found around the yard. I am however worried about the disease factor.
I have gotten him every shot known to man (exageration obviously) but I am still worried. I do however know his passion for doing these things and I just do not have the heart to try and stop him.

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N

NobodyHere

Guest
I'm more worried about the dog potentially being off-lead around livestock than I am about it being used to kill rats.
 
lizzie13

lizzie13

Good Dog
Mine try to catch rats each night. They will stare for 20 minutes straight waiting for one to run down the fence. They have been close but no catch yet. Lol
 
ignitethis

ignitethis

Good Dog
If you can get your dog to stay away from the livestock (cuz who really wants to get kicked in the ribs by a cow or horse?!), then I see no harm in it.
 
A

AMinNJ

Puppy
He has been brought up on the farm and knows the ropes rather well. He does a grand job of hearding the sheeo for shits and giggles. He listens rather well. The other animals don't bother him and vice versa. There is no imediate danger from the livestock which is something i have thought of many times in his younger years. Thank you all for making me feel much better. After readin much of this forum i almost didn't ask this question for fear you'd all crucify me. :)

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_unoriginal

_unoriginal

Cow Dog
"Listening rather well" isn't enough to allow him to be loose around livestock when he's a.) a breed known for animal aggression and b.) a dog who has proven himself to be animal aggressive.
 
DancesWithCurs

DancesWithCurs

Good Dog
My lab/pit was an old hand at ratting and other varmint catching. A buddy of mine has APBT and various other terriers that he uses and they will all go ratting if given the chance
 
A

AMinNJ

Puppy
_unoriginal said:
"Listening rather well" isn't enough to allow him to be loose around livestock when he's a.) a breed known for animal aggression and b.) a dog who has proven himself to be animal aggressive.
Click to expand...

He has only proven he likes to catch rats and rabbits.
He has never been aggressive torward any other animal ever. He is a "natural born heardin dog" as my uncle john has said. He has been taught to push and round out very well.
He is eager to please when he is told it is time to work.
He has been around livestock for 3 years and hasn't attacked any of them yet. So it obviously IS enough in his case.

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A

AMinNJ

Puppy
DancesWithCurs said:
My lab/pit was an old hand at ratting and other varmint catching. A buddy of mine has APBT and various other terriers that he uses and they will all go ratting if given the chance
Click to expand...

Dancingwithcurs, I believe my dogs lineage was a bunch of ratting dogs. My boy wouldn't harm anythong bigger then a rabbit. He does well with all cats and dogs. Smaller and bigger. I had made sure to socialize him as soon as i possibly could. Since he could be around other animals hes always had a dog and a cat right next to him. Granted he is now 5. He may develop some kind of DA but as of these 5 years not once has he even nipped at another dog or cat. But watch out you dirty stinkin rats. Lol i had to :)

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