All About Pied Piper Dogs

One of the oldest functions performed by dogs in the service of humans is the extermination of rats and mice, which are not only dangerous pests, but also carry many infectious diseases. There are rat-catcher dogs wherever rodents are found, day and night they fight with their myriad hordes - it is for this that the dogs have won great love and respect from man, and the most dexterous have become the subject of great pride of their owners.

It would seem, why do we need rat-catchers, if from time immemorial this function was performed by cats? However, this is not entirely true - the history of rat-catcher dogs dates back to the Middle Ages, and cats in those years were considered helpers of dark forces and were not very popular among residents. That is why for many centuries, catching mice and rats has been for the most part the privilege of specialized dog breeds, especially in the countries of the Old World.

Dogs were kept on farms, granaries, boards of merchant ships, where dogs made their way into the narrowest cracks, destroying rats as well as cats. In those years, a very bloody sport even became widespread. It consisted in the fact that thousands of rats were herded into the sports arena, and then the dogs were released there and bets were made on how long it would take for the dog to destroy all the rodents. Some animals showed themselves as real champions - especially flexible and impetuous dogs caught up to 15 rats in one minute!

Terrier Billy made history - he was able to destroy 100 rats in 12 minutes, as well as Terrier Jaco, who caught and strangled over 1000 rodents in a day, while he dealt with the latest batch of 100 pests in just 6 minutes. There is a known case when a dog placed in a barn with grain wiped out 2,500 pests in a day.

Thanks to the crossing of rat-catchers with some other hunting breeds, many new, improved varieties of these unusual animals have been bred. Most often, light-colored dogs with small marks of black or red color were taken for breeding. So it was easier to see the dog in dark rooms where they caught large rats: in warehouses, in the holds of ships, tanneries, taverns and stables. That is why, in the overwhelming majority of cases, rat-catcher dogs have such a suit.

However, over several centuries, the exterior of these animals has undergone significant changes. Rat catchers have external differences, they can be light, gray, and even black, but at the same time there is a lot in common between them.

First of all, these animals are distinguished by innate courage and passion in pursuit of prey - so strong that it exceeds the feelings of their own self-preservation and fear during the corral. Dogs have excellent hearing, thanks to which they can hear the slightest rustle made by pests. In this case, the dog should have a small, but very strong, flexible body, strong jaws and a triangular head - its structure should allow not only to deal with the rodent, but also to quickly overtake the prey and penetrate into the narrowest holes where rats hide.

Nowadays, many rat-catcher dogs are brought up as a companion dog, they are distinguished by their loyalty and devotion to their owner, they become good playmates for toddlers and get along well with other pets, especially cats, because they can rightfully be called “colleagues ".

There are quite a few breeds of rat-catcher dogs. Let's dwell on the most popular of them.

• Rat terrier (rat terrier). This German dog is a true master of rodent trapping. Funny, miniature and stocky animals at one time were specially created to protect the London subway tunnels from hordes of rats. By the way, it is known that it was the rat terrier that was the pet of the prim politician Theodore Roosevelt, who spent a lot of time with his pet.

• Andalusian tavern rat catcher (ratonero)... It is estimated that in two days this dog can catch more than 2000 rats and mice - according to the effectiveness of its hunt, any cat will remain far away. This animal is so dexterous, energetic and reckless that it can even tear out "by the roots" the wooden plinths behind which the rodents are hiding, and in a matter of seconds overtake every pest that comes into its field of vision.

• Smooth fox terrier. This is one of the best hunters for burrowing animals, he perfectly deals with rodents. It was these dogs that most often participated in battles in the arena, where they invariably emerged victorious.

• Prague rat-boy. The smallest dog in the world, which is even smaller than a Chihuahua. Her height at the withers does not exceed 23 cm, and her body weight is 3 kg. However, they are also some of the best rat-catcher dogs in the world. Animals were bred specifically for the destruction of rodents, which in the Middle Ages posed a great threat to cities and villages of the Czech Republic. Nowadays, dogs are common mainly in their homeland, as well as in Japan, they are very rare dogs and very expensive.

• Lakeland Terrier. Dogs of this breed love to be in constant contact with humans, they adore children and get along well with other pets, but only if the latter are larger than the terrier itself. They get along with small animals only if they are accustomed to communicating with them from birth. Lakeland Terriers are very playful and active dogs that are most often used as companions these days.But if a mouse starts up in the house, then be sure - the pet will save you from an uninvited guest in the blink of an eye.

• Dachshund. These are funny dogs with a long body and short legs, which, however, does not prevent them from showing themselves as excellent hunters. Animals are distinguished by curiosity, activity, courage and exceptional intelligence. They are ideal companions for families with children. Dachshunds are very fond of digging, and during a walk they invariably show the instinct of pursuit and the excitement of the hunt, so not a single rodent who has slipped past will escape their attention.

• Miniature pinscher. Pinschers are the ancestors of most modern rat catchers. In previous years, they were often used in tandem with ferrets and rat-catchers: a man looked for clusters of rodents, a ferret drove out rats, and pinschers were assigned the role of "executioner". This dog easily caught and strangled even the most nimble pests.

• Russian Toy Terrier... Despite its miniature size, this animal has perfect hearing and high speed, and such qualities are truly indispensable when hunting rats. During the years of the Soviet Union, it was Russian toy terriers that were often equipped with government fruit and vegetable bases.

All representatives of mouse dogs have extremely high performance characteristics. In the fight against uninvited guests and pests of pantries, barns, chicken coops and cattle pens, dogs show themselves at their best. Therefore, the choice between specific breeds is made, focusing only on your taste and financial capabilities.

However, it should be borne in mind that most of the rat catchers are quite rare breeds, and therefore their cost is very high. This is often used by unscrupulous breeders who pass off one breed for another. For example, Russian toy terriers are often passed off as Prague rats. Outwardly, these animals are very similar, but the cost of rats is much higher due to the low prevalence of the breed.

Before choosing a puppy, familiarize yourself with all the features of the breed and its exterior, and it is best to take a specialist with you who can confirm that the pet offered to you has all the required breed characteristics.

These days, rat-catcher dogs are rarely used for their original purpose - they are mainly acquired as companions, therefore, the cost of pets largely depends on their class.

• Show class - these are the best breed representatives who are invariably the winners of exhibitions and competitions, are used for breeding and are highly appreciated.
• Breed class - these are pets that receive marks "good" and "excellent" at exhibitions, they are usually purchased for further breeding.
• Pet class - these are dogs that have some external defects that do not allow them to participate in exhibitions and be used as breeding material. However, this does not detract from their merits: these animals are loyal, loyal, active, friendly, and if a rodent appears on the horizon, they immediately demonstrate their best hunting characteristics.

Pay attention to the health of the proposed dog: its weight and height must be appropriate for its age, eyes and ears must be clean. Unpleasant odor from the mouth, bloating in the abdomen, as well as dermatitis and inflammation on the skin are not allowed. Pay attention to the physical condition of the chosen puppy - he must be active, cheerful and nimble.

The story about the Prague rat-boy, see below.