There is a breed of dog called the Jack Russell terrier, and a similar-looking but more rugged variety called a rat terrier. A cross between these two results in both a degree of hybrid vigor, and a highly aggressive rat hunter, small enough to go into corners with rats, and quick enough to evade most of the slashing counterattacks by the cornered rat.
The dog comes out with an overwhelming sense of victory with the dead rat in his jaws. So where is the next one? Bring it on, yippee-ki-f**king-yay, in the very best Bruce Willis manner.
I’ve owned Rat Terriers my whole life, and can attest to their instinctive killing efficiency. Unlike Jack Russell’s, they’re very docile until it’s time to do their jobs. Then, in a millisecond they become extremely violent; kill quickly by shaking their victim from side-to-side until their neck snaps; then drop said victim to find another; and then, return to your lap to go back to sleep. Unlike cats, they don’t return to, play with or carry around their victims, and in fact, ignore them as if nothing ever happened. It’s the damnest thing you’ll ever witness.
I have a smooth fox.
People are astonished when I tell them she’s 14 years old.
There is a breed of dog called the Jack Russell terrier, and a similar-looking but more rugged variety called a rat terrier.
We have just such a dog in Xena, our Warrior Princess. If it moves Xena is on it, lizards, bees, houseflies, but so far no rats or mice.
Schnauzers were bred to capture rats too. That’s why they clip their ears originally.
My rescued JackRussell was the best at cleaning our pool and garden area, in Ft.Laud.
His record was 3 snakes, 4 rats, and a possum. One snake made it to the pool bottom but when he came up, Jake made the dash on deck 30’ and beat the snake against an awning support..
My wife and boys loved Jake so much, they didn’t like the idea of trying to copy him. So we got a Norrbottenspets (male), Carlton(The Doorman), that’s his job, No rats to chase where we are now, just a few Tree Rats and a few Black Bears.
Norbies are smart, fast, great at coursing and hunting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norrbottenspets
http://norrbottenspets.weebly.com/lure-coursing-titles.html
The original “Jack Russell” @
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parson_Russell_Terrier
My female JRT was the smartest dog I’ve ever had. Loved people too. Especially children. Maybe it was the fact that the kids boundless energy matched that of my Izzy dog. 40 acres of farmland and forest was a perfect haunt for her. We never had any occasion for her to rat hunting but she was a terror death sentence to any rabbit found in the fields.