Ratter wanted

[Teapot74]

I love my dogs. 2 show cockers. They get a good amount of exercise 5 miles + most days. We are moving to a farmhouse. There are chickens and barns. I HATE rats and mice. Don't really want a cat but would have one at a push (used to have a persian that i LOVED, but am more of a dog person). So am thinking about getting a terrier. The problem is I don't naturally warm to terriers. I prefer gundogs. BIL has a lovely border terrier I like it, but don't love it. Any advice? I'd like a playful dog that will keep my house rodent free. I don't know yet whether the neighbours have cats as I know that this could be an issue. Would love to know about temperaments etc. Have a 10 and 12 yr old that are very well trained with dogs. Any opinion is welcome. x

diplodocus, pmsl at the thought of my cockers being effective ratters unless you can lick them to death!

Scarlett S Think I know where I can borrow a ferret.

The celia Howard trust who rescued two kits on Thursday pm thanks to MN ( see the litter tray) are desperate for farms for feral cats.

I'd do the feral cat, ferret if it is desperate.

But, we have a farm bred wire haired jrt. I didn't like terriers esp nippy happy snappy jrts. This one is soapy and affectionate save around rats. From almost the moment he arrived at 6 months he has controlled the garden and caught one in the house. We live in an old creamy house with lots of holes and a stream at the bottom so rats are inevitable.

Atm he is curled up on the bed next to DH keeping him warm as a constant hot water bottle.

I would consider one for the house, for the rat catching and love and licks.

Soppy, not soapy though sometimes the latter to his patient disgust.

Soppy, not soapy though sometimes the latter to his patient disgust.

My Patterdale would definitely make a good ratter, they're proper working terriers but also make loving pets . There are several for re homing on the Patterdale Rescue site .

Not much enthusiasm for the alien / sheep option?

Use traps or poison, a pair of ferals at a push. A lone terrier running loose will not make any appreciable difference to the rat population.

It can be good sport with a smoker and terriers, but you need a fair pack to catch them all as they bolt.

Patter dale terriers should not be pets, but that is a whole other story...

I would go for a feral cat...

My Jack Russell might look the part (as in often seen with arse hanging out of a rabbit hole) but when she has had chance to actually finish a job she is proper wussy...
She occasionally will roll on a dead slug but that's it really!

My cat, even in her advanced years is far more ruthless