Going ratting tomorrow!

[Pignut 4]

I have been offered the chance to take my 8 month old Patt ratting at the local tip.

 

She is a very keen dog and I am wondering if there is anything specific I should do or look out for! (sensible questions only, please). Is she old enough?

 

She will be going with an experienced collie and lurcher who are very very fast and quick.

 

Thanks

[thurso jack 3]

she is old enough imo, maybe you could get some antiseptic wipes to bring along, incase she does get any bites to clean them asap, and perhaps let her watch a few getting nabbed before letting her have a look herself, good luck and enjoy the day!

[beagles 0]

any pics?

[Pignut 4]

pics when the event happens (if we catch anything - not holding my breath!).

 

Thanks for the advice about the antiseptic wipes - good one!

[Guest oneredtrim]

[.

Edited January 17, 2008 by oneredtrim

[jultaylor1972 2]

Take a bottle of Iodine which you can buy at any chemists, cotton wool or makeup remover pads, bottle of boiled water (Obviously cooled :11: ) or Irriclens (Normally used to clean wounds on people which you can also buy from a good chemists) a clean towel for patting any wounds dry. Gloves for yourself to protect you from their diseases :sick: Wash any wounds on the dog as soon as you're finished ratting and put dabs of iodine on cuts and scratches, and wash eyes out with the sterile water and cotton wool pads. Check the dogs paws for any sharp objects or cuts, try and soak any injured paw for a few minutes. Your dog wil probably need a good bath when you get home due to working at a tip Bet you have a great day, Im totally jealous!! Enjoy!!

[Pignut 4]

Patt has had her normal jabs (originals and booster) as a pup - are those the jags you mean?

[Big bald beautiful 1,231]

Has your black dog got the idea yet?

[Big bald beautiful 1,231]

Joy at last..lol

[thurso jack 3]

thats some bites from the rats millet, my dog has only been bitten once and shes had well over 100 rats, we dont get the numbers of rats that by the look of things you guys do, do they get bitten more when there is large volumes? as when we go out were lucky if we see 15-20 rats but we do nail most of them?

[thurso jack 3]

The more you get the more the dog's get bitten mate.. but some dog's dont like getting bit and shake like feck as soon as they grab them other dog's just dont give a feck if they get bit they just get on with it..

If there's more than one dog on a rat they usually get bitten more or if it's a awkward catch under sheeting or among rubbish piles they just have to bite and keep hold regardless of getting bit other wise the rat will escape..

Millet

 

Cheers millet i thought that would be the case, my bitch got bitten once on her second outing and never again, as you say she shakes them until there back is broken, it hasnt made her any lees keener for the job though, she is always first in on them and misses next to nothing, sometimes i close my eyes when she throws herself into some large object at the last minute just to make a catch, you just know it had to hurt shes never dropped one once caught, but she didnt like it when she did get bit she chewed on the bugger for 10 minutes but she has an amazing knack of cacthing them, once shes set her sights on them there goners!

 

great fun ratting, even if you feel like you havent washed for a month after doing it, such is the state of some of the places we go.

[Pignut 4]

Well, we did try.

 

Sadly saw no rats but the odd rustle and the dogs went wild and were well up for it.

 

Patt pup did brilliantly, she got the scent and knew exactly what she wanted to do. She looked and hunted and was very business-like (never unsure or came for a pat or reward). She followed and watched the other more experienced dogs and was searching, looking and not "going for a walk" but working hard. I was most impressed. They took us into lots of sheds with rubbish in bags (it is a recycling centre too).

 

Patt pup marked a bag and dug and dug and came out with a dead rat but it had been dead a while, but she knew what she was looking for. Clever little girl. SHe didn't mind when we took it away and off she went again to find more.

 

I think today was more about the men from the Council seeing our dogs, their behaviour (they were very worried our dogs would kill the feral cats, which naturally keep the rats down - we said they wouldn't as they all live with household cats fine) and also our way of working. We did ourselves proud and they want us back another day, which is good and now they know the dogs will kill rats, they want us back soon!

 

So, another day. Off to have a bath as the smell of the tip lingers somewhat!

 

Got offered lots of lovely things off the tip too. GOing back with a lorry!

[Guest MOLLY]

Sounds like it has been a very successfull day

MOLL.