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. Pied Piper dogs are everywhere where rodents live; they fight day and night with their myriad hordes - that's why the dogs earned great love and respect from humans, and the most dexterous became the subject of great pride of their owners.

It would seem, why are Pied Piper dogs needed, if for centuries cats have performed this function? However, this is not entirely true - the story of Pied Piper dogs dates back to the Middle Ages, and cats in those years were considered assistants of the 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 a privilege of specialized dog breeds, especially in the countries of the Old World.

Dogs were kept on farms, granaries, on board the merchant ships, where dogs made their way into the narrowest slots, killing rats no worse than cats. In those years, even a very bloody sport became widespread. It consisted in the fact that thousands of rats were driven into the sports arena, and then dogs were released there and bet on how long it would take for the dog to destroy all the rodents. Some animals showed themselves as real champions - especially flexible and fast-moving dogs caught up to 15 rats in one minute!

Billy Terrier went down in history - he was able to destroy 100 rats in 12 minutes, as well as Jacko Terrier, who caught and strangled over 1000 rodents in a day, while he dealt with the very last batch of 100 pests in just 6 minutes. There is a known case when a dog placed in a barn with grain exterminated 2500 pests in a day.

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

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

Primarily, these animals are notable for their innate courage and excitement in pursuit of prey - so strong that it exceeds their feelings of self-preservation and fear during the corral. Dogs have a great ear, 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 not only deal with the rodent, but also quickly overtake the prey and penetrate the narrowest holes where the rats hide.

Nowadays, many Pied Piper dogs are brought up as a companion dog, they are loyal and loyal to their owner, become good playmates for babies and get along well with other pets, especially cats, because they can rightfully be called "colleagues ".

There are quite a few breeds of Pied Piper dogs. Let us dwell on the most popular of them.

• Rat Terrier (Rat Terrier). This German dog is a true master in catching rodents. Funny, miniature and stocky animals at one time were specially created to protect the London Underground 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 Pied Piper (ratonero). It is estimated that in two days this dog can catch more than 2000 rats and mice - according to the effectiveness of its hunting, any cat will remain far away. This animal is so dexterous, assertive and gambling that it can even tear out wooden plinths "behind the root", behind which rodents hide, and in a matter of seconds overtake every pest that has come 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 came out victorious.

• Prague rat. The smallest dog in the world, which is even smaller than a chihuahua. Her height at the withers does not exceed 23 cm, and body weight - 3 kg. However, these are some of the best Pied Piper dogs in the world. Animals were bred specifically for the destruction of rodents, which in the Middle Ages posed a great threat to the cities and villages of the Czech Republic.Nowadays, dogs are distributed mainly in the homeland, as well as in Japan, these 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. With small animals, they get along only if they are used to communicating with them from birth. Lakeland Terriers are very playful and active dogs, which these days are most often used as companions. But if a mouse starts up in the house, then be sure that your pet will save you an uninvited guest in no time.

• 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 an exceptional mind. These 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 hunting, so not a single rodent slipping past their attention will escape.

• Dwarf Pinscher. Pinchers 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 crowds of rodents, a ferret drove out rats, and Pinchers were assigned the role of “executioner”. This dog easily caught and choked even the most brisk pests.

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

All representatives of mouse dogs have exceptionally high performance. In the fight against uninvited guests and pests of pantries, barns, chicken coops and pens for livestock, dogs show 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 give one breed for another. For example, Russian toy terriers are often passed off as Prague rat rats. Outwardly, these animals are very similar, but the cost of rats due to the low prevalence of the breed is an order of magnitude higher.

Before choosing a puppy, familiarize yourself with all the features of the breed and its exterior, and it’s best to bring along a specialist who can confirm that the pet you are offering has all the required breed characteristics.

Nowadays, Pied Piper dogs are rarely used for their original purpose - they are mainly acquired as companions, therefore, the cost of pets depends on their class.

• Show class - these are the best pedigree representatives who are invariably winners of exhibitions and competitions, are used for reproduction and are rated very highly.
• Brid class - these are pets that receive marks “good” and “excellent” at exhibitions, they are usually purchased for subsequent breeding.
• Pet class - These are dogs that have some external defects that prevent them from participating in exhibitions and being used as breeding material. However, this does not detract from their merits: these animals are faithful, loyal, active, friendly, and if a rodent appears on the horizon, they immediately demonstrate their best hunting characteristics.

Pay attention to the state of health of the proposed dog: its weight and height must be appropriate for 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 selected puppy - he must be active, cheerful and nimble.

The story of the Prague rat rat see below.