Rat hunter Dogs. Ratters. During the First World War, terriers were especially appreciated - ideal rat hunters (ratters), which infested the trenches. A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of the terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, game, and fearless. An ideal mix of skills for a ratter dog. Nowadays, it is believed that cats are the most suitable animal for fighting rats. Dogs, in turn, are able to challenge this misconception. There are a sufficient number of breeds in the world that were bred specifically for hunting rats (ratters). A ratter is any dog used to capture and kill rats and other similar parasites. In many countries, there are specialized breeds of rat catchers. A typical ratter is small or medium-sized, with short and smooth hair, but dogs of a wide variety of breeds can be used. The use of rat-catcher dogs is widely considered the most environmentally friendly, humane and effective method of killing rodents. A typical ratter dog is small or medidogs are considered more effective than domestic cats. Among the many breeds used for hunting rats, there are lot of Terriers, various Pinscher and Schnauzer, as well as the Spanish Ratonero breeds. Rat catchers (ratters) also use cross-breed dogs to catch rats, including bloodhounds and pointers. Airedale Terrier * Bedlington Terrier * Border Terrier * Brazilian Terrier * Cairn Terrier * Chilean Fox Terrier * Irish Terrier * Jack Russell Terrier * Jadgterrier * Lakeland Terrier * Manchester Terrier * Miniature Fox Terrier * Mountain Feist * Norfolk Terrier * Norwich Terrier * Parsons Russell Terrier * Patterdale Terrier * Plummer Terrier * Pražský Krysařík * Rat Terrier * Teddy Roosevelt Terrier * Tenterfield Terrier * West Highland White Terrier * Yorkshire Terrier – all these dog breeds are excellent rat catchers or ratters (rat hunters). Photo: A proud ratter dog poses with part of its prey on the French front line in May 1916.