Whether Bull Terriers Were Ratters
Bull Terriers have a bold, muscular look, so it’s easy to picture them chasing rats in an old-fashioned pit or stable. The history is less tidy than that image suggests: their ancestors were used for several practical and sporting pursuits, but the modern Bull Terrier was shaped into a companion and show dog. Here’s what “ratter” really means in the breed’s history.
Were Bull Terriers used as ratters
The short answer is yes, with an important distinction
Dogs from the bull-and-terrier family were used to catch rats, and ratting was one of the activities associated with the dogs from which Bull Terriers developed. But that does not mean every early Bull Terrier was bred mainly to hunt rats, or that modern Bull Terriers are specialist vermin-control dogs.
The term ratter can mean a dog used to catch rats, a dog bred specifically for that work, or simply a dog with the drive and build to pursue small animals. Those meanings are often blurred in retellings of breed history. A dog might be tried at ratting without being part of a carefully developed ratting breed.
Bull Terrier origins sit within a wider history of crosses between bulldog-type dogs and terriers. These dogs could be put to different uses, including sport and vermin catching. To understand how those pursuits relate to the Bull Terrier, it helps to separate the older, varied What the Bull and Terrier Was from the later breed developed under James Hinks.
Ratting was one pursuit among several
In Britain, ratting could be organized as a public contest in which a dog was judged by how quickly it dispatched rats in an enclosed space. Dogs were also valued for practical vermin control around buildings, yards, and farms. Those are different settings, but both rewarded a dog that was quick, determined, and willing to engage with small, fast-moving animals.
Bull-and-terrier dogs had qualities that could make them suited to such work. They were compact and athletic, and some had a strong chase response. But the same broad type of dog was also associated with other activities. Ratting is therefore one part of a complicated background, not a complete explanation of why the Bull Terrier exists.
Historical descriptions can also use labels loosely. A dog called a “terrier” in one account may not have been a modern Bull Terrier, and references to a bull-and-terrier do not automatically describe a dog with the appearance and temperament of today’s breed. That distinction matters when an old story is presented as proof that the modern Bull Terrier was specifically designed as a ratter.
How ratting fits into Bull Terrier origins
The breed developed from a mixed working background
The Bull Terrier emerged from a period when dog types and purposes were not always as neatly documented as modern breed standards make them seem. The dogs behind the breed had a mixed background, and the Which Breeds Went Into the Bull Terrier is a useful part of understanding why the breed’s early history includes more than one kind of work.
Ratting makes sense in that context. A dog with terrier ancestry might be expected to pursue or catch small animals, while bulldog ancestry contributed a different set of physical traits. But ancestry alone cannot tell us exactly how a particular dog was used. It is safer to say that ratting was among the activities associated with related dogs than to claim that the Bull Terrier was created exclusively for it.
James Hinks is often associated with shaping the recognizable Bull Terrier as a more refined companion and show dog. His influence marks an important shift in how the breed was presented. If you’re following that change from working dog types toward a distinct breed, Who James Hinks Was offers more context, while Whether a Bull Terrier Was a Gentleman's Companion explores how the breed’s social role was described.
Ratting should not be confused with dog fighting
The history of bull-and-terrier dogs is sometimes reduced to one dramatic label. Ratting, dog fighting, and other forms of animal sport all appear in discussions of the period, but they are not interchangeable. A dog used in one activity was not necessarily used in all the others, and a breed’s ancestry does not prove the purpose of every individual dog.
It’s also worth avoiding the idea that the modern Bull Terrier was deliberately bred to start fights. The breed’s history includes complex and sometimes troubling sporting practices, but later breeders and owners shaped the dog’s identity in different ways. For a fuller look at that distinction, see Whether the Bull Terrier Was a Fighting Dog and Whether a Bull Terrier Was Bred to Start Fights.
When someone says “Bull Terriers were ratters,” the most accurate response is that ratting was part of the broader background of dogs related to the breed. It does not define the whole breed’s history, and it does not tell you exactly what a Bull Terrier today will do around wildlife.
| Historical claim | What it reasonably tells us | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Bull-and-terrier dogs were used in ratting | Some dogs of the broader type were used to catch rats | That every early Bull Terrier was a dedicated ratter |
| The breed has terrier ancestry | A chase response may occur in individual dogs | That every Bull Terrier will hunt rodents |
| Bull Terriers developed into companion and show dogs | Their role and public identity changed over time | That their earlier working associations disappeared from every line |
| A dog is described as a ratter in an old account | The dog may have been used for that activity | That the dog was the same as a modern Bull Terrier |
What the history means for Bull Terriers today
Instinct varies from dog to dog
A modern Bull Terrier may show interest in squirrels, rats, rabbits, or other small animals, but you cannot predict an individual dog’s behavior from a historical label alone. Some will notice movement and pull toward it. Others may be far more interested in a toy, a person, or the next interesting smell.
Early experiences, training, environment, and temperament all matter. A dog that has never chased rodents may still react suddenly when a small animal darts across a path. That is a reason to use a secure lead near wildlife, not a reason to assume every Bull Terrier is destined to hunt.
If you live somewhere with rats or mice, don’t rely on a dog to manage the problem. A pet may chase an animal into a hazardous space, get bitten, or come into contact with bait or other pest-control products. Keep your dog away from traps and poisons, and ask a veterinarian what to do if you think your dog has eaten something unsafe.
Give chase energy a safe outlet
If your Bull Terrier locks onto movement, training can help you get their attention back before they build momentum. Practice recall and “leave it” in low-distraction settings first, then gradually work in more challenging places while keeping the dog safely attached to a lead. Rewarding a check-in can be more useful than waiting until the dog is already straining toward an animal.
Play and enrichment can also help. Try short tug sessions, scent games, food puzzles, or supervised games of fetch, choosing activities that suit your dog and don’t encourage unsafe chasing. If you’re browsing for enrichment, Chewy may be one place to compare general puzzle-toy options; check the toy’s materials, size, and supervision guidance rather than assuming any item will withstand a powerful chewer. Chewy is also a retailer some owners use to browse basic training and play supplies, but a toy is not a substitute for recall practice or safe leash handling.
For a dog that gets intensely fixated on small animals, manage the environment as well as training. Choose routes where you can see approaching wildlife, keep gates secure, and avoid off-leash areas unless your dog has reliable recall and the location permits it. A Chewy search can help you explore different kinds of enrichment, but the best choice depends on your individual dog’s play style and chewing habits.
How to talk about the Bull Terrier as a ratter
Use careful language about breed history
It is fair to say that ratting was among the pursuits associated with the bull-and-terrier dogs in the Bull Terrier’s background. It is less accurate to say that the modern breed was created only to catch rats. The Bull Terrier’s roots reflect a wider mix of dog types and historical uses, followed by changes in breeding and public purpose.
This cautious wording is useful when you encounter a confident claim online or hear a story about a particular dog. Ask what the source means by “Bull Terrier”: a modern registered breed, an early dog of similar type, or a bull-and-terrier cross. Also ask whether “ratter” describes an individual dog’s work or a breed’s primary purpose. Those small distinctions can prevent a simplified story from turning into a supposed fact.
For more on the older accounts and the breed’s changing identity, see Whether Bull Terriers Were Used on Badger and What Happened at the 1862 Cremorne Show. These topics help place ratting within a broader history rather than treating it as the breed’s only defining role.
A historical label is not a behavior guarantee
Knowing about ratting can help explain why some Bull Terriers are keen to chase quick movement, but it should not be treated as a prediction of your dog’s personality. A particular dog may have little interest in rodents, while another may need careful management around squirrels or rabbits. Watch the dog in real situations and respond to what you see.
If your dog chases, focus on prevention, practice, and safe outlets rather than trying to provoke the behavior to test an old historical claim. Keep wildlife at a distance, reward attention toward you, and ask a qualified trainer or veterinarian for help if the behavior is difficult to manage. The history is interesting; your dog’s safety and individual temperament matter more in daily life.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
