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77-574: The Rat Terrier ranges from about 10 to 25 pounds (4.5 to 11.3 kg) and stands 10 to 18 inches (25 to 46 cm) at the shoulder. The miniature size—13 inches (33 cm) and under as defined by the UKC —has become more popular as a house pet and companion dog, but the miniature is still a hunting dog. The standard says "small to medium" and the miniature is small enough to go in and under those places where vermin like to hide. A larger strain, often in excess of 25 pounds (11 kg), has been developed. Called

154-603: A ratter , takes to kill the rats. Often, two dogs competed, with the winner receiving a cash prize. It is now illegal in most countries. In 1835, the Parliament of the United Kingdom implemented an act called the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 , which prohibited the baiting of some animals, such as the bull , bear , and other large mammals. However, the law was not enforced for rat baiting and competitions came to

231-544: A bumper. UKC announced Dock Jumping as a licensed event in 2007. Drag Racing features dogs who meet the height requirement, racing in a straight-line course, and in the case of Steeplechase, clearing small hurdles during the run. Flat racing does not include these hurdles. UKC began to license Drag Racing in 2004, at the time called Terrier Racing. In April 2014, UKC rechristened the event Drag Racing, opening it up to all breeds 18 inches or under in height. Lure Coursing features dogs pursuing an artificial lure around

308-457: A countryside pastime to the betting arenas of inner London, it became associated with the base vices of lower-class citizens. Baiting sports diminished in popularity and the dog exhibition shows brought by the gentry slowly replaced the attraction as a more enlightened form of animal entertainment. The last public competition in the United Kingdom took place in Leicester in 1912. The owner

385-602: A follower of the sport of rat baiting, described his experience and the atmosphere at one of the last old rat pits in London during those times. This was a rather dirty, small place, in the middle of the Cambridge Circus , London. You went down a rotten wooden stair and entered a large, underground cellar, which was created by combining the cellars of two houses. The cellar was full of smoke, stench of rats, dogs, and dirty human beings, as well. The stale smell of flat beer

462-693: A high demand for rats with some rat catchers earning $ 0.05 to $ 0.12 per rat. Kit Burns' rat-pit activities are described by author James Dabney McCabe in his book Secrets of the Great City , published in 1868, at page 388, as follows: On 31 November 1870, Henry Bergh the founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals raided the Sportsman's Hall and arrested Burns under an anti- cruelty to animals law passed by

539-694: A long history of refinement with regular outcrosses to bring in useful qualities and genetic variability. In the current times, the Rat Terrier is becoming popular not only as a family pet but as a working dog in several fields. Their affectionate and calm temperament along with small size has made them popular as service dogs in hospice, treatment for depression, in Assisted Living, and other human-care jobs. Police departments have started using them as contraband search dogs as their intelligence level shortens training to as little as three weeks which

616-438: A minute. The dogs worked in exemplary fashion, a grip, a toss, and it was all over for the rat. With especially skillful dogs, two dead rats flew through the air at the same time ... The officials included a referee and timekeeper . Pits were sometimes covered above with wire mesh or had additional security devices installed on the walls to prevent the rats from escaping. Rules varied from match to match. In one variation,

693-777: A new hunting sport in the Elite Shed Dog Series. In October 2018, Raab announced that she would be stepping down as president, though she would remain involved with the company in other capacities. UKC continues to operate out of Kalamazoo, licensing more than 16,000 events every year across the United States. The registry currently recognizes over 370 breeds of dogs. In September 2021, the company announced that it had come to an agreement to acquire American Field Publishing Company, including its Field Dog Stud Book , specializing in upland field trials for pointing dogs and field trial breeding records. UKC stresses

770-679: A performance sport, and in 1984, UKC partnered with the newly formed Hunting Retriever Club to create a new format of field trials for hunters. The partnership also saw UKC begin publication on what was at the time a third magazine, Hunting Retriever Magazine, which continues to this day. In April 1996, UKC became the first All-Breed dog registry to offer a DNA program, which it opened up to dogs from other registries in March 1997. In March 2000, Miller died, and leadership shifted to vice president and General Manager Wayne Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh continued to digitize and modernize UKC, adding and developing

847-542: A period of time Tiny maintained the record for killing 300 rats in under 55 minutes. Tiny only weighed five and a half pounds with a neck so small, a woman's bracelet could be used as a dog collar . From 1848 to 1849, Tiny was owned by Jemmy Shaw , the landlord of the Blue Anchor Tavern at 102 Bunhill Row , St. Luke's , London Borough of Islington ; the pub is now named the Artillery Arms. Tiny

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924-529: A predetermined course. The UKC Lure Coursing rule book lays out 26 breeds which may participate in the regular stakes race, while any breed can participate in a coursing aptitude test. The recommended field size for the race is approximately 200 yards by 300 yards, while the minimum field size is set at 150 yards by 200 yards. UKC announced the addition of Lure Coursing in May 2010. Nosework (knows as scentwork in AKC)

1001-409: A proper place, turned round on its murderer, and reprived him by one bite of the privilege of seeing with two eyes in future. The dog BILLY, of rat-killing notoriety, on the evening of the 13th instant, again exhibited his surprising dexterity; he was wagered to kill one hundred rats within twelve minutes; but six minutes and 25 seconds only elapsed, when every rat lay stretched on the gory plain, without

1078-515: A quarter before eight o'clock, the lovers of rat killing enjoyed a feast of delight in a prodigious raticide at the Cockpit, Westminster. The place was crowded. The famous dog Billy, of rat-killing notoriety, 26 lb. weight, was wagered, for 20 sovereigns, to kill 100 rats in 12 minutes. The rats were turned out loose at once in a 12-foot square, and the floor whitened so that the rats might be visible to all. The set-to began, and Billy exerted himself to

1155-470: A seven-hour period in a rat-infested barn (an average of one rat every ten seconds). Rat Terrier organizations exhibit the typical disputes over the course of action to be taken for the promotion and preservation of the breed. As usual among working breeds , points of departure are which dog type best represents the breed and whether the dog's working qualities will be sacrificed to selection for conformation show competition. The Rat Terrier Club of America

1232-409: A sharp decline in the breed from the 1950s onward. Breed loyalists maintained the bloodline, leading to the modern Rat Terrier. The genetic diversity of the Rat Terrier has contributed to the overall health, keen intelligence, and soundness of the breed. Most modern breeds were developed from a few founding dogs and then propagated from a closed gene pool. In contrast, the Rat Terrier has benefited from

1309-462: A shift to computerization for UKC records in the mid-1970s, and by 1978, UKC was the first known dog registry in the world to computerize all its registration records. In January 1979, Miller announced that UKC would be moving to what would become their current offices in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The company would occupy the new building in March of that year. In the 1980s UKC added Obedience as

1386-516: A specially designed obstacle course involving tunnels, bridges, and jumps. The event is timed to measure speed of completion, and accuracy is also taken into consideration. The first UKC-licensed Agility trial was held in July 1995, after the National Club for Dog Agility transferred the program to United Kennel Club. Conformation is the official term for a dog show, referring specifically to

1463-509: A variety of new performance sports, and launching the company website in April 2008. In July 2014, with Cavanaugh getting ready to pursue retirement, UKC VP of Operations Tanya Raab was named UKC President. Cavanaugh would continue with the organization until officially retiring in October 2015. Raab's tenure as president saw the development of a few more performance sports, and the onset of

1540-427: A weight handicap was set for each dog. The competing dog had to kill as many rats as the number of pounds the dog weighed, within a specific, preset time. The prescribed number of rats was released and the dog was put in the ring. The clock started the moment the dog touched the ground. When the dog seized the last rat, his owner grabbed it and the clock stopped. Rats that were thought still to be alive were laid out on

1617-460: A well-bred Rat Terrier is 16–19 years. The earliest-known record of a rat-catching dog is that of "Hatch", whose remains were recovered from the Mary Rose , the flagship of Henry VIII , sunk in 1545 and re-raised in 1982. Hatch is thought to have been a mongrel, and was brought on board to control the rat population. The breed name comes from the occupation of its earliest ancestors brought to

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1694-467: Is accepted in the breed standards. Rat Terriers tend to be both intelligent and stubborn, knowing how to get what they want when they want it. They are also considered good family pets because of their energy and compatibility with kids. They are playful and require much exercise. The social sensitivity of Rat Terriers makes them very trainable and easier to live with for the average pet owner, but it also means that extensive socialization from an early age

1771-427: Is also acceptable. Ticking is usually visible in the white parts of the coat, or in the underlying skin. Brindle , currently disallowed by the main breed standards, is considered by some to be a traditional Rat Terrier pattern, and there is a growing movement to have this pattern accepted into the breed. However, merle is widely considered to be the result of recent outcrosses and, because of associated health problems,

1848-404: Is critical. Proper socialization of a Rat Terrier puppy includes exposing the animal to a wide variety of people and places, particularly during the first three months of life. Like most active and intelligent breeds, Rat Terriers tend to be happier when they receive a great deal of mental stimulation and exercise. Rat terriers are usually loyal to their owners and are very respectful if they receive

1925-423: Is modeled after working detection dogs , and challenges dogs to recognize a specific, trained odor, such as birch , anise , clove , myrrh , and vetiver , and then indicate to their handler that they have located that odor in a variety of locations, and elements. UKC began to officially license Nosework events in 2015. In Obedience trials, dogs perform a series of exercises at the command of their handler,

2002-420: Is much shorter than for traditional police service breeds. Also, their small size allows search of cars, homes, and prison cells without causing the major damage a large German Shepherd or other traditional police service breed would do during a car search and lessening the chances of major financial settlements if there is nothing found during a search. One source claims that a single terrier killed 2,501 rats in

2079-462: Is rejected by most Rat Terrier breeders. Ear carriage is erect, but can also be tipped, or button, all of which contribute to an intelligent, alert expression. The tail has been traditionally docked to about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm), but the bobtail gene is very common in Rat Terriers and can result in a variety of tail lengths. Today, some breeders prefer a natural, undocked tail, which

2156-631: Is the official breed parent club for the American Kennel Club (AKC). Rat Terriers were accepted into the AKC's terrier group June 2012. Rat terriers have been competing in the United Kennel Club events for over 15 years. UKC is a family-friendly group that promotes many different venues for dogs to compete. The National Rat Terrier Association is the largest independent registry and has maintained lineage records for decades. Feeling

2233-607: The Hunting Act 2004 . Due to rat infestations , terriers are now being used for ratting to hunt and kill rats in major cities around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam . The use of ratting dogs is considered to be the most environmentally friendly, humane and efficient method of exterminating rats. The article Rats in New York City provides some background about

2310-506: The Plummer Terrier is considered a premiere breed for rat-catching. A celebrated bull and terrier named "Billy" weighing about 12 kg (26 lb), had a proud fighting history and his pedigree reflects the build-up over the years. The dog was owned by Charles Dew and was bred by a breeder James Yardington . On the paternal side is "Old Billy" from the kennel of John Tattersal from Wotton-under-Edge , Gloucestershire , and

2387-950: The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier as the Type B Rat Terrier. In the 1970s, a hairless mutation appeared in a single Rat Terrier and was propagated into a strain of the Rat Terrier. After a period of development this line resulted in the American Hairless Terrier , recognized as a separate breed by several registries. The Rat Terrier comes in a variety of coat colors. The classic coloring is black tan point with piebald spotting (known as black tricolor), but chocolate, tan (varying in shade from pale gold to dark mahogany), blue, isabella (pearl), lemon, and apricot are all fairly common. They may be tricolor or bicolor, always with some amount of white present. Sable may overlay any of these colors. Creeping tan (often "Calico"),

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2464-567: The Decker or Decker Giant, it was named after breeder Milton Decker who created a larger hunting companion and are recognized by the National Rat Terrier Association (NRTA, see "Breed recognition" below). UKC and AKC do not recognize the Decker strain as another breed; they are merely considered a standard variety. The NRTA recognizes a Toy variety weighing 10 pounds (4.5 kg) or less. The NRTA continues to classify

2541-667: The National Leafy Oak Field Trial, in Kenton, Ohio . Today, UKC licenses thousands of bench shows a year across the country. The organization also crowns National Bench Show Champions yearly at Autumn Oaks, and a World Bench Show Champion at the yearly Coonhound World Championship event. Though promoting Beagles in Bloodlines as far back as 1913, the first UKC-licensed Beagle Field Trial did not take place until 1924. In 1988, UKC met with Beaglers across

2618-703: The New York state legislature four years prior. The Sportsman Hall stayed permanently closed after the raid. Although little of the original structure remains, Sportsman's Hall occupied the land where the Joseph Rose House and Shop, a four-unit luxury apartment house, now lies and is the third oldest house in Manhattan after St. Paul's Chapel and the Morris-Jumel Mansion . Toward the latter half of Queen Victoria 's reign, criticism of

2695-532: The Rat Terrier into the Terrier Group in June 2012. The first AKC Champion Rat Terrier was "Annie" GCH GRCH King Pen RnB's Queen Ann bred, owned by Sherry & Dud Lee Hendrix of Modesto, California . United Kennel Club The United Kennel Club ( UKC ) is a kennel club founded in 1898 in the United States. In contrast with the American Kennel Club , which is non-profit and which only clubs can join,

2772-468: The Rat Terrier line very early on, with UKC registration for the Toy Fox Terrier beginning in 1936. Rat Terriers were cherished as loyal hunting companions and efficient killers of vermin on 20th-century American farms: as a result, they were one of the most popular dog types from the 1920s to the 1940s. However, the widespread use of chemical pesticides and the growth of commercial farming led to

2849-582: The US by working-class British migrants as the dogs were used in rat-baiting . However, they were, for the most part, bred for speed. Their speed is used for controlling vermin and hunting small game such as squirrels and hares. After the 1890s, as the breed type became popular in the United States, they were bred with beagles , Italian Greyhounds , and Manchester Terriers . Many of the foundation Rat Terriers were indistinguishable from small mixed-breed hunting dogs known as " feists ". The smaller varieties diverged from

2926-504: The United Kennel Club is a profit-making corporation, open to individuals. The UKC is not recognised by the International Canine Federation . UKC was founded by Chauncey Z. Bennett, on February 10, 1898, after feeling that other dog registries in existence at the time catered too much to Conformation-only show dog owners or wealthy hobbyists, whom he called "the big city idle rich". Bennett's goal for UKC

3003-570: The United States or CEB-US). The event was held in Armour, South Dakota and consisted of a conformation show and two distinct field trials. Since that event, UKC has continued to host pointing dog field trials with clubs across the country. In 2021, UKC announced that it had acquired American Field Publishing Company, including the Field Dog Stud Book, the oldest purebred dog registry in the United States. The UKC Elite Shed Dog Series

3080-535: The breed on January 1, 1999. The AKC recognized the Rat Terrier as a breed on July 1, 2010; however, it allowed them to compete in companion events beginning January 1, 2006 in sanctioned AKC Companion events (Obedience, Agility, Rally). The first Rat Terrier to earn a title under AKC Sanctioning was in Agility on January 14, 2006 in Van Nuys, California by Harpur's Giddy Upp "Gigi" and D. Davidson Harpur. AKC accepted

3157-460: The company website remains devoted to dog law, with tips to get involved, and links to contact lawmakers. United Kennel Club's two main programs are called Hunting Operations and All-Breed Sports. Hunting Operations runs six separate types of competitive hunt, generally based on the breed of dog, while All-Breed Sports runs ten different performance sports, that are open to—as the name suggests—all breeds. The first organized Coonhound field trial

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3234-712: The company, and in 1944, she and husband Dr. Edwin Gould Fuhrman moved operations at UKC into the Hanselman Building in Kalamazoo. Operations would continue there for less than a decade before moving to a new space in Kalamazoo, where they would remain until 1979. In the early 1970s, the Fuhrmans opted to give up leadership in the company, and in January 1973, UKC announced the sale to businessman Fred Miller, who would take over as president. Miller oversaw

3311-431: The complexity of which varies by competition level, from the basics of sit, stay, heel , to more advanced exercises like directed retrieves and following hand signals. The UKC Obedience Program began in 1977. Rat-baiting Rat-baiting is a blood sport that involves releasing captured rats in an enclosed space with spectators betting on how long a dog , usually a terrier and sometimes referred to as

3388-832: The country to develop the UKC Hunting Beagle format, with the first event taking place in 1990. Currently, UKC runs the Hunting Beagle Nationals, established in 1992, and the Hunting Beagle World Championship, established in 2000. Both events feature a Hunt and Bench Show portion. In 2021, UKC paired with the Beagle Gundog Alliance to develop a new format, the Beagle Gundog program. This format held its first national event that same year. In

3465-589: The cruelty of the practice of vivisection . The first article referenced the conditions in which the famous Pavlov dogs were kept, as well as other experiments being performed on dogs. This regular column would continue to run through the early 1940s. UKC also maintains position statements on a variety of topics pertinent to dog law, documenting the company's opposition to Breed Specific Legislation , mandatory spay and neuter laws, blanket anti-tethering laws, and its desire to steer potential dog owners toward purchasing dogs from responsible breeders . A section of

3542-422: The dogs' quality, nearly a skilled labourer's daily wages. These shows were quite expensive as back in the day 1.00 was equal to 100 dollars today with that said these people were very wealthy and rich being able to buy a ticket to these shows. The rat pit was about 8 ft square with 4-ft-high walls. On the New York City waterfront rat baiting was quite lucrative with a purse of $ 125 not uncommon. This created

3619-627: The early 1980s, UKC held a series of meetings with several prominent voices in the Hunting Retriever field, about an arrangement to create a new format of field trial for retrievers. This became the Hunting Retriever Club, which was quickly affiliated with UKC. In April 1984, the first Hunting Retriever Club and UKC hunt was held in Ruston, Louisiana . The first Grand Hunt, was established in 1986, as dogs quickly reached

3696-480: The external and visible details of a dog's build and structure. The preferred details are written out in each breed's standards, which are published and held by each registry. UKC began to license Conformation Dog Shows in the 1920s, with the first annual UKC Bench Show held in May 1926. In Dock Jumping (called Dock Diving in AKC), dogs jump off the end of a standard length dock, usually jumping for distance, though some classes feature high jumps or working to fetch

3773-564: The first events being held toward the end of the year. The Cur and Feist breeds are smaller dogs, most often used to hunt squirrel and other small game. Over the two decades of the program's existence, UKC has developed World Championships for both Cur Squirrel Dog and Feist Squirrel Dog, and holds licensed bench shows. The first UKC-licensed pointing dog trial was held in April 2004, by the French Brittany Gundog Club (which would later become Club de l’Epagneul Breton of

3850-503: The forefront as a gambling sport. It was very popular in Ireland even before 1835, because of the limited space in larger cities, Dublin and Belfast especially. Some families sought to profit from the large numbers of vermin plaguing the cities and countryside. Many countries adopted this sport after 1835, with England having one of the largest participation rates. At one time, London even had at least 70 rat pits. James Wentworth Day ,

3927-538: The late 1980s, with qualifying dogs hunting in one of four zones to earn their way to the Finals. In 1992, the number of zones expanded to five. Today, there are seven zones, accommodating hundreds of dogs. A Bench Show is essentially a Conformation show for Coonhounds. The dogs are placed on a two-foot high platform to assist the judge in their examination of the dog for adherence to breed standards . The first UKC licensed Bench Show for Coonhounds occurred in 1946, at

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4004-436: The least symptom of life appearing.' Billy was decorated with a silver collar, and a number of ribband bows, and was led off amidst the applauses of the persons assembled. Billy's best competition results are: Billy's career was crowned on 22 April 1823, when a world record was set with 100 rats killed in five and a half minutes. This record stood until 1862 when it was claimed by another ratter named "Jacko". Billy continued in

4081-468: The mid- to late 19th century. Jack was a prized ratter, and Burns claimed that Jack killed 100 rats in 5 minutes and 40 seconds. Burns had Jack taxidermied and mounted him, alongside other prized dogs, on the bar of his tavern called the Sportsmen's Hall, located at 273 Water Street. Burns' first-floor amphitheatre could hold 100 spectators who were charged an admission of $ 1.50 to $ 5.00 depending on

4158-412: The number of rats, and the dog's weight decided the victory. A rate of five seconds per rat killed was considered quite satisfactory; 15 rats in a minute was an excellent result. Cornered rats will attack and can deliver a very painful bite. Not uncommonly, a ratter (rat-killing dog) was left with only one eye in its retirement. Before the contest could begin, the capture of potentially thousands of rats

4235-543: The pack with a quick bite. The ratting dogs were typically working terrier breeds, which included the bull and terrier , Bull Terrier , Bedlington Terrier , Fox Terrier , Jack Russell Terrier , Rat Terrier , Black and Tan Terrier , Manchester Terrier , Yorkshire Terrier , and Staffordshire Bull Terrier . The degree of care used in breeding these ratters is clear in their pedigrees , with good breeding leading to increased business opportunities. Successful breeders were highly regarded in those times. In modern times,

4312-435: The practice mounted. The animal welfare movement opposed the practice much like they did other forms of animal baiting. More favourable ideas of rats as living animals rather than vermin arose, alongside a new interest in their positive role in the maintenance of an urban ecosystem . (It was only after the decline of rat baiting that rats became associated with the spread of disease. ) Additionally, when ratting moved from being

4389-466: The proper amount of training at a young age. Due to regular outcrossings throughout the Rat Terrier's history, overall it is a very hardy breed. However, with its growth in popularity in recent years some issues are becoming more common. The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) recommends that Rat Terriers be tested for patellar luxation , cardiac abnormalities, pancreatic issues, hip dysplasia , and Legg–Calvé–Perthes syndrome . The average lifespan of

4466-494: The rat pit until old age, reportedly with only one eye and two teeth remaining. According to the Sporting Chronicle Annual , the world record in rat killing is held by a black and tan bull and terrier named "Jacko", weighing about 13 lb and owned by Jemmy Shaw . Jacko had these contest results: Jacko set two world records, the first on 29 July 1862, with a killing time of 2.7 seconds per rat and

4543-523: The same day, demonstrating both form and function. However, only limited regional qualifiers are offered annually, and those are chosen at whim. Dogs must qualify at a regional qualifier to receive an invite to the national. Very early on, UKC began to stake out positions on topics of the day pertaining to dogs and dog law. Beginning in February 1936, the UKC journal Bloodlines ran a regular column discussing

4620-528: The second on 1 May 1862, with his fight against 100 rats, where Jacko worked two seconds faster than the previous world record holder "Billy". The feat of killing 1,000 rats took place over ten weeks, with 100 rats being killed each week ending on 1 May 1862. Tiny the Wonder was a famous mid-19th century English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) that could kill 200 rats in an hour, which he achieved twice, on 28 March 1848 and 27 March 1849, with time to spare. For

4697-414: The table in a circle before the referee. The referee then struck the animal three times on the tail with a stick. If a rat managed to crawl out of the circle, it was considered to be alive. Depending on the particular rules for that match, the dog may be disqualified or have to go back in the ring with these rats and kill them. The new time was added to the original time. A combination of the quickest time,

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4774-499: The title of Hunting Retriever Champion, and had no higher levels to reach. In October 1986, the first Grand Hunt was held, and in the years since, there has been a Grand Hunt every fall and every spring. With the development of Hunting Retriever Club came a new publication for United Kennel Club, Hunting Retriever Magazine , the first issue of which was published in August 1984. The UKC Cur & Feist program began in 2000, with

4851-433: The utmost. At four minutes and three-quarters, as the hero's head was covered with gore, he was removed from the pit, and his chaps being washed, he lapped some water to cool his throat. Again he entered the arena, and in vain did the unfortunate victims labour to obtain security by climbing against the sides of the pit, or by crouching beneath the hero. By twos and threes, they were caught, and soon their mangled corpses proved

4928-446: The valour of the victor. Some of the flying enemy, more valiant than the rest, endeavoured by seizing this Quinhus Flestrum of heroic dogs by the ears, to procure a respite, or to sell their life as dearly as possible; but his grand paw soon swept off the buzzers, and consigned them to their fate. At seven minutes and a quarter, or according to another watch, for there were two umpires and two watches, at seven minutes and seventeen seconds,

5005-576: The value of what they call the "Total Dog". It refers to a dog which displays "equal parts function, temperament, and structure," and is used to showcase dogs that look as their breed should in Conformation shows, but also are able to excel at performance sports that utilize skills for which they were bred. UKC awards a Total Dog Award to dogs at All-Breed Sports events which earn a win in Conformation as well as an eligible Performance Sport on

5082-488: The victor relinquished the glorious pursuit, for all his foes lay slaughtered on the ensanguined plain. Billy was then caressed and fondled by many; the dog is estimated by amateurs as a most dextrous animal; he is, unfortunately, what the French Monsieurs call borg-ne, that is, blind of an eye.-This precious organ was lost to him some time since by the intrepidity of an inimical rat, which as he had not seized it in

5159-508: The working terrier nature of the breed will suffer, it is the most prominent of those clubs and associations opposed to Kennel Club closed-registry breeding rules. The Decker Hunting Terrier Registry was created specifically for the Decker Giant. This registry's mission is to keep all the qualities that set the Decker aside from the standard Rat Terrier, while retaining and improving upon the hunting ability. The UKC officially recognized

5236-502: Was a star attraction at the Blue Anchor Tavern, with crowds gathering to watch the action in the rat pit. Shaw preferred to acquire the rats from Essex as opposed to sewer rats to decrease potential health risks to Tiny. Shaw was able to keep up to 2,000 rats at his establishment. This is a commentary about Tiny from a poster published from those times: Jack was a Black and Tan Terrier owned by Kit Burns in New York City in

5313-413: Was almost overpowering. Gas lights illuminated the centre of the cellar, a ring enclosed by wood barriers similar to a small Roman circus arena, and wooden bleachers, arranged one over the other, rose stepwise above it nearly to the ceiling. This was the pit for dog fights, cockfights, and rat killing. A hundred rats were put in it; large wagers went back and forth on whose dog could kill the most rats within

5390-588: Was an American Pit Bull Terrier , Bennett's own dog, named Bennett's Ring. This also made UKC the first registry to recognize the breed. Starting in 1905, UKC began publishing a journal called Bloodlines , devoted to purebred dogs of all kinds. The journal continued to grow, and in 1974, the journal would split into two distinct magazines. Coonhound Bloodlines would devote itself to the UKC-recognized Coonhound breeds, while Bloodlines, devoted to all breeds, would continue to publish until it

5467-534: Was created in 2017, to provide a family-friendly format for those who enjoy participating in the gathering of shed antlers—or shed hunting . The first UKC Elite Shed Dog National event was held in April 2020 in Whittington, Illinois . The UKC All-Breed Sports Department operates ten performance sports, as well as the SPOT (Socialized Pet Obedience Test) program. In Agility , a dog and handler race to complete

5544-460: Was descended from the best line of all Old English Bulldogs . On the maternal side is "Yardington's Sal" descended from the Curley line. The pedigree of all these dogs can be traced back more than 40 years and numerous old accounts exist about them. The October 1822, edition of The Sporting Magazine provided descriptions of two rat pit matches with Billy, quoted as: Thursday night, Oct. 24, at

5621-740: Was discontinued in 2015. Coonhound Bloodlines continues to this day. Bennett continued to run UKC out of his home until his death in 1936. Upon his death, The New York Herald Tribune credited Bennett with developing breeds such as "the American Eskimo , the Columbian (white) Collie, the Redbone Coonhound , American Water Spaniel , American (Pit) Bull Terrier, and the American Fox and Coon Hound." After Bennett's death, his daughter Frances Ruth Bennett took over management of

5698-513: Was held in Marion, Ohio , in 1924. The first unofficial UKC Nite Hunt was held in 1953 in Ingraham, Illinois . In 1960, UKC held the first Autumn Oaks event, at which the organization crowns a National Grand Nite Champion yearly. In 1978, UKC launched Coonhound World Championship, to crown a World Nite Hunt Champion. The event continued to grow, and UKC instituted a zone semifinal system in

5775-409: Was prosecuted and fined, and had to give a promise to the court that he would never again promote such entertainment. Rat hunting and rat-baiting are not the same activities. Rat hunting is the legal use of dogs, often referred to as ratters , for pest control of non-captured rats in an unconfined space, such as a barn or field. In the United Kingdom the hunting of rats with dogs is legal under

5852-409: Was required. The rat catcher would be called upon to fulfill this requirement. Jack Black , a rat catcher from Victorian England supplied live rats for baiting. Faster dogs were preferred. They would bite once. The process was described as "rather like a sheepdog keeping a flock bunched to be brought out singly for dipping," where the dog would herd the rats together, and kill any rats that left

5929-400: Was to be a registry that recognized a wide range of breeds, as opposed to some of the working dog registries, which only recognized a handful of breeds. He envisioned UKC-registered dogs occupying a wide range of uses, from working , to companionship , to hunting . Bennett found a niche among the owners of working dogs, such as herding and hunting dogs. The first dog registered with UKC

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