Dogs are great at protecting the home, but can they actually keep mice out? After all, certain dogs were bred to be ratters, such as the French Bulldog. But does this apply to all dogs? Let’s find out.
Pets and mice
As it turns out, studies have been conducted to find out just how effective dogs and cats are at keeping mice out of the home, and the results showed that both significantly reduced rodent activity in a building. However, the study showed that this is only the case if both pets are in the home. When you have only a cat or a dog, the effects are similar to having no pets at all.
Are house mice afraid of dogs?
Even if dogs don’t have a significant impact on mouse activity on their own, it does not mean that mice are not afraid of dogs. The problem is that mice are very sneaky, and they really want to live indoors, so they will avoid dogs as much as possible, but only in small areas – for example, in the living room. When the dog is in the living room, the mice won’t make a peep. However, as soon as the dog goes one room over, the mice will be brave enough to scurry around. To make matters worse, mice love dog food, so if you keep your dog food out in the open, or you leave food in the dog’s bowl, mice will be able to smell it, and they will be drawn to the property.
Dog breeds that are bred for rodent control
There are a few dog breeds that have been bred specifically for rodent control. These breeds include Yorkshire Terriers, Papillons, Rat Terriers, German Pinschers, Dachshunds and Jack Russell Terriers among others. If you have one of these dogs, you can rest assured that they will not only scare mice away, they will actively hunt down mice, to the point of trying to dig out their nests.
Professional control methods
Dogs are not exactly the most reliable exterminators.The tried and tested methods of using poisons and traps are still your best option, especially if they are installed by a pest control professional. This is where we can help you. We offer pest inspection and removal services, designed to be fast and cost effective. Contact us today if you are having house mouse issues on your property.
