Does anyone have any advice on how to introduce rats to dog?

My black saluki x might have been ok but who knows, my brindle geez he would have ripped the stinky rat apart, I enjoyed a bit of ratting, hell they squeal, from a hunting side a good rat is a dead one .

 

I wouldn't even consider it. It's a huge risk. Dogs are predators and rats are prey. It might work for some dogs and some rats, but it's far more likely to cause huge stress to each. I respectfully suggest you have places where the rats live and to which your dog doesn't have access, and places where the dog is and the rats don't go. As humans, it's up to us to choose incompatible species or not, and if we do, to arrange their lives so that they are as stress-free as possible.

You sound a caring owner, so I hope whatever you choose works well for you.

 

I do have to agree with Hemlock, especially as your rats have all ready been freaked out by Hugo barking.. I was very lucky with my Jake, he was a very chilled out and well trained dog and my rats were not in the least bit bothered by him, well they got a bit fed up by being licked and groomed by him at times, but that was understandable! I wouldn't take a chance, if an accident happens, you can't turn back the clock and make it un - happen... now, like I said, with my ferrets, I have ferret time separate to dog time and it's just about getting into a new routine of making time for both.

 

“We should NOT become so preoccupied with if we can, that we didn’t stop to think if we should.”
Ian Malcolm, while evaluating Jurassic park…paraphrased of course.

The more I think about this, the more the simplest, safest course of action is what Hemlock suggests. I can think of several things that would complement the suggestion, but Hugo doesn’t sound like he can even respond to basic name, sit, down etc. which makes perfect sense he is a puppy, only 11 weeks old. Without those typical and common skills being in place, he isn’t even capable of responding to any additional training I might suggest.

If you were my client, the goal would be to train Hugo to NOT seek the rats, to disengage. Then build in safety behaviors. The most reliable recall possible. A drop into a down/stay. Rat means look at you. Leave it without hesitation. Drop what is in your mouth…not just let me take it, but drop it and back up.

When you want rat time, Hugo is in a crate, xpen, or behind a baby gate. They time share you. Rats have their time, Hugo has his.