Rat Baiting

Q: I have heard the term rat baiting fly around from time to time and wondering what is means. Can you tell me?

Back in the beginning of the 16th century, rat baiting was a blood sport in which a terrier dog was placed in a pit with 100 rats and bets were placed as to how long it would take the terrier to kill them all. A horrific gambling sport, the scene was often described as being dirty and rather small. Usually located in an underground cellar, full of smoke and the overpowering stench of beer, hundreds of rats were placed in a small ring enclosed with wooden barriers. Large wagers were placed back and fourth on whose dog could kill the most rats within a minute.

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