Rat-catcher Jack looks to set up a family business

Jack may be small, but he has a very big job keeping Hauraki Gulf islands predator free. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Professional male, 8, seeks laid-back female. Must want children.

Jack, the sharp-nosed border terrier-cross in charge of keeping the Hauraki Gulf island bird sanctuaries rodent-free, is looking for a girlfriend.

Conservation ranger Fin Buchanan relies on Jack to sniff out rats and mice that may have sneaked on to pest-free islands to threaten kiwis and other native birds.

He is not quite at the point of placing a personal ad on behalf of his 40cm-tall companion.

But when Jack's working days are over he will need a younger version - preferably one of Jack's sons or daughters - to take his place.

Jack is part of the Department of Conservation's predator dog programme, which includes dogs specially trained to target each major pest - possums, rodents and stoats.

Jack's job is about to get busier when DoC drops poisoned baits to clear rats and mice from the world's largest pohutukawa forest, on Rangitoto and Motutapu islands in the Hauraki Gulf.

Mr Buchanan and Jack will patrol the islands from tip to tail after the bait drop to make sure no live rodents have slipped through DoC's net.

Schoolchildren and other visitors to the island may also get to know him - from early next year he will be running a wary nose over ferry passengers to make sure no stowaway rodents arrive with day-trippers.

Jack was something of a natural to the predator programme, achieving full accreditation by the age of 14 months. Mr Buchanan said almost any young good-natured dog could be trained to do the job. But Jack's small size and easy-going nature made him perfect for being carried on and off boats tucked under his owner's arm.

Only once has he fooled his keepers with a major false alarm. Mr Buchanan once worriedly followed Jack through a protected bird sanctuary, hot on the trail of what turned out to be a tennis ball.