According to historical records, dogs were originally man's most important aid in catching rats. Later, their place was taken by light and nimble cats. There is even a derogatory idiom that runs, "the dog who tries to catch mice isn't minding its own business."
根據古籍記載，狗兒最早曾是民間主要的捕鼠幫手，後來本事被身輕靈巧的貓兒替代，還被罵做「狗拿耗子多管閒事」。