dogs and mice (terriers, clean, cleaning, training)

[spot145]

we've had a foster dog for about 4 months now and are having a big issue. With the change of seasons some mice clearly invaded our kitchen. However, they are behind the grates behind the wall (this is a shared wall in a rowhome) and most annoyingly going in and out through a hole behind the stove.
Our dog has become obsessed with the smell and noise (we're guessing on this) of the mice. She claws at the bottom of the stove until she gets the tray out and then slobbers all over it sniffing at everything. she does the same thing with the corners of the walls. We have tried the bitter apple stuff which hasn't worked and try to take her away when she's doing it, give her treats etc, but nothing is really working.
any advice?
thanks,
Frustrated first time dog owners.

[TabulaRasa]

What's her breed? Some dogs are ratters, and can't really be trained out of reacting in a certain way to small rodents.

[spot145]

she is a pit mix. 1 yr old. didn't do it though at her foster home or for the first 2 months.

[mrs1885]

At a year old she's still just a puppy. You're just going to have to be consistent. When she starts even looking in that direction, give a sharp verbal correction, and then re-direct with a toy, training, play, etc. It may take a while to get her past it. But if you're consistent she will follow.

[foxywench]

apbt's are terriers and ALL terriers at some point in their liniage were ratters...so this behaviour is normal (its also normal in many other breeds)

i agree with being consistent and trying to distract her...
but if her drive is high your going to have the issue till the mice have been taken care of.
my suggestion, traps (NO POISEN, NO GLUE TRAPS)
if you pay attention to the areas she focusses on youll know all the best places to put the traps, bait with peanut butter (works much better than most baits lol) generally behind apliances in small dark places, mice and rats will beoth generally trace the walls, they also use cabinates as a freeway.

[lifelongMOgal]

Can you pull your stove out and plug any holes around plumbing fixtures, vents and cabinetry with steel wool? Yes, use pb baited traps as well.

Is there a way for you to keep your dog out of the kitchen, say corden it off by closing doors or using baby gates?

[ESFP]

There are products that deter dogs from flowers you might try, but Pits are a little stubborn, aren't they! Maybe use some strong cleaning products, like Pine-Sol or Lysol in the areas he seems attracted to. That might even keep the mice away from those areas. Just be glad he hasn't eaten his way through to the neighbor's house yet. My friend's Pit excaped by chewing a hole through the middle of his kitchen floor.