Right method introduced to smother rodent (8)
I believe the answer is:
dormouse
'rodent' is the definition.
(I know that dormouse is a type of rodent)
'right method introduced to smother' is the wordplay.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'method' becomes 'MO' (modus operandi, a particular method).
'introduced to' indicates putting letters inside.
'smother' becomes 'douse' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'r'+'mo'='rmo'
'rmo' put inside 'douse' is 'DORMOUSE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dormouse that I've seen before include "one falling asleep over tea" , "Small British rodent" , "Partygoer" , "Sleepy guest at the Mad Hatter's tea party" , "Ditto" .)