Ratter (dog)
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A ratter is a type of dog that has been developed for catching rats and other vermin. A typical ratter is small to medium-sized and has a short and smooth coat. Their ears are often erect, although some breeds can have semi-erect and folded ears.
In conjunction with the American rat terrier, it was reported that one of the sports of owning them was making competitive wagers about whose dog could kill the most mice or rats within a given time. One terrier was released into a barn, and in 7 hours it killed 2501 rats.[1]
Ratter breeds
The definition for a ratter varies a little - sometimes it only includes the breeds that have the word "ratter" in their name, sometimes also pinschers and several terriers originally used for rat hunting.
Rat terriers
The term rat terrier refers to the American Rat Terrier and its descendants, as well as other terrier breeds used as ratters:
- American Hairless Terrier
- Brazilian Terrier
- Chilean Fox Terrier
- Manchester Terrier
- Plummer Terrier
- Rat Terrier
- Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
- Tenterfield Terrier
- Jack Russell Terrier
Spanish Ratoneros
There are five ratoneros, so called rat-hunting dogs, in Spain which all are local breeds originating in a specific area:
- Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz, Andalusian Ratter[2]
- Ratonero Mallorquín, Majorca Ratter[3]
- Ratonero Murciano, Murcian Ratter[4]
- Ratonero Valenciano, Valencian Ratter[2]
- Villanuco de Las Encartaciones, Basque Ratter[5]
Pinschers
Pinschers - excluding the large Doberman Pinscher used as a service dog - were originally developed to be rat catchers:
- Affenpinscher
- Austrian Pinscher
- German Pinscher
- Harlequin Pinscher (extinct)[6]
- Miniature Pinscher
- Silky Pinscher (extinct)[6]
- Swiss Pinscher (extinct)[6]
Other Ratters
- Brussels Griffon
- Dutch Smoushond, Dutch Ratter
- Pražský Krysařík, Prague Ratter
References
- ^ Wilcox, Bonnie, DVM; Walkowicz, Chris (1993). Rat Terrier. Vol. 2 (4th ed.). Neptune, New Jersey: T.F.H. pp. 714–715. ISBN 0-86622-873-X. ISBN 0-86622-855-1.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Las Razas Españolas. Real Sociedad Canina de España. Retrieved May 24th 2014.
- ^ History. Club del Ca Rater Mallorquí. Retrieved May 24th 2014.
- ^ Estudio Sobre el Ratonero Murciano. Asociación Canina de la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia. Retrieved May 24th 2014.
- ^ Castillo Matías, J. & Mediavilla Iglesias, M. (April 2008). "5. Villanuco de las Encartaciones". Los 26 tesoros de nuestra comunidad, p. 72. Spain: La Anunciata Ikerketa. Retrieved May 25th 2014.
- ^ a b c Leed, C. Deutscher Pinscher. Dogs of the World. Retrieved May 24th 2014.
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