Ratter (dog)

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(Redirected from Rat terrier)

A ratter is any dog used for catching and killing rats and similar vermin. Specialised rat-catching breeds are found in many countries. A typical ratter is small to medium-sized and has a short and smooth coat.

History[edit]

The Guinness Book of World Records lists as the "fastest canine rat catcher" a bull-and-terrier dog named Billy, who killed 100 rats in 5 minutes 30 seconds (average of one rat every 3.3 seconds) at an event in 1825.[1] Guinness also credits Billy with having killed 4000 rats within a 17-hour period (average of one rat every 15.3 seconds) on an unspecified occasion;[1] other sources, including the 1993 edition of Atlas of Dog Breeds of the World, credit him with killing 2501 rats within a 7-hour period (average of one rat every 10 seconds).[2][3][4][5][6]

Ratter breeds[edit]

Among the many breeds used for ratting are several terriers, various pinschers and schnauzers, and the ratonero breeds of Spain.

Rat terriers[edit]

Among the terrier breeds often used as ratters are:

Ratoneros[edit]

There are five regional breeds of ratonero or ratter in Spain:

Pinschers and Schnauzers[edit]

Dogs of pinscher and schnauzer type were traditionally used to catch rats; modern breeds derived from those include:

Other[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Fastest canine rat catcher, at The Guinness Book of World Records; retrieved December 27, 2022
  2. ^ Wilcox, Bonnie, DVM; Walkowicz, Chris (1993). Rat Terrier. The Atlas of Dog Breeds of the World. Vol. 2 (4th ed.). Neptune, New Jersey: T.F.H. pp. 714–715. ISBN 0-86622-873-X.
  3. ^ RAT TERRIER BREED PROFILE Continental Kennel Club
  4. ^ Rat Terrier savearescue.org
  5. ^ Standards National Rat Terrier Association
  6. ^ HISTORY OF THE RAT TERRIER rat attack of North Carolina.
  7. ^ a b Las Razas Españolas. Real Sociedad Canina de España. Retrieved May 24th 2014.
  8. ^ History. Club del Ca Rater Mallorquí. Retrieved May 24th 2014.
  9. ^ Estudio Sobre el Ratonero Murciano. Asociación Canina de la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia. Retrieved May 24th 2014.
  10. ^ 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.