Types of Ratonero (Ratter) Dogs

There are several types of Ratonero (ratter) dogs, and although the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog is probably the best-known and most widespread worldwide, the rest of the Ratoneros deserve praise too.

We'll focus on showing you the most common Ratonero breeds on the Iberian Peninsula, where alongside the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog, you'll also find the Valencian Ratter and the Mediterranean Ratter.

The Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog

Known worldwide for its good temperament and its skill as a hunter of small prey, the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog is the star of the South.

Its distinctive black-and-brown facial markings and its balanced, upright ears that fold noticeably forward make it unique and much loved.

Build of the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog

With roots firmly in the province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain, the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog has an elegant, agile bearing — distinguished, even somewhat noble.

With a firm chest and a lean yet muscular body, the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog's build is perfect for a small dog that needs to move with great agility to track down burrows and small prey during hunting season.

However, this breed has adapted very well to modern trends over time, and today it makes an excellent companion dog.

The Valencian Ratter

The origins of the Valencian Ratter are uncertain, with several theories floating around, none of them fully substantiated — everything from being a breed imported by the great Egyptian pharaohs to being related to the well-known Majorcan Ratter, typical of the Balearic Islands.

Others argue it's a mix of ratter dogs with Terrier breeds, much like the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog, though all of these theories remain just that — theories.

Build of the Valencian Ratter

The Valencian Ratter's build has a lot in common with the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog's, so it's easy to mix them up. However, the Valencian Ratter is smaller and taller than it is long, unlike the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog.

Its head is somewhat more streamlined, and its ears generally don't have the folded tips seen on the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog. The colors are nearly identical, as is the coat texture and temperament.

The Valencian Ratter is also a great hunter of small prey, rodents especially, and it has long been — and still is — used in wine cellars and country houses to keep them free of mice and rats.

Other Mediterranean Ratters

There are so many types of Ratoneros that it's practically impossible to identify them all, but among the wide variety of Ratonero dogs bred and found throughout southern Spain, including the islands, a few stand out:

• The Majorcan Ratter
• Murcian Ratter

The Majorcan Ratter stands out for its small size, noticeably smaller than both the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog and the Valencian Ratter. It barely reaches four kilos as an adult, and the most common colors are black and tan.

The Murcian Ratter is somewhat larger than the Majorcan Ratter, though the difference is nearly impossible for a non-expert to spot. It weighs around six kilos as an adult, standing about thirty-five centimeters at the withers. The most common colors are black and tan or brown with a white chest.

All Ratonero dogs, regardless of their origin, stand out for their qualities both as hunting dogs and as companion dogs.