A ratter is any dog used for catching and killing rats and similar vermin. Specialised rat-catching

breeds A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...

are found in many countries. A typical ratter is small to medium-sized and has a short and smooth coat.

History

The Guinness Book of World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

'' lists as the "fastest canine rat catcher" a

bull-and-terrier Bull and terrier was a common name for bulldog and terrier crossbreeds of the early 1800s. Other names included half-and-halfs and half-breds. It was a time in history when, for thousands of years, dogs were classified by use or function, u ...

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.Fastest canine rat catcher
at ''

''; retrieved December 27, 2022 ''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; 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).

Ratter breeds

Among the many breeds used for ratting are several

terrier Terrier (from Latin ''terra'', 'earth') is a type of dog originally bred to hunt vermin. A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of the terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, game, and fearless. Terrier breeds vary ...

s, various

pinscher Pinscher is a type of dog developed originally as ratters on farms and for fighting or guarding, although today they are most often kept as pets. Origins It is considered that the German Pinscher is a prototypical Pinscher and one of the oldest ...

s and

schnauzer A Schnauzer (), plural ''Schnauzer'', literal translation, lit. translation "snouter") is a dog breed type that originated in Germany from the 14th to 16th centuries. The term comes from the German language, German word for "snout" and means coll ...

s, and the breeds of Spain.

Rat terriers

Among the terrier breeds often used as ratters are: * the

American Hairless Terrier The American Hairless Terrier is a breed of companion dog from the United States that was developed from naturally hairless Rat Terriers. History In 1972 a completely hairless bitch pup was whelped in a litter of purebred Rat Terriers owned by W ...

* the

Brazilian Terrier The Brazilian Terrier is a breed of dog developed in Brazil. It is one of several terriers and one of the two worldwide recognized native breeds of Brazil. Description Origin One theory about the origin of the breed is that Jack Russell Terrier ...

* the

Chilean Fox Terrier The Chilean Terrier is the first breed of dog from Chile. The breed dates back to the late 19th century, resulting from the crossing of the Smooth Fox Terrier with the Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz. This dog is recognised by the Kennel Club of Chile ...

* the

Manchester Terrier The Manchester Terrier is a breed of dog of the smooth-haired terrier type. It was first bred in the 19th century to control vermin, notably rats, at which it excelled. So efficient at the task was it that it often appeared in rat-baiting p ...

* the

Miniature Fox Terrier The Miniature Fox Terrier is a small, fine, lightweight working terrier developed as a hunting dog and vermin router. It is known colloquially in its native Australia as the “Mini Foxie”. Appearance A balanced, smoothly-muscled dog b ...

* the

Plummer Terrier The Plummer Terrier is a working terrier. It was originally bred by Brian Plummer to hunt vermin, especially rats. The breed, while unrecognized by any kennel club, is known for its rugged determination and hardiness. Origins and history I ...

* the

Rat Terrier The Rat Terrier is an American dog breed with a background as a farm dog and hunting companion. They share much ancestry with the small hunting dogs known as feists. Common throughout family farms in the 1920s and 1930s, they are now recognize ...

* the

Teddy Roosevelt Terrier The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a small to medium-sized American hunting terrier. It is lower-set, with shorter legs, and is more muscular with heavier bone density than the related American Rat Terrier. Much diversity exists in the history of ...

* the

Tenterfield Terrier The Tenterfield Terrier is a dog breed developed in Australia. They are a strong, active, hardy and agile dog, their smooth short coat making them 'easy care' family companions. Appearance Tenterfield Terriers come in a variety of colours, ...

* the

Jack Russell Terrier The Jack Russell Terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting in England. It is principally white-bodied and smooth, rough or broken-coated and can be any colour. Small tan and white terriers that technically belong to oth ...

Ratoneros

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

Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz The Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz (''Andalusian wine-cellar rat-hunting dog'') is a Spanish breed of dog of the terrier type. Its name reflects its main occupation: hunting rats and mice hidden between barrels in the wineries of Andalusia in Spain ...

from

Andalusia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a "historical nationality". The ...

''Las Razas Españolas''
Real Sociedad Canina de España. Retrieved May 24th 2014. * the

Ca Rater Mallorquí The or es, Ratonero mallorquín, italic=no is a Spanish breed of dog of ratter type, found on the island of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands. History The origins of the breed are unclear, with no documentary evidence before the late ninete ...

or Ratonero Mallorquín of

Mallorca Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest island in the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain and located in the Mediterranean. The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Bale ...

* the Ratonero Murciano from

Murcia Murcia (, , ) is a city in south-eastern Spain, the Capital (political), capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia, and the List of municipalities of Spain, seventh largest city in the country. It has a ...

* the

Gos Rater Valencià The Ratonero Valenciano, also known as the Gos Rater Valencià (English for: Valencian rat hunting dog), is a breed of dog that originates in Spain. Recognised by the Real Sociedad Canina de España in 2004, it has had recent success with a memb ...

or Ratonero Valenciano of

Valencia Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is also the capital of the province of the same name. The wider urban area al ...

* the

Villanuco de Las Encartaciones The Villanuco de Las Encartaciones ( eu, Enkarterriko Billanuko, italic=no, Cantabrian: Villanucu) is a Spanish breed of small dog of ratter type. It originates in the comarca of Enkarterri ( es, Las Encartaciones, italic=no) in the Basque Autono ...

in the Basque CountryCastillo 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.

Pinschers and Schnauzers

Dogs of

and

type were traditionally used to catch rats; modern breeds derived from those include: * the

Affenpinscher The Affenpinscher, also known as the Monkey Terrier, is a terrier-like toy Pinscher breed of dog. History The breed is German in origin and dates back to the seventeenth century. The name "affenpinscher" is derived from the German ''Affe'' ( ...

* the

Austrian Pinscher The Austrian Pinscher (Österreichischer Pinscher) is a medium-sized breed of pinscher-type dog from Austria, where dogs of the type were originally farm dogs, keeping barns free of rats and acting as home guards, livestock guardians, and drove ...

* the

German Pinscher The German Pinscher or is a German breed of terrier in the Pinscher and Schnauzer group. It shares common origins with the Schnauzer, of which it is essentially a short-haired equivalent. It is seen in two colours, either black-and-tan or sel ...

* the

Miniature Pinscher The Miniature Pinscher, also known as the Zwergpinscher and Mini Pin, is a small breed of dog of the pinscher type originating in Germany. The breed's earliest ancestors may have included the German Pinscher mixed with Italian greyhounds and dach ...

* the

Minature Schnauzer The Miniature Schnauzer is a breed of small dog of the Schnauzer type that originated in Germany in the mid-to-late 19th century. Miniature Schnauzers may have been developed from the smallest specimens of the Standard Schnauzer, or crosses betw ...

or Zwergschnauzer * the

Riesenschnauzer The Giant Schnauzer is a breed of dog developed in the 17th century in Germany. It is the largest of the three breeds of Schnauzerthe other two breeds being the Standard Schnauzer and the Miniature Schnauzer. Numerous breeds were used in its ...

or Giant Schnauzer * the

Schnauzer A Schnauzer (), plural ''Schnauzer'', literal translation, lit. translation "snouter") is a dog breed type that originated in Germany from the 14th to 16th centuries. The term comes from the German language, German word for "snout" and means coll ...

or Mittelschnauzer

Other

* the

Brussels Griffon The Griffon Bruxellois or Brussels Griffon is a breed of toy dog, named for their city of origin of Brussels, Belgium. The Griffon Bruxellois may refer to three different breeds, the Griffon Bruxellois, the Griffon Belge and the Petit Brabanç ...

* the

Schipperke A Schipperke (; ) is a small breed of dog that originated since the 1600s in Belgium. There has been a long informal debate over whether this type of dog is a spitz or miniature sheepdog. In their home country of Belgium they are considered a s ...

* the

Dutch Smoushond The Dutch Smoushond (''Hollandse Smoushond'', ''Dutch Ratter'') is a small breed of dog, related to the Pinscher and Schnauzer breed type kept in stables to eliminate rats and mice in Germany and the Netherlands. It is very rare and not well kn ...

, Dutch Ratter * the Pražský Krysařík, Prague Ratter

References

Dog types {{dog-stub