Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison

Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Hovawart - Breed ComparisonRatonero Bodeguero Andaluz is originated from Spain but Hovawart is originated from Germany. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz may grow 27 cm / 10 inches shorter than Hovawart. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz may weigh 42 kg / 92 pounds lesser than Hovawart. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz may live 4 years more than Hovawart. Both Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz and Hovawart has almost same litter size. Both Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz and Hovawart requires Low maintenance.

History

ratonero bodeguero andaluz - historyLong ago the English visited Spain to sample their wines, bringing with them smooth coated English Fox Terriers which were later crossed with other dog breeds of the area.

It is believed that the Andalusia Ratter’s ancestors were smooth coated fox terriers. The Club Nacional del Perro Andaluz Ratonero Bodeguero was established and in 1993 a standard for the breed was set.

It is only fairly recently that the breed was recognized by the Royal Canine Society of Spain but it isn’t recognized by any of the major kennel clubs.

hovawart - historyThe Hovawart, is a German Black Forest breed developed as a guard dog for large estates in the medieval era. They first appeared in history in the early 13th century as heroes who saved the German son of a castle lord, despite being injured themselves. The boy they saved grew up to be a German legend. He wrote the oldest German code of law that remained from medieval times. In it he names the Hovawarts as a dog that if you are responsible for hurting, stealing or killing it, you must pay for it or replace it. No other dog had this protection.

In the late fifteenth century Hovawarts were featured in Heinrich Mynsinger’s “The Five Noble Breeds”. This guard dog breed was esteemed on a level with the hunting dogs – their health a question of life or death for their owner. In the 1500’s the popularity of the breed began to fade. The GSD or German Shepard Dog began to replace the Hovawarts as the preferred guard dog.

By the early 20th century the breed had almost disappeared but were saved by breed enthusiasts in the early 1900’s. Zoologist Kurt Konig was prominent in this effort and went looking in the Black Forest area for dogs working on farms. Using the dogs, he found on these farms, Konig began a breeding program crossing the them with Newfoundland’s, Kuvazoks, Leonbergers, GSD, an African hunting dogs and Bernese Mountain Dogs.

By 1922 the first litter of these pups was entered officially into the German Breeding Registry. In 1937 the Hovawart was recognized by the German Kennel Club. However, many members of the breed died in World War II as they were used widely by the military and not many were left by 1945. Once again breed enthusiasts came to the rescue forming a Coburg Hovawart club. This club still exists and in 1964, for the second time, the breed was recognized by the German Kennel Club. Other countries also began to take notice of this working breed.

The Hovawart has many skills in addition hunting and guarding. The Hovawart does not work for people, he works with them as he is a very independent thinker. He is also good at search and rescue and tracking. An owner of this breed must be stronger, smarter, more alert, intentional and consistent than his Hovawart. These are not dogs for the faint of heart or first-timers.

Description

ratonero bodeguero andaluz puppy - descriptionAlso known as the Spanish Jack Russell, the Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz looks very similar to this popular Jack Russell Terrier.

He is a small to medium sized dog with a lean, muscular body. The Ratonero developed in the south of Spain and is thought to be a mix of local ratting dogs and Fox Terriers. This ensured a quick, agile hunter.

The dog stands at between 35 – 43cm in height and weighs 6 - 9kg. The dog’s head is fairly small with dark brown eyes and half erect-half floppy ears. The coat is mainly white with some freckling. It is short and smooth with shades of black and tan covering the facial area. Some of these dogs are born with a natural bob-tail.

Temperament:

These dogs are known to have robust, hearty, happy personalities, full of the joys of living. They get on well with children as well as other pets if they have grown up with them.

Introductions should be slow if one of these dogs are brought into a home where there are already other pets. He is a very active breed and will be requiring plenty of mental stimulation and physical exercise.

They can provide quite a bit of entertainment for their human families as they can become quite clownish. They’re the kind of dogs that can adapt to life in the countryside or the city.

hovawart puppy - descriptionThe Hovawart is a proud and majestic dog and his looks match his character. He looks a bit like the Golden Retriever with a powerful and broad forehead. His skull and muzzle are the same length and his nose is black. His oval eyes are a medium to dark brown and his ears are high set and triangular.

Their chests are strong, broad and deep. The breed has strong legs straight in front with round, strong and compact feet. They are heavy boned with dense, long coats that lie flat and have a slight wave to them. The coat can be black and gold, blond or black.

Characteristics

ratonero bodeguero andaluz dog - characteristicsYour Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz to this day is a ratter, always alert and ready to spring on prey. He is always lively and friendly, and with his loving nature, makes a splendid companion for his human family.

He is also a stubborn dog, liking to go his own way, and therefore will require training and socialization. He is an adaptable little dog too and when you bring him into your home he is willing to adapt to your way of life and become a loyal and loving member of your family.

1.Children friendliness yes, they are good with children.

Special talents

hovawart dog - characteristicsThey have a great sense of smell and a well-balanced personality.

Adaptability

They are not indoor dogs and should have a yard to run in. They do not tolerate hot weather well. They do great out in the country.

Learning ability

They are intelligent independent thinkers. They lengths well with positive reinforcement.

Health Problems

ratonero bodeguero andaluz puppies - health problemsWith good care, your Andalusian Ratter isn’t likely to get sick, but still, you would be better off knowing about some of the common dog diseases your pet could get.

Legge Perthe’s Disease:

This is usually seen in young dogs where there is lameness in the hind legs and hip pain. It is believed that Legge Perthe’s occurs because of a genetic predisposition, and when it develops, there is sadly no cure.

Skin Infections:

Skin infections may seem fairly mild but nothing can be further from the truth. They can be painful and frustrating. Skin redness, dryness, itchiness and pain can cause your pet to lick and bite and make the situation worse. If your pet is being driven crazy by a skin irritation, get him to the vet who will do a complete physical examination.

Other diseases to be aware of include hip dysplasia, obesity, epilepsy and bloat.

hovawart puppies - health problemsThough their isolation protected them from genetic health issues for centuries, once they were being rejuvenated and mixed with other breeds some common issues began to show up. These include:

  • Underactive thyroid
  • Hip Dysplasia – can cause arthritis or lameness
  • Osteochondritis – causes joint pain in shoulders mostly
  • Liver Shunts

Caring The Pet

ratonero bodeguero andaluz dogs - caringThis is a fairly low maintenance dog as the short smooth coat will be easy to brush twice a week.

Check him over for unusual lumps, trim his nails and check inside his ears, look into his eyes to ensure they are bright and alert and look inside his mouth to make sure he doesn’t have any rotten teeth.

Have your pet neutered or spayed if you want to avoid puppies. This can be beneficial for your pet’s health too.

Feed your Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz only the best food there is. If you opt for commercially manufactured food, make sure its full of vitamins and minerals. Your little pet will want consistency and simplicity with his food to avoid digestive problems.

Try and provide him with some home-made food which can be added to the dry kibble twice a week as a treat. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots all chopped up ad mixed into the dry kibble will ensure your pet’s health.

Some raw meat added in occasionally will also go towards ensuring his good health.

Always make sure he has access to fresh, cool water.

Provide him with a safe, dry, warm, comfortable place to sleep.

Get him to the vet when you see he is sick.

Ensure he has sun and shade in the garden.

Never ever leave him in a hot car.

Feeding the puppy

hovawart dogs - caringFeed breed specific high quality dry food for puppies. Feed 1-2 cups in 3-4 meals per day

Feeding the adult

Again Feed breed specific high quality dry food for adults. Feed 2-3 cups per day in 1-2 meals per day.

Points for Good Health

Points for Good Health – Stamina

Games and Exercises

The Hovawart needs plenty of exercise. Remember this is a mountain farm dog used to working all the time. Walk or jog with them daily. They can excel at field trials, obedience, search and rescue, agility, flyball, therapy dog, and service dog.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Working dog
Origin:
Spain
Germany
Height Male:
35 - 43 cm
13 - 17 inches
58 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
35 - 43 cm
13 - 17 inches
51 - 68 cm
20 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
25 - 51 kg
55 - 113 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
22 - 49 kg
48 - 109 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 18 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 7
6 - 8
Size:
Small dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Andalusian Ratter
Hovie
Colors Available:
Mainly white with freckling - black and tan
gold and black, gold, blonde
Coat:
Short and smooth
long dense
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  2. Presa Canario vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  3. Pyredoodle vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  4. Maremma Sheepdog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  5. Sarplaninac vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  6. Mountain View Cur vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  7. Native American Indian Dog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  8. Polish Tatra Sheepdog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  9. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  10. Mucuchies vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  11. Shepherd Husky vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  12. Slovak Cuvac vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  13. Southern Hound vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  14. Taigan vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  15. St. John's Water Dog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  16. Tornjak vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  17. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  18. Tibetan Mastiff vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  19. Hovawart vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  20. Hovawart vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  21. Hovawart vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  22. Hovawart vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Hovawart vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  24. Hovawart vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  25. Hovawart vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  26. Scottish Terrier vs Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz - Breed Comparison
  27. Russell Terrier vs Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz - Breed Comparison
  28. Schnorkie vs Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz - Breed Comparison
  29. Sealyham Terrier vs Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz - Breed Comparison
  30. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  34. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Border Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Rat Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Patterdale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Bull Terrier Miniature - Breed Comparison
  41. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Norwich Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Norfolk Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs English White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Parson Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Feist - Breed Comparison
  46. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Manchester Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Miniature Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Cesky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Glen of Imaal Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds