Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Chart Polski - Breed Comparison

Long 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.

The Chart Polski dog is a member of the Greyhound family and comes from Poland. He is an old dog breed dating way back to the 1600s.

The dog also goes by other names such as the Polish Sighthound and the Polish Greyhound. The dog looks quite similar to the English Greyhound and has been used as a hunting dog. With his exceptional speed, he has been able to run down prey.

The Chart Polski has always been seen in privileged classes, and after dying out to some extent, it became popular again in the 1970s. It is looked upon as a companion dog essentially while also still being used for hunting in Poland.

Today, the Polish Kennel Club as well as the Federation Cynologique Internationale, and the United Kennel Club recognize the breed.

Also 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.

The Chart Polski looks similar to other sighthound breeds, and is a large breed, standing at between 68-80cm and weighing between 26 and 32kg. He is well muscled, slender and lean.

The face is typically long and narrow, although the muzzle is somewhat blunter than most sighthounds. His coat is short and sleek and can be in colors such as white, tan, black or a combination of these. His eyes are large and dark brown, the ears medium sized and narrow and usually folded back while the tail is long and curved at the tip.

Temperament: 

The Chart Polski’s temperament is somewhat different to most sighthounds and he is thought to be more gentler and evenly tempered. He is loving and affectionate and will form a close bone with his human family.

He is confident, stubborn and strong-willed, and because he has been used for hunting, he has also got some aggressive tendencies towards other animals. He will need training and socialization to ensure he is good around other pets in the home as well as with children.

He becomes obedient and responsive with this training and socialization. He is a territorial breed, being protective around what he considers his own property and will make a good watchdog.

Your 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.

Your Chart Polski or Polish Greyhound promises to be a loving, devoted pet that fits in well to a family that will give him good exercise and look after him well.

He isn’t as gentle as other hounds and can therefore make a good watchdog too. He is territorial and wants to protect all those he regards as his own.

Train him and socialize him, and you will see that this intelligent, independent and self-confident dog can become obedient and also relaxed around people as well as other pets in the home, making him a splendid pet for those who admire these tall, slender dogs.

With 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.

The Chart Polski can live to be 10 – 12 years when he gets his full quota of care in terms of good diet, exercise, love and care and a nice dry, warm place to sleep.

He isn’t known to have any specific health issues that could shorten his life, but by knowing about some of the common dog ailments there are, you can watch your pet and even prevent some risks.

Periodontal Disease:

People often think that bad teeth can’t do much harm, but tartar build-up can progress to gum disease, to the roots of the teeth and to damaging other parts of the body such as kidney-, liver- and heart.

Infections:

Bacterial and viral infections are a threat to any dog, and rabies and parvo for instance can take your pet’s life. Remember that terrible diseases such as these can be prevented through having your dog vaccinated.

Parasites:

Dogs are open to getting all kinds of parasites inside- as well as outside on the skin. Hookworm, roundworm, fleas and ticks are examples of these parasites that can get into your pet’s system through dirty food,water and bites from mosquitoes. Some of these parasites can even be transmitted to you.

If your pet is in any way run down, get him to a vet immediately as there is an effective treatment.

This 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.

The Chart Polski was bred as a hunting dog and to run at top speed to bring down its prey. Today, he is tall and lean and still loves to run, and will therefore require a good deal of exercise.

Don’t let his slender build deceive you because he is powerful and will need a walk every day and be given the opportunity to run. He will happily accompany you when you go running or cycling. Left un-exercised, he will become frustrated and aggressive and even destructive, so as a responsible dog owner, it is up to you to ensure he is well exercised.

Diet:

The Chart Polski is a large breed puppy and they tend to grow fast at first. You want to make sure that he doesn’t put on weight too quickly as this puts them at risk for skeletal development problems later on such as hip- and elbow dysplasia. Speak to your veterinarian about feeding your puppy correctly so that he grows slowly, allowing his bones and joints to develop strongly and healthily.

Your adult Chart Polski will also need a special diet that caters for his size and energy levels. Remember to include some raw meat into his diet occasionally as well, as this will help him steer clear of dry, allergic skin conditions. Always ensure that he has access to fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

As a hunting dog, you’ll find the Chart Polski to require little grooming. No trimming or stripping is required for his short coat and you’ll simply need to brush him down twice a week.