Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz vs Hamiltonstovare - 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.

Bred as a hunting hound, the Hamiltonstovare hails from Sweden, being founded in the late 1800s. He was first exhibited in Sweden in 1886.

Known also as the Hamilton or the Swedish Foxhound, the dog was developed by Count Adolf Hamilton who was also the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club. The dog’s ancestry includes some German Hounds as well as Harriers and English Foxhounds, and this has ensured he has excellent hunting instincts.

This dog breed got the name Hamiltonstovare in 1921 as a tribute to the person who created the breed and also the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club, Count A.P. Hamilton. The Hamiltonstovare isn’t recognized by the AKC but is recognized by the FCI and is also a member of the Foundation Stock Service. He is recognized by the Kennel Club in the UK as a Hound.

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 Hamilton Hound is a good looking, well proportioned dog with an attractive, 2-layered, shortish, smooth, tri-colored coat of tan, black and white.

These dogs stand at about 49-61cm in height and they weigh 23 – 27kg. The eyes are brown and the ears are floppy. He is a deep chested dog with a long tail which he carries straight or which is somewhat curved. He has a longish head with a skull that is slightly arched and broad.

Temperament:

Friendly, social and amicable, the even-tempered Hamiltonstovare is a dog that loves to be with his human family. When you look at him you look at him as a friend as he has a calm, intelligent expression about him.

He is a stubborn, non-aggressive dog that is intelligent and this makes it easy to have him trained and socialized to make him obedient and to follow some easy instructions.

He is a very active dog and will love an owner who leads an active, outdoor life. Most Hamiltons love swimming too and he will be thrilled if you plunge in with him on a hot day.

He has always been a hunting dog, and while they love spending time with their human family, he loves the thrill of the hunt. He is a playful dog too, loving to entertain and be entertained, and he gets on well with children.

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.

Hamiltonstovares make wonderful companions simply because they’re friendly dogs with stable personalities.

He is actually an ‘all-rounder’ dog – well proportioned and good-looking and with a solid personality to match.

He is lithe and muscled and as a multi-purpose dog, he has been used to follow scents and hunt down prey. These skills as well as his loyal characteristics have made him a versatile, sought after pet.

Another bonus when you own a dog like this is that he is also a low maintenance dog, shedding very little. He is intelligent too and easy to train, and all these qualities make him a wonderful pet to own.

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.

Every dog has different genetic make ups that affect them and they have different susceptibilities to illnesses. The average life expectancy of a Hamiltonstovare is between 10 and 13 years when he is looked after and well nourished with top quality food.

Some things to look out for are hip dysplasia, cancer, bloat and obesity.

Obesity:

Look out for obesity in your pet because just like with people, obesity leads to other diseases and complications in dogs such as diabetes, respiratory disorders, osteoarthritis and hypertension.

If your dog needs to lose weight, and you just don’t know how you’re going to deny him the treats he loves, speak to your vet who can even work out a weight management program for him.

Cancer:

Cancer is a formidable threat to all dog breeds. The most obvious sign that your dog could have cancer is abnormal swelling that gets larger under the skin. The idea is get get the lump removed and biopsied as soon as possible. Loss of appetite, weight loss, sores that don’t heal and bleeding or discharge are all signs of cancer.

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.

Grooming:

The Hamiltonstovare has a double coat but even so, he is a low maintenance breed that will simply require a brush twice a week to remove dead and loose hair.

Because he has floppy ears, it is important to check his ears because too much wax and debris can lead to a painful infection.

Exercise:

This is a high energy dog who will need the right amount of exercise as well as mental stimulation to be at his best. A nice walk every day will be excellent for him as well as the usual ball games in the garden.

Feeding:

If you get your Hamilton puppy from a breeder, it would be wise to stick to the same food they were feeding your puppy with. Suddenly changing his good could cause digestive upsets.

Every Hamilton requires top quality food that meets all his nutritional requirements. If you give him commercially manufactured food, make sure to follow the instructions with regards to the amount of food you give him as he can put on too much weight.

These dogs are known to suffer with bloat, so rather give him smaller meals than one large meal a day. Your Hamilton should never be exercised immediately after eating a meal. Remember to always ensure a bowl of fresh, cool water is always available.