Majorca Ratter - Ratonero Mallorquín - Ca Rater Mallorquí

Appearance
The appearance of Ratonero Mallorquín is similar to appearance of many other rat hunting dogs, such as Prague Ratter or Miniature Pinscher. It is a small dog breed with square shaped body. The average height is between 29-36 cm, which is 11-14 inch and weight is usually between 3-5 kg, which is 7-11 pounds. Females tend to be slightly smaller than males, but the difference is not extremely big.

Typical appearance characteristics of this breed is the alert expression, erect ears and tailnessness. This breed should have no tail. The coat is quite short, it is lying close to the body and its pretty shiny. Most often you will find this breed in black and tan and brown and tan color combinations, which can sometimes be with white patches or tricolor.
Temperament
The Ca Rater Mallorquí is used for generations on Mallorca island for hunting rats and rabbits and as a good and alert watchdog. This is a very good hunter, showing high prey drive, determination to the hunt, tenacity and great passion. This is also quite courageous dog with relatively high working ethic. Overall, this is a very skilled small game hunter.

But the Majorca Ratter is not only excellent hunter, it is also very loving and affectionate companion. These dogs truly love its people and can be pretty protective over them. They also do okay around other dogs in the family or around kids, but of course, the kid should be old enough to know how to treat small and fragile dog gently so it does not hurt it. On the other hand, the Ratonero Mallorquín is typically quite alert dog towards strangers and it can take a while before a complete stranger will gain a trust of this dog. Thanks to this alertness towards strangers, this breed can be trained to be good watchdog, because the Ca rater Mallorquí will most likely alert you, when someone is approaching your property or when he will hear something suspicious.

It is important to mention that these dogs a quite lively, energetic and playful. They might be small, but they have big energy. They will always be ready for any outdoor adventure, long walk or hike. And you must také them on several daily outdoor walks every day, so they stay healthy and happy.
History
There is only little known about history and origin of the Majorca Ratter and first documentation about this breed is from the late 19th and early 20th century. One theory suggest, that these dogs are closely related to another Spanish breed – Gos Rater Valencia – which were brought to Balearic islands with migrating Valencians in the 19th and 20th century. There is also a possibility, that they have English Terrier as one of their ancestor.

For most of its history, Ca Rater Mallorquí was and still is used especially in rural Mallorca as a vermin hunter and also as a good watchdog. Today, this breed is quite popular all over the island, even in the bigger cities as a good companion dog.

Health and grooming
Great fact is, that the Majorca Ratter maintenace and grooming needs are very low. It is a short haired breed, so there is no need for trimming or shaving the coat. Regular brushing is beneficial, because it will remove the loose and dead hair from the coat, just as any dirt and it will keep the coat shiny and great looking. Just like with any other breed, you should also regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed.

Another good fact is, that this is usually very healthy and long living breed, with average lifespan around 15 years, but it is not uncommon for them to live a healthy and active life into their late teens. Of course, they can suffer from the typical dog issues such as some eye problems, allergies or joint problems, but none of those are very common in this breed.