A faithful companion of the gaucho and rural workers, the Argentine ratter brightens the days in the countryside.
I remember the dogfights we used to see in the countryside from my childhood: greyhounds, some mixed-breed shepherds, and ratters. I'll focus on the latter.
The "ratonero" or "Argentine ratter" or "field terrier," as they are now called, is a small, lively, agile, and fast animal with a white body and black or brown markings . Its name is associated with its nature as a vermin-hunting dog par excellence: mice, rats, lizards, insects, etc. It likes to mouse around corners and any hole. It is curious and always on the lookout. Because of these characteristics, it was highly valued in homes, sheds, chicken coops, or warehouses: areas from which it rarely moved, as its short legs and small body made it unsuitable for field work with livestock or hunting wild animals and other larger animals. It comes in long-legged (40 cm height) and short-legged (35 cm height) breeds.
Its playful, affectionate, and friendly personality makes it a great companion dog and a great help to humans. The gaucho used it as a companion and warning dog (it's not a guard dog).
They are very important for rural work, since the cat is repelled by the smell of its urine and at the same time is a born rodent killer, working efficiently in the control of rats, weasels and mice.
Although a breed (if it can be called that) widespread locally, it is not native. It originates from the crossbreeding of wire-haired terriers (smooth fox terrier, wire fox terrier, and others) brought by colonizers and immigrants from Europe (where some were used to clean rat-infested holds on ships ), mixed with some other breed from these plains. Natural selection did the rest. They also descend from "high-class" terriers brought by the English along with Shorthorn, Aberdeen Angus, and Hereford cattle.
There are approximately 35 varieties of terrier dogs, which means “earth” or “dogs that seek prey.”
The painter Carlos Montefusco says that his most memorable ratoneros are "Carozo" (he was very small) and "El Chori" (he looked like a sausage), both of whom he has portrayed in his paintings as indispensable actors on those grand gaucho stages. Likewise, " Sombrita ," Fabian Leyes's dog, that remembered comic book character by author Hernan Rapela, is a ratonero, and his name comes from the fact that he always followed him like a shadow. George Musters, an Italian-English adventurer from Patagonia, also had his own. I personally have "Antifaz," since his black spots over his eyes look like a mask.
Today, it's being replaced by the Jack Russell, with whom it shares some of its mischievous characteristics. The Russell is fashionable and heavily marketed as an excellent small dog and household companion.
Ricardo and Marta Nardelli , who work with dogs, founded their kennel, "The Gladiator Kennel," specializing in Argentine ratoneros, more than 30 years ago. Located in the Buenos Aires town of Cañuelas, they are dedicated to revaluing the breed and establishing standards . We carry out in-depth genetic selection, which we have been working on for many years," says Ricardo.
Currently, some ranchers are fighting to impose it as a pure breed, claiming that it was originally the Argentine Field Terrier. However, according to Marta and Ricardo, recognized specialists in the subject, the original was the English dog that some ranch owners brought to their fields as purebred dogs (with English registration with the Argentine Rural Society ) and that were crossed with domestic or wild rural dogs, that is, with the country's "Cuzcos." It is from this crossbreeding that the Field Terrier was born, the "forgotten Argentine," as Ricardo calls it.
People commonly recognize him as the ratonero, and he was "my grandparents'" dog, says Marta. Through the Argentine Field Terrier Association , a non-profit organization, the Nardellis are fighting to rescue the former splendor of this breed, which they say was in danger of extinction.
“We receive support from many prominent figures in the country, and our goal is for the three Argentine breeds to represent us around the world: the Dogo Argentino, the Perro Pila Argentino, and the Terrier de Campo,” says Marta, and Ricardo adds: “It's part of the Argentine landscape. It has been the faithful companion of our farmers since the mid-1800s .” Meanwhile, barking can be heard in the background.
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