Historically used to eliminate harmful rodents that harm farmers and farmers, the Valencian Mousers or Gos Rater Valenci, as it is known in the Valencian Community, were common in rural houses and farms, as well as in warehouses and silos, where they protected crops and crops.. Today, they have moved to the houses of large and small towns, forming part of many families who love them for their lively personality and their desire for adventure, they are faithful and intelligent companions when it comes to controlling their growing nervousness.I tell you all this and more in this article by Animal Expert, so read on to learn more about the characteristics of the Valencian mouse dog.
Its distant origin dates back to the 16th century, when some reports of the time described it as an animal exclusive to peasants and landowners. Over the years its name has changed, since in the seventeenth century it was also called “gos albellons”, that is, “dog of the ditch”, literally, “small dogs that are used to bark at whoever passes or enter a house “; previously, it was also known as “canis villicus” or “garden dog”, underlines its role in the natural environment. Other names are “Valencian thief”.
- For their great gifts as hunters.
- Valencian mouse dogs were used to hunt rodents as the water rat.
- Highly appreciated at the time of scarcity for use in consumption.
- Being used in preparations as common as the famous paella.
The breed was officially recognized in 2004 by the Spanish Canine Federation, although it had already debuted in a dog show in 1994 and later the Spanish club Ratonero Valenciano – CERVA was created, which is not yet recognized by the International Cinológico.Federation.
The Valencian Buzzard breed was included in group 3, section 1: Terriers of large and medium size, despite this category, it is a small breed, since its ideal weight is between 4 and 8 kg, and its height is generally between 30 and 40 cm. in males and between 29 and 38 cm in females.
Its body is square and fibrous, with straight and thin limbs, unfortunately its tail is usually amputated, retaining some of the first vertebrae, however, it should be noted that this is a cruel and unnecessary practice, which seriously impairs the socialization of the animal because it prevents the tail from being used as a means of communication, in addition to possible health reasons.Tail and ear amputation is also prohibited in many countries.
On the other hand, and continuing with the physical characteristics of the Valencian Mouser, its ears are triangular and erect, quite prominent in relation to its narrow face, with a strong bite in scissors, with brown and oval eyes that do not protrud from the head, its fur can be of different colors, such as black, white, chocolate, fire or cinnamon, being frequent individuals tricolors, being frequent individuals tricolores , usually black with fire and white spots.The hair is short, with a maximum length of 2 cm and fine.
And to finish, although they may seem almost identical, many people confuse the Valencian Mouser with the Andalusian Mouser, because their colors are usually the same and their physical appearance too, however, there is a big difference between them that is their size, the Being considered the Valencian small dogs, as we said, and the average Andalusians.
Valencian Mousers are very active and restless animals that need activities and games, they are excellent guards, because they bark at strangers who dare to approach the house and keep it safe, because they are brave and do not fear strangers.Excellent playmates for children, as long as they are both educated in mutual respect and their relationship is based on love and pleasure.
Obviously, when we talk about the personality of the Valencian mouse dog, we cannot ignore that these are very intelligent animals, which have been used since ancient times in the countryside and hunting, but that today have also been incorporated in various sectors, such as case.therapy animals.They are also affectionate, curious and nervous, and it is for this last trait so they are especially recommended to live with children.
As with all breeds, you should keep an eye on the eyes, nose, mouth, legs and ears of your Valencian mouser, it is not an animal that loses a lot of hair, but a weekly brushing further reduces the amount of hair that can break off.In addition, it is essential to plan the physical activity necessary to maintain calm and balance, so you will have to take walks and dedicate time to games that allow you to release your energy by running and jumping.It is especially necessary for animals that live in apartments or urban areas, because, although it adapts perfectly to apartment living, you have to be careful that you have the necessary hours of activity.Remember that it is a breed of dog very active and nervous.
Another care of the dog Ratonero Valenciano is its diet, because its diet must be balanced and balanced, always according to its level of activity and its health status, to avoid suffering obesity. Frequent veterinary examinations and follow established vaccination guidelines are also necessary.As it is a small dog, it is prone to the accumulation of tartar, so it is also recommended to brush your teeth well and practice dental hygiene if necessary.
For his curious personality, it is easy to capture the attention of the Valencian Mouser and teach him various tricks and skills, being quite common to see dogs of this breed in tests of agility, because the mixture they have of speed, agility and docility makes excellent competitors of this type of circuits. In fact, this type of activity, as well as advanced education, help to keep the Valencian Ratonero mentally and physically stimulated, so it is more than advisable to avoid having a hyperactive dog, stressed or anxious.
It should be noted that as Terriers can be mostly territorial animals, so if you want to integrate a new puppy into the home you must follow certain guidelines to avoid possible panics and urgent visits to the veterinarian.nobody scares them, if they face a bigger dog, for example, they can get injured.
With regard to the basic education of the Valencian mouse dog, it will be essential to socialize it well to avoid problems like the one mentioned above and keep it in balance.In addition, because of its intelligence and its very active personality, it will not be difficult to execute the basic commands of coexistence, always by positive reinforcement.Punishment and screaming never work well.
Usually Valencian Mousers are very strong dogs, with iron health, but as in any other breed, you should be careful to detect and avoid various problems, due to their short and fine hair, you must be careful during cold periods, as your pet will be more exposed to hypothermia.
The most common inherited diseases are hip or elbow dysplasia, von Willebrand disease, which affects the ability to clot the blood, and hypothyroidism, to be able to detect them in time it is essential to perform an adequate preventive medicine, visit the veterinarian periodically and follow the instructions of the specialist..