Andalusian Ratonero Bodeguero
Andalusian Terrier
Sherry Terrier · Spanish breed
History and origin
The Andalusian Ratonero Bodeguero, called Sherry Terrier or Andalusian Terrier internationally , is a Spanish breed from the province of Cádiz with centuries of history. Of British origin, it was reborn in the wineries of the Jerez de la Frontera region, where its mission was to control the rodent population that threatened the prized casks of sherry wine. When its country of origin decided to change the appearance and genetics of the original breed, the most important genealogical stronghold remained in our hands in lower Andalusia.
Characteristics
Its breed standard, published on the website of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, is as follows:
FCI Standard N° 371
ANDALUSIAN RATONERO BODEGUERO
ORIGIN: Spain.
USE: A dog specialised mainly in hunting rats and mice, but also all kinds of vermin. It can equally be used to hunt rabbit and hare.
FCI CLASSIFICATION: Group 3 Terriers. Section 1 Large and medium-sized Terriers.
Working trial optional.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: This breed descends from old lines of English Smooth Fox Terrier, brought in by British wine-importing companies during their wine trade between the United Kingdom and Jerez, from the mid-19th century, with the contribution of blood from local rural breeds of that area. They were bred with an innate predisposition to hunt the rodents that abounded in commercial ports, wineries, warehouses, stables and tanneries. In their
their region of origin they were always considered a pure breed and have been bred as such, reaching remarkable uniformity. An almost solid white colour was selected, with some black and tan markings, so they would be visible in the darkness of the places mentioned above.
The most outstanding specimens of the breed are found in Jerez and its district, around the Jerez wine denomination of origin, but its range has spread throughout Andalusia and Spain.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: A medium-sized dog of medium-lined proportions, with females proportionally more elongated than males. Its white colour with black and tan markings
sits on a thin, close-fitting skin that reveals an athletic yet light build, allowing it to express its restlessness and joy with agile, coordinated turns and leaps. Very short coat.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: Height at withers / Body length (measured from point of shoulder to point of buttock) is 1:1.
Females somewhat more elongated.
Total length of head / Length of skull is 8:5
Height at withers / Head length 5:2.
Height at elbows / Height at withers 1:2.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: Cheerful, lively, affectionate and brave, with an excellent temperament. Notable for its functionality in terms of tenacity and willingness to hunt
rodents, yet it is also a faithful companion, an ideal pet, adaptable to all kinds of environments and climates, and extremely clean.
HEAD: Well balanced with the body.
CRANIAL REGION: Parallel axes of skull and muzzle.
Skull: Flat or slightly domed, subconvex. Square, with unmarked occipital protuberance.
Stop: Defined but soft, not very pronounced.
FACIAL REGION: Straight nasal bridge.
Nose: Black, round and medium-sized, with well-open nostrils.
Muzzle: Short, in a proportion to the skull length of 3:5.
Lips: Thin and firm, with well-pigmented mucous membranes.
Jaws/Teeth: Complete, strong dentition with a scissor bite.
Cheeks: Of good muscular development.
EYES: As dark as possible, small, slightly oblique and non-protruding, with a sharp and intelligent expression. Well-pigmented eyelids.
EARS: Triangular, with a wide base of implantation and medium-high set at the level of the occiput. When alert, folded forward; at rest, folded back in rose shape.
NECK: Moderately long, with strong muscular development and without dewlap.
BODY: Compact, but slender and graceful.
Withers: Not very pronounced.
Back: Straight dorso-lumbar line, slightly descending towards the croup.
Loin: Short and muscular.
Croup: Short, rounded and slightly sloping.
Chest: Wide, deep and strongly muscled. Slightly arched ribs. Non-pronounced forechest.
Underline: The chest reaches the height of the elbow. Belly softly tucked up.
TAIL: Medium-high set, perpendicular to the croup, pricked. Dogs are born tailless or with a tail of variable length.
LIMBS: Straight and strong, perfectly placed, with medium-thickness bone and marked muscular development.
FOREQUARTERS:
General appearance: Straight seen from any angle, of medium bone.
Shoulder: Oblique.
Upper arm: The same length as the shoulder. Scapulo-humeral angle close to 90º.
Elbow: Close to the body.
Forearm: Long, with strong but fine bone.
Wrist: Short.
Pastern: Short, forming an angle of 35-40º with the vertical.
Forefeet: Round in shape, well knit, with very strong nails and pads.
HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: Very strong and powerful, perfectly placed.
Thigh (Femur): Long and powerful, forming an open coxo-femoral angle (110º).
Stifle (Knee): With an angulation of approximately 110º.
Lower thigh (Tibia): Of a similar length to the thigh.
Hock: Dry, with well-developed tendon and an open tibio-tarsal angle (130-150º).
Metatarsus: Strong and long.
Feet: Round in shape, well knit, with the same characteristics as the forefeet.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: Agile, elegant and coordinated, with great capacity to turn and jump. The preferred gait is the trot.
SKIN: Thin and very close to the body.
COAT
Hair: Very short and dense, uniform over the whole body surface.
Colour: Coat predominantly pure white with black markings mainly on the head and the start of the neck, complemented by tan markings on the face and cheeks and above the eyes (with the usual phenotypic black/tan distribution; black is also accepted around the tail, the perineal area or the limbs).
The colour of the nose and the pigmentation of the eyelids, lip corners and pads must be black.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at withers: Males: 37 to 43 cm, the ideal being 40 cm.
Females: 35 to 41 cm, the ideal being 38 cm.
In both sexes two more centimetres are tolerated, if the dog is harmonious and without faults.
Weight: Between 10 and 12 kg in males. Between 8 and 10 kg in females.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be
considered a fault, and the seriousness with which it is regarded should be in proportion to its degree of
deviation from the standard and its consequences for the health and
welfare of the dog.
MINOR FAULTS:
- Partially depigmented nose.
- Long body.
- Very short limbs.
- Very narrow croup.
- Absence of tan markings on the cheeks or above the
eyes. - Shy temperament
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
- : Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
- Any dog clearly showing signs of physical or behavioural
abnormalities. - Untypical specimen.
- Monorchidism or cryptorchidism.
- Uniform white coat. Presence of reddish
markings without black, or in areas not described as normal. - Long, curly or wiry hair.
- Overshot or undershot bite.
- Any bite other than a scissor bite.
- Very long body.
- Fully depigmented nose.
- Fully erect ears.
- Hanging ears.
- Any coat colour other than that described.
N.B.: - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum. - Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with the
breed-typical conformation, should be used for breeding.
For more information you can find it in my book on the breed, published by Susaeta. https://www.amazon.es/ratonero-Bodeguero-Andaluz-Benjamn-Snchez/dp/8499285023
Physique
- Small size: 37-45 cm
- Weight: 8-12 kg
- Short, smooth coat
- Colour: white with black spots and tan markings.
- V-shaped semi-erect ears
Temperament
- Cheerful and very active
- Intelligent and easy to train
- Very affectionate with the family
- Good companion and country dog
- Adapts well to flat or house
Our dogs
ANDALUSIAN RATONERO BODEGUERO
At Fraguel´s we have been involved in the world of purebred and show dogs since 1989, and we have specialised in breeding the Andalusian Ratonero Bodeguero since the year 2000, although we had previously worked on its standardisation since the early '90s. We want to ensure that the original characteristics that define this wonderful breed are not lost, while also contributing improvements to its evolution and leading the way in its international expansion.
I was the author of the first breed standard, which has reached today's version with few changes, out of commitment to my homeland — for I had always known this popular breed in Jerez, but outside organised dog fancy — and I was also able to draft the current one for its acceptance as a breed internationally. I also had the opportunity to obtain municipal recognition for it as an Asset of Intangible Cultural Interest of the city of Jerez, the first breed to achieve such a thing in our country.
We were immensely lucky to be able to act ahead of its recognition as a national breed, selecting on the ground the best families from the breed's area of influence, in the triangle of the Jerez wine denomination of origin, to acquire the most beautiful and typical specimens before they began their journey through conformation shows at national level. We made a selection from three fundamental families, which are the origin of all the dogs that have made our affix the most recognised in the world, being predominant at genealogical level.
Interested in this breed? Check our Litters to check availability or contact us for more information.
Our favourite Sherry Terriers
Here I will try to outline the most important dogs we have contributed to the breed.
Clara
When the breed's national recognition was becoming imminent, I began searching everywhere for the first dog that would be a worthy representative of it to win at shows. I found some good ones out in the country and finally decided on Clara, bred by El Maito and owned by his cousin El Tibio, from Trebujena. Clara-de-Fraguels passed her initial recognition in November 2000 at the first show the breed ever attended, in Jerez, of course. We then competed, winning all over Spain, although we did not manage to be the first champion in history, as I had hoped, because at the first compulsory point Sherry (de los Álamos) tripped us up. But she was indeed our first Champion of Spain. Her owner became so enthusiastic that we set up a permanent Fraguel´s branch in Trebujena, writing the most important pages of the early history of the breed. Clara was also Champion of Gibraltar and the first Interra Winner title in history. She was mother of litters E, N and V, and on our split as partners she remained with her original owner.
Finito
Finito: from the El Lechuzas stable I selected several dogs and we carried out the recognition at the Seville show in 2001. As an anecdote, note that they refused to recognise his mother despite her being a lovely bitch, because she was not used to the lead… the things that happen, as the saying goes. Finito began his show career at the 1st National Breed Specialty, where he went Best of Breed SBIS, and from that day he never stopped winning, taking three annual specialties (1st, 2nd and 4th), winning multiple Spanish Breeds BIS, Veteran BIS, etc. He was a dog with a style of his own, always proud in the ring, which he filled with his presence alone. Sadly he covered a great many bitches but left hardly any offspring. We also recruited his brother Frangelico, who sired a few litters…
The founding females
The females of the early selection, belonging to three fundamental families that formed the breeding core of our project. The most pre-eminent were FLOR DE LA MANZANILLA and her daughter LA YEMA, LA GOYA, LA PERLA DE SABA and TINTA. FLOR was a big, strong bitch with a very typical head; she won her champion title by chance in a class she entered as a filler, but at the show they lost or mixed up the assignment of the compulsory CAC, and the only reply to my complaints was that it did not matter, that we already had many champions. LA YEMA never finished her championship because it coincided with a glut of championable females at home; she should have won the compulsory point at the very show where her mother won it. She became a family dog after suffering a boxer attack in which she almost lost a leg — an unbeatable companion character — reproduced extensively and lived many years, producing litters R, D2, L2, P2 (Ch. Pedro Ximénez de Fraguel´s), T2, D3. GOYA was also a fast champion, starting to win at the first breed specialty, with spectacular conformation and a strong hunting instinct.
Perla
she likewise took her champion titles very quickly, and was also Reserve at the European Championship. She left us at home the best of her breed in her litter F and M with Lagartijo and J2 with León. Lots of character. TINTA was so called because we used to dye her for showing, as she had half a white face. I have to say she looked great with L'Oréal and the "andina". There were others, such as Ch. Aurora, Amarula, Augusta, La Soleá, La Mohosa; we even made progress on some lines of solid blacks and reds, and tailless dogs, which I later had to leave behind when the partnership broke up.
Lagartijo
El Lagarto, of course, the only male of that litter of Flor's, was also taken in and registered, and over time he would become the cornerstone of our kennel and of the breed. He earned his place after we gave up on Fino as a sire. He took his championship with top marks, of course — CAC at the second national specialty — and then he was the first bodeguero male to take a European title at the EDS in Barcelona, father of countless champions in our home.
Yola
MultiCh. SBIS Festival de Fraguel´s, the best bitch in history — as far as I can remember — a true work of art born from Perla's first litter with Lagartijo. She won the breed at the third national specialty and from there she never stopped, with group podiums and so on. As a brood bitch she produced litters B2 and O2. She had an exceptional character and a cinematic conformation, with plenty of aptitude for shotgun hunting too.
Impero
Impero de Fraguel´s, from Fino's only registered litter, had a type a little too fox-like for our taste, with a face slightly lacking in stop, but he contributed improving toplines. We used him quite a bit until he was stolen (along with Lagarto and several of our champion bitches). He acted as Lagarto's sparring partner at shows: since both were rivals in breeding, they got along suitably badly, and that earned them both points in presentation.
Roberto
Bodeguero de Fraguel´s, from Yola's first litter with Impero, a male I showed very sparingly, just after leaving Trebujena as our base of operations; he won the intermediate class at the 2006 specialty. He was important at breeding level as the guarantor of Yola's line, being the father of very notable and important dogs in the history of the line, such as Ch. Sandemán de Fraguel´s or Ch. Navajas de Fraguel´s. His sister Bulería de Fraguel´s was also important in breeding, with Eladio and later with Pablo, mother of champions important for other affixes.
Leön
Napoleón de Fraguel´s, son of Lagarto and Clara, was initially the stud dog at the home of Fernando "GossosdePol", and then came back to us. A worthy son of his parents, he became not only a great champion but also the most influential sire in the breed by number of champion offspring, until he was surpassed by his own son. A star in every sense. His daughter Ronda won the BIS of the 5th and 6th specialties. Best Male BOS at the 7th specialty, Best Veteran at the 2012 and 2013 ones.
Alamillo
de Fraguel´s, from the only litter Sherry de los Álamos produced. Originally the stud dog of Eladio "Bodegas del Arrabal", he won the European show in Barcelona as a puppy and then became a champion very easily. One of the most prolific sires of the breed, he was later sold to Pablo "De Cuevano", and some of his offspring were the founders of Antonio Leiva's "Del Turruñuelo" breeding. We were finally able to continue his line at home as father of litter P3 (MultiCh. Ponche de Fraguel´s and Ch. Quillo de Fraguel´s). Photos 11. BLANCA Pastrana de Fraguel´s was another of the matriarchs of a line fundamental to our breeding; daughter of Roberto and Yema, she produced countless champions. She was never shown because of her half-white face, but with León she made the perfect cross, leaving us in her litters U2, E3, J3, N3, S3 and Z3 multi-champion offspring such as Sin Pecado, Zarzaparrilla, Zumaque, Jane, Uva Olaz, Navajas…
Blanca
Pastrana de Fraguel´s was another of the matriarchs of a line fundamental to our breeding; daughter of Roberto and Yema, she produced countless champions. She was never shown because of her half-white face, but with León she made the perfect cross, leaving us in her litters U2, E3, J3, N3, S3 and Z3 multi-champion offspring such as Sin Pecado, Zarzaparrilla, Zumaque, Jane, Uva Olaz, Navajas…
Bora
Odessa de Fraguel´s, I remember her as the clone of Yola, an extremely strong bitch, inbred on Lagarto and her mother. She was sold to Patxi Elorza and I was later able to buy her back; her production was V2, C3, K3, but in the single-pup litter S2 she left us Sandemán de Fraguel´s, another of the males who in my memory remains one of the best in the breed's history. In K3 she left Kalili de Fraguel´s, who won Best Young in the 10th specialty in 2011.
Emi
MultiCh. SBIS Ribera de Fraguel´s. An institution in herself. Litter R2, which had several champion bitches, left us at home Emi, a joy who was with us for many years — she left us at almost 18 — and took all her corresponding titles, including the first veteran championship in the history of the breed. I remember perfectly how she would roll over in the ring the first few times I showed her. Small and compact, she revolutionised our lines by becoming the matriarch of a dynasty of dogs that have taken the breed to its highest expression today; her descendants have dominated the beauty rings in recent years. BIS of the annual specialty in 2012. Mother of the legendary litters L3 with León (Ch. Legendario de Fraguel´s and Ch. Lola de Fraguel´s), P3 with Alamillo (Ch. Ponche de Fraguel´s and Ch. Quillo de Fraguel´s), and Y3 with Fundador (Ch. Yema de Fraguel´s). Ponche has been a prolific sire at Cuevano; he was Champion of Spain, Morocco and Gibraltar.
Mel
MultiCh. Sandeman de Fraguel´s went to Miguel Castejón's kennel in Mallorca, where he formed a breeding tandem with Emi's sister, Ch. Rueda de Fraguel´s. He comfortably took his Spanish and Gibraltar championships and was BOS at the 8th specialty, where Uva Olaz de Fraguel´s, belonging to Juan Rienda, went BIS. At home Sandeman was father of litter F3, whose foremost representative was Ch. Fundador de Fraguel´s, who was also a great sire at the home of Cristóbal "Altos de Cigüeñas" and in our own home with litter Y3.
Curriqui
Ch. Fundador de Fraguel´s, the greatest sire and father of champions of the Altos de Cigüeñas home, for us the grandfather of all the great champions produced by Yema. BOS at the 2011 specialty.
Chispa
MultiCh. WW. SBIS Lola de Fraguel´s, BIS winner of the 2015 specialty, World Champion in Helsinki 2014, Champion of Finland, Spain, Portugal, Iberian, etc. She was our flagship bitch for several years, the best bitch by titles in history until she was surpassed by the later and more recent Adega, then Zarzaparrilla and finally Una Palma. Her daughter by León, Ch. Barbazul de Fraguel´s, was the third champion "Chispa" at the home of Baldomero López "Del Horno". The first "Chispa" was also a champion, Ch. Navajas de Fraguel´s.
Gömez
Ch. Legendario de Fraguel´s, a great sire at home and elsewhere; in the rings he was somewhat overshadowed by his sister. Father of Ch. Adega de Fraguel´s, MultiCh. Favorita de Fraguel´s, MultiCh. Finca de Fraguel´s, Ch. Indígena de Fraguel´s, EWCh. Insuperable de Fraguel´s, MultiCh. WW Marqués de Revilla de Fraguel´s, Ch. Moscatel de Fraguel´s, MultiCh. Ullate de Fraguel´s, JCh. Un Barbadillo de Fraguel´s, MultiCh. Una Palma de Fraguel´s, Ch. Yuma del Turruñuelo, etc., which made him the best RBA sire in history. MultiCh. Adega de Fraguel´s was the only daughter of Mini's first litter, flagship bitch of "Lets Go Kennel" of Marteta and Jesús; she was Champion of Spain young and adult, Young European Champion, Champion of Denmark, etc.
Odïn
MultiCh. BIS Sin Pecado de Fraguel´s, the other star of Lets Go Kennel, Champion of Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Veteran WW, Vet. Finland, Vet. Spain, Vet. Gibraltar, numerous Winner, BOS and Best Movement at the 2017 specialty. A true star; we still enjoy him at a very advanced age.
Jara
Multi Ch. Zarzaparrilla de Fraguel´s, Champion of Spain, Gibraltar, Portugal, Iberian, Europe… Owned by Javi Holgado, she dominated the rings with ease, winning the 2016–2017 specialties and BOS in 2018 and 2019, and then continued with titles as a veteran — an absolute star with multiple BIS — and also reaped wins competing with Daniela in Junior Handling.
Pepe
MultiCh. Zumaque de Fraguel´s, the stud dog of Hilario "De la Zurriaga". Another of the legendary offspring of Pastrana and León, and the cover of my book on the breed. One of the best dogs in the breed's history: strong and confident in the ring, with the best character — a star.
Rua
Ruavieja de Fraguel´s, by far our bodeguera keenest on hunting, another daughter of León, super strong. Mother of litters D4, L4, O4, Y4.
Mini
Uva Donna de Fraguel´s, another joy, mother of litters A4 (MultiCh. Adega de Fraguel´s), C4 (Campoviejo, Cabero), E4, H4, N4, P4 (Ch. Obediencia Pura Cepa), A5. ROCKY Campoviejo de Fraguel´s has been another of the important sires at home; he never went into the ring, as it coincided with my time heading the club and with other dogs belonging to friends who during that period carried the Fraguel´s banner.
Yema
de Fraguel´s, a veteran champion who is still making noise, became the most successful brood bitch of the breed through her litters F4 (MultiCh. Favorita de Fraguel´s, MultiCh. Finca de Fraguel´s and others exported to Finland), M4 (MultiCh. WW Marqués de Revilla de Fraguel´s, Ch. Moscatel de Fraguel´s), I4 (Ch. Indígena de Fraguel´s, EW Insuperable de Fraguel´s), U4 (MultiCh. Ullate de Fraguel´s, JCh. Un Barbadillo de Fraguel´s, MultiCh. Una Palma de Fraguel´s) — only Umbría is missing to complete a full house of champion offspring in the litter — Z4, and B5. INSUPERABLE also competed little, for the same reasons as Rocky, and has likewise been a mainstay of breeding at home in recent times.
Marques
MultiCh. MultiSBIS. WW. Marqués de Revilla de Fraguel´s, of Adrián "Birosa", the only dog to have matched Finito's feat of winning three annual breed specialties — the 20th in 2020-21, the 2022 one and the 2024 one. Sadly he passed away by accident far too young, but he has left in several homes enough quality material as his legacy. A proud male whom I greatly enjoyed watching win. The dog that has most often won the Group 11 podium during the time the breed was in that group was Ch. Marqués de Revilla de Fraguel´s.
Moscatel
Ch. Moscatel de Fraguel´s also comfortably took his championship and is just starting to reproduce now. Photos 26. GASCON JCh. Un Barbadillo de Fraguel´s, another great dog from the same string.
Gascón
Jch. Un Barbadillo de Fraguel´s, another great dog from the same string of champions bred in our house, brother of Una Palma and Ullate.
Palma
Multi Ch. WW Una Palma de Fraguel´s, of Anaís "Valle de los Olivos", the greatest bitch in the breed's history by number of titles (32): Champion of Spain (+ young and super), Portugal (+ Grand Ch), Iberian (+ young), Croatia, Gibraltar, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, European and World (x2). She has carried the breed's banner worldwide and won absolutely everything, surpassed in number of titles only, in the end, by her brother.
Andaluz
MultiCh. WW. Ullate de Fraguel´s, the monster of the ring, one of my favourites, from Felipe and Saioa "Imperio Andaluz" in Cantabria. He started late but soon picked up speed until he reached his sister's titles, with whom he has contested the breed many times. I think he will be the best dog in the breed's history by titles for a long time. Dog of the Year for several years and in several countries. For me, the feel in the hand when you show him is the best RBA of all time, and he has proved it in spades, becoming the undisputed heir by type to Marqués. I hope he will keep giving us plenty to talk about for many years in the near future.
Baron
Barón Blanco de Fraguel´s, the latest breeding bet at home. The record of our bodegueros is simply unmatched: we are the mother house of the breed from the very origins of registration, with a very large majority of the breed's total registered genetics coming from our dogs. The affix that has won the national specialty most often, with more champions than all the other breeders of the breed in the world combined. Over the last 25 years we have cornered the Best Dog of the Year titles in the breed in Spain, and even in other countries. As for the future, we shall see.
