Dog breed · Czech Republic
English name: Prague Ratter
The Pražský Krysařík (Prague Ratter) is a small breed of dog from the Czech Republic that is rarely seen outside its country of origin.
Temperament: Best known for its active and lively nature, the Pražský Krysařík is a spunky breed that is full of original character. These tiny dogs thrive on strong and dependable relationships with humans, love to receive affection and play the role of lap dog during down time. This breed is highly intelligent and generally responds well to basic training and commands. As a pet, the Pražský Krysařík is obedient, loyal, loving, and very affectionate. The Pražský Krysařík adapts well to full-time indoor and apartment living, yet still enjoys spending time outdoors, playing games such as fetch, and taking long and leisurely walks. They are also known to be a very quiet dog, unlike many other small dogs who tend to be very "yappy".
Appearance: The Pražský Krysařík is a small toy dog, similar in appearance to the Chihuahua and the Miniature Pinscher, with a height of 20 to 23 centimetres (7.9 to 9.1 in) and a weight of 1.5 to 3.5 kilograms (3.3 to 7.7 lb).
There are two coat variations:
short: smooth, glossy and thick
long: fringes on ears, limbs and tail
Health: It is believed that the Pražský Krysařík is one of the dog breeds that do not have significant health problems. However, they can be prone to:
Diseases of the teeth and gums. Pražský Krysaříks are prone to increased formation of tartar, which leads to bad breath, as well as the development of periodontitis. Prevention consists of regularly brushing teeth and removing plaque when visiting your veterinarian. Krysaříks can also have retained baby teeth, which may need to be pulled to prevent further problems with dentition.
Bone injuries due to their small size. The most common fractures are the bones of the metacarpus and forearm.
Patellar luxation, an ailment common to small breeds. It is believed that this defect is congenital and inherited.
Different kind of gastrointestinal problems are common.
History: Czech dog breeders claim that krysaříks (ratters) are one of the oldest Czech breeds. The first mentions of these ratter dogs are found in the writings of the historian Einhard, dating back to the 8th-9th centuries. The Polish historian Gallus Anonymus mentions the beloved ratters of King Bolesław II the Generous (1058–1081). He became fond of the ratter and had two of them imported to Poland from Bohemia. As their name suggests they were also commonly used as rat catchers in rural and urban households. Ratters are even mentioned in the writings of Jules Michelet: Charles IV of Luxembourg, during his visit to France in 1377, presented three ratters to King Charles V of France as a precious gift, and later they were inherited by his son the Dauphin. In historical chronicles and literary works, ratters are mentioned in connection with Wenceslaus IV, Rudolf II and other European rulers.
In the era of the absence of cats in Europe, tiny Pražský Krysaříks, along with other rat-catchers, served to protect the property of the royal owners from rodents. Legends say that in the royal houses krysaříks were also obliged to protect the owners from poisoners: during meals they were allowed to walk on tables and taste food and drinks. With the decline of the Czech state, krysaříks lost their exclusive belonging to the noble houses. They could be seen in peasant and bourgeois dwellings and outbuildings. They were used in rat battles popular in Europe. And over time they took their deserved place in the salons of ladies, as pets and companions.
The popularity of the Pražský Krysařík started to decline in the 19th century when the Miniature Pinscher became more fashionable. The breed went through a renaissance in the 1980s as Czechs and Slovaks started to breed them again. The first stage of the revival of the breed and the compilation of stud books began at the end of the 19th century under the leadership of dog breeders T. Rotter and O. Karlik. Two World Wars and the period of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia nullified the results of their efforts, the stud books were lost.
