The Prague Ratter: temperament, price, health, and breeders

The Prague Ratter, or Pražský Krysařík, is a very old Czech dwarf breed used to hunt rodents in houses and attics. Smaller than the Miniature Pinscher, it almost disappeared and was rebuilt in the 20th century from local specimens. It is today a very popular apartment companion in Czechia, still not very widespread in France. Its standard emphasizes smallness, without falling into the extremely fragile.

Dwarf dog, short on legs relative to the Russkiy Toy, with a compact body and a slightly rounded apple-shaped head. The ears are erect or semi-erect, the eyes round and dark. The coat is short, shiny, most often black and tan, also chocolate, blue or fawn. The weight is often around 2 to 3 kg. The gait is lively and determined.

Brave, curious and very attached to its owner, sometimes wary of strangers. It has a real ratting instinct. With calm children, it is affectionate; too much roughness puts it in danger. It can be possessive if it is too pampered.

Ideal in an apartment, provided it is taken out, kept busy and trained. It barks to signal. Cold, large dogs and jumps are risky for it. It likes object-chasing games more than long hikes.

Despite the size, the rules must be clear: cleanliness, silence, solitude, prohibition on jumping on the sofa. Short sessions work. Avoid excusing everything “because he is small”, otherwise he becomes tyrannical.

A companion Prague Ratter often costs between 1 000 and 1 800 euros. Litters are small and good breeders are still few outside the Czech Republic.

The same fragilities as other dwarfs: teeth, kneecaps, trauma, sometimes fontanelle or hypoglycemia in the puppy. A breeder who refuses extreme and too light subjects is essential.

The Prague Ratter needs a complete, digestible diet adjusted to its age, its activity and its body condition. Protein quality and control of energy intake matter as much as the volume of the ration.

It is one of the smallest breeds in the world, often smaller than a Chihuahua. In the Czech Republic, it is often seen in shows. Its Czech name Krysařík literally means "little rat hunter".