The Prague Ratter is a dog full of curiosity, attentiveness, gentleness, playfulness, and affection. His delicate nature and loving personality make him an excellent companion for the whole family. With his alertness, agility, and tireless energy, he becomes an outstanding watchdog, keenly observing the surroundings and defending his loved ones from danger.
The Prague Ratter is neither dominant nor overly temperamental, making him an ideal companion even in larger groups. He is devoted to his family and enjoys sharing his warmth and joy with every household member. He is often cautious around strangers, making him an effective watchdog, a protective element for those close to him.
Although suitable for children, it is important to handle him with care due to his fragile bones, especially in the front paws. His adorable appearance and friendly nature, however, make him an excellent companion for those who appreciate his small stature and big heart.
Standard of the country of origin (CMKU )
The standard was approved by KPPPK members meeting on 15th November 2008 and presented to the guarantee for standards of ČMKU.
Hereby the original standard loses its validity.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: The Czech Republic
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE LAST VALID STANDARD: 12.
10. 1980
USE: Companion dog
FCI CLASSIFICATION:
After his international recognition:
Group 9 – Companions and Toys
Section: 12 Ratters
No working trial
SHORT HISTORICAL OVERVIEW:
Historically, this breed has been known since the remote past of the Czech
state. Because of its small size, fast movement and highly developed sense
of smell it was used for killing rats (which gave it the name „Krysařík“ =
Ratter). This quality it possesses was gained during its long historical
development. This small active dog was often seen at aristocratic feasts of
Czech kings at the Prague castle. It adorned courts of Bohemian aristocracy
and as a present from the Bohemian kings it became a possession of other
European rulers and later of the ordinary citizens. Searching of the
historical sources brought the results proving that this breed really comes
from Bohemia and its origins can be traced to the early history of our
nation. In 1980 its regeneration successfully started. Pražský krysařík is
again a favourite pet, lives in our families and the people in the countries of
the world have started being interested in it, which is a very pleasing fact.
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A small smooth-haired dog, nearly quadratic compact body structure.
Despite its little height very active, alert, lively. Dogs looks masculine and
bitches feminine.
TEMPERAMENT AND QUALITIES:
Gentle, curious and tender. Fast, with good movement and steady. By
nature not trustful to strangers but very friendly and warm-hearted to its
family. It suits to every family which can appreciate its nature nobility and
character.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
Height withers to body length: 1 : 1,05 – bitches could be longer
Depth of chest represents 45 - 50% of the height withers.
Skull width to skull length 1 : 1 to 1,03
Length of foreface represents 1/3 - ½ of the head length
We have to understand these measurements and proportions as ideal but it
is the general appearance that is always important.
HEAD
Head is pear-shaped.
Skull:
Skull is round, not parallel with nose, occiput is prominent. Eyes are set
wide apart. Skin on skull has no folds and is coated with short and fine hair.
Stop is distinct.
Foreface:
Nose area: is fully pigmented, its colour fits the colour of the coat.
Lips: Lips are close-fitting, firm and are closed in corners. Lip edges are
fully pigmented. The colour fits the colour of the coat.
Jaws/teeth: Both jaws are firm and converge to muzzle. Teeth have regular
scissor bite. It is preferable if no teeth are missing.
Eyes: Eyes are dark, the colour fits the basic colour of the coat. They are of
medium size, round, noticeably bulging and set wide apart. Lids are tightfitting,
well pigmented.
Ears: Ears are set at the back of the head, triangular, firm, naturally erected.
If they are slightly hanging downwards, it is tolerated but not preferable.
They are not carried vertically but in a gentle angle to the sides.
Neck: Neck is without folds, gracefully curved and sufficiently long, at the
right angle to body and head.
BODY:
Upperline: Straight and firm.
Withers: Flat.
Back: Short, straight, firm.
Loins: Short, relating firmly to back, gradually terminating in tail.
Croup: Gently inclined, sufficiently long.
Chest: Not too deep, oval in cross-section. Chest depth forms 45 – 50% of
height at withers.
Underline and abdomen: Abdomen is slightly drawn-in, between abdomen
and loins clearly merging into drawn-in flank.
Tail: Tail is set at the level of back, docked. If not docked, then it can reach
the hock joint at maximum. Strong, gets narrower to the top. The tail is
straight or from the half slightly upright. In movement it is carried higher, it
can be curled above the back in a semicircle.
LEGS
FOREQUARTERS
In general: From the front view straight, parallel, dog should not stand very
widely.
Shoulder blades: Muscular, held closely to the chest. Angle with shoulders
is not too obtuse.
Elbows: Set close, straight. Turned neither outside nor inside.
Forearm: adequately strong, straight.
Pastern: From the front view as a fluent continuing of forearm. From the
side view slightly bent, solid.
Forefeet: Round, firm, with well arched toes, which fit together tightly.
Claws are dark.
HINDQUARTERS
General: muscles well developed, from the side view Stifle joint well bent
and hock well agulated. From the back view dog should stand solidly,
parallely and not too widely.
Hindfeet: same as the forefeet, could be a little bit longer.
MOVEMENT: Both forequarters and hindquarters produce steady,
flowing, parallel, light movement. Pads must not drag along. Hindfeet step
fully into forequarters traces.
SKIN: Skin is tough, strong, firm and fits tight to body. Pigment fits with
the colour of the coat.
COAT
TYPE OF COAT:
· Short, glossy, fitting close to body, thick, without bald places.
Head is usually coated with thinner and shorter coat than the body.
· Medium long, flags on ears, quarters, tail and slightly open on the
chest.
COLOUR OF THE COAT:
Black and tan, brown and tan and other lighter variants to yellow recessive
colour included merle and red. Tan is red, deep, most desired is dark red,
well marked. It is found above eyes, on cheeks, on chest and on the paster
of the forefeet. Then on the feet, inside the hindquarters and under the root
of the tail.. On the forechest it forms two similar separated triangles.
Colours different from black and tan differ in the basic colour of the coat,
nose, eye and markings. Deeper pigmentation is preferable.
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT:
Ideal height is 20 – 23 cm.
Ideal weight is cca 2,60 kg.
FAULTS:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and
the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree. Possibilities of wrong influence on health and
behaviour are a part of the standard, too.
Main faults:
- narrow or insufficiently arched skull
- asymmetrical bite
- slightly arched back and loins, softer back
- paws slightly curving outwards or inwards
- more yellow spots on head, abdomen, yellow thread, not separated
triangles on the chest
- pigmentation of the upper lip does not match the basic colour of the coat
- big white spot on the chest (more than 1cm2), seldom white spots on toes
- black thread in the red coat colour
- permanently curled tail or tail closely fits to one side, low-set tail
- longer body with shorter legs
- nose not pigmented
- withers height over 24cm
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
- fontanelle
- apple shaped head, it means that foreface does not make 1/3 of the length
of the head
- blue or predatory eye
- overlap or overbite
- ear closely fits the head
- heavily arched back and loins
- bald spots on any part of the body
- more than 4 teeth missing (except P1 and M3), 2 or more incisors missing
- missing tan marks on the head if has tan marks on the body
- large white mark on the chest, more than 2 cm2 and white markings
anywhere on body or legs
- large black thread scumbling the basic red and tan colour
- extreme timidity
- aggressivity
- withers height under 18cm
Note: Male animals must have both testicles apparently regular, fully
descended into the scrotum.