Prague Ratter

In Russia, there are not so many Czech ratliks, or in a different way, Prague ratlers, and many do not even know about the existence of this breed. In addition, these babies are often confused with toy terriers, pinschers and chihuahuas. What kind of dogs hiding under this funny name Prague Rat, and what they are remarkable?

Breed origin

The name of the breed is Prague rat or ratlik ("rat"), associated with the appointment of these small, but very mobile and active doggies. Even in the Middle Ages, they performed feline work - they caught and frightened off rodents, which not only spoiled food, but also carried the majority of dangerous pathologies and infections. The birthplace of the breed is the Czech Republic.

The history of the origin of Prague krysarik is shrouded in myths and legends, and historians have for certain found out only one thing - these funny animals appeared on the territory of Europe somewhere in the middle of the Middle Ages.

According to one of the legends, it was the ratmen who became the salvation during the invasion of rodents in the medieval cities. They could get into any gap and bit into rats that were slightly smaller than the hunters themselves. Another legend says that these doggies performed a different role - they tried the food of their famous owners to make sure that the food was not poisoned.

Even the Czech king was often found in pubs with ratlik in their arms. Naturally, this had a positive effect on the popularity of the breed, and its representatives appeared in the most noble houses of the state.

Breed description Prague rat

Dogs of this breed have a modest size, harmonious physique, they are active and fearless. Ratliki, without hesitation, rush at the enemy, and at home they are cute and very friendly creatures.

According to standard data, the rats should not exceed 2600 g, the maximum height at the withers is 23 cm. Due to these indicators, the breed is considered the smallest, so their Chihuahua brothers can weigh up to 3 kg, but there are no restrictions on height.

In the standard you can find the following description of these tiny dogs:

The head is small, pear-shaped, the forehead is harmoniously convex, with a clearly marked separation groove. Nape pronounced, rounded. If you look at the top, the forehead has the shape of a square, only a slight elongation from the occipital region to the lobe of the nose is allowed, but should not exceed 3% of the width.
On the area of the muzzle and forehead there are no skin folds, the muscles of the cheeks and cheekbones are “dry”, the superciliary arches are well defined, but not prominent. The transition from the forehead to the face is pronounced. The muzzle is dulled, U-shaped, with a smooth back of the nose.
The lips are dry, tight, fit snugly, the upper slightly covering the lower and incisors. Assessment of the dental apparatus according to the standard is carried out without taking into account the first small molars - premolars. It is preferable if the dog has a complete set, and the incisors are located on parallel lines. Normal is only the correct, scissor bite. Jaws strong, well developed.
The nose is small, intensely black in color, distinguished by high sensitivity and mobility.
Eyes with dry, close-fitting eyelids, set straight, wide apart, slight bulge allowed. The color is desirable dark brown, close to black, but it must match the color.
Auricles proportional, wide apart, set a small angle. They have a hard cartilaginous tissue, but it is undesirable for the tips of the ears to fall forward.
The body is almost square, in females some elongation of the format is allowed, which is caused by the genital function. The neck is of decent length, there is a perfectly visible, oblong bend.
The withers of the rat are not pronounced, are at the level of the lumbar region, the back is straight, well muscled. The depth of the sternum is almost half the height at the withers. The loin is flattened, but strong, the croup has a bevel, elongated, with a tucked, groin line. Together with the breasts, they create an elegant bend.
Set slightly wider extreme lines of the body. The shoulder blades have developed muscles, fit snugly to the body, elbows pressed against the chest.
The hind limbs are parallel to each other, their muscle mass is more voluminous than that of the fore limbs , and they can also be longer or pulled farther than the croup line. Paws are collected in a strong lump, with vaulted fingers and curved, pigmented by black color, claws.
The tail is cropped, shortened, which is a natural feature, or has a natural length. When the dog is calm, it is low, while moving or, when the animal is interested, the tail rises above the line of the spine or can create a semicircle above the back.

Colors

Four breed colors are allowed:

brown with burns;
black and tan;
yellow-red;
bluish with burns.

There are two types of rat, based on the texture of wool: smooth and medium-haired.

Character

First of all, the owners say that these dogs make excellent companions. Pet behaves unobtrusively, but at the same time it is very mobile, inquisitive and energetic. The ratman loves all family members, a special favor shows to the children. But to unfamiliar babies can be wary.

If the owner is depressed or upset about something, the dog will not impose his society, pester or ingratiate to look into the eyes. The pet will behave delicately, with understanding and participation. He will take care of his own affairs, and quite energetically, but from time to time he will approach or glance towards the owner. Such fussiness usually helps a person to escape from heavy thoughts and get out of depression.

The rooters are extraordinarily intelligent and gambling, because once they were agile rat hunters, able to deceive even the most cunning and agile rodent. In everyday life, these dogs behave calmly and silently, they love being close to the owner. Thanks to its compact size, the owner can take his pet everywhere, especially as the dog carries the transport perfectly.

You can keep ratlik with other pets, but only if the animals do not seek to become leaders. Cats most often respect the dog, who behaves like a true aristocrat, does not fawn on family members and is confident in himself.

Although representatives of this breed were once rodent hunters, if you introduce a puppy to a rabbit or a guinea pig, he will not consider the animal as prey.

Owners of a krysarik should know that these little dogs are prone to domination and will show their leadership skills in relation to people and other pets. Of course, such zeal can be fun, but if attempts are not stopped, then problems can not be avoided. A dog may show disobedience to the owner and excessive aggression to other animals that exceed their size.

Training

These funny dogs are very temperamental, and they have a rather strong nervous system, which distinguishes them from other decorative dogs with an unstable, hysterical disposition. These qualities make the companion wonderful companions and allow them to train various teams. Dogs react sensitively to changes in the mood of the owner, susceptible to praise, encouragement and punishment, which greatly facilitates the process of training.

Many breeders believe that ratliks behave as representatives of large breeds, and not as dwarf doggies. They have excellent dexterity, quick response, ingenuity. Faced with difficulty, the pet will not become capricious and retreat from the intended goal, which is often observed when teaching small dogs.

You can train your pet from the first days of its appearance in the house. If the owner does not have the necessary knowledge and skills, then you can always seek the help of professionals. Krysariki - very capable students, and, if you approach this issue correctly, they are able to perform even complex tricks and commands, and do it the first time.

With such a pet, you can safely go to courses early. Ratlik successfully perform at competitions on agility, obedience, coursing and can perform trace work.

Care and health

Prague krysariki do not require particularly complex care. Their fur should be combed a couple of times a week using a rubber or silicone glove. It is often not necessary to bathe a doggie, it is recommended to do it as needed.

Given the activity and restlessness of the dog, it is not difficult to guess that he needs long walks with active games and activities for his health and well-being. Ratlik is ready to run for hours, jump, have fun.

In cold weather, a pet must be warmed up before going for a walk, putting on a blanket, overalls or a suit with insulation. You can also buy your favorite two pairs of warm shoes.

If the dog was walking through the puddles or wet grass, then on returning home she needs to wash the paws with clean water and a cloth, removing the dirt, and then wipe it with a dry towel, removing excess moisture. Small kryatarik can relieve the need for a diaper and are well trained to the tray, but because of the need for long walks, they still need to be taken to the street.

Also, standard care includes the inspection and cleaning of teeth, ears, pet eyes. When claws grow back, they need to be cut using a special claw cutter.

It is important to vaccinate a pet in a timely manner, since puppies have a weak immunity and often become infected with viral infections. In addition, do not forget about the regular prevention of helminthic invasions and treatment from external parasites - fleas, ticks, etc. With good care, the life expectancy of Prague ratters reaches 14 years and even longer.

Diseases

Experts believe that representatives of this breed have virtually no significant health problems. Most often, these crumbs reveal the following pathologies:

Diseases of the teeth and gums - in rats, tartar is often formed, which is accompanied by an unpleasant smell from the mouth, in addition, it can lead to serious periodontal inflammation - it is possible to avoid such violations if you regularly brush your teeth and take it to a veterinary clinic . If milk teeth do not fall out in time, their removal is required;
fractures - often in the krysarikov the metacarpal bones and the area of the forearm are injured;
diseases of the musculoskeletal system - not a rare pathology is a dislocation of the calyx of the knee, experts have found that this defect is congenital and is inherited;
problems in the gastrointestinal tract - the cause of the violation is overeating, so the owner should carefully monitor what and in what quantities his pet consumes;
catarrhal diseases - representatives of this breed do not have a warm fur coat that protects animals from wind and low temperatures, therefore, if you don’t dress your pet in cold weather, it can catch a cold very quickly.

Most of the pathologies that ratlik suffer can be prevented if you properly care for your four-legged friend.

Feeding

Like most dog breeders, the owners of the rat have a choice, to feed the dog with natural food, or to give preference to ready-made rations. In the first case, the pet will definitely need additional sources of vitamins and minerals.

The diet of the animal should consist of:

meat - lean beef, chicken, rabbit and turkey;
fish - it is better to give the sea, previously boiled and cleared of bones;
vegetables - they are given both in raw and boiled form; they can be crushed and filled with a small amount of vegetable oil;
durum wheat pasta;
croup - you can cook buckwheat, rice and oatmeal.

Natural feeding is ideal, but it is extremely difficult to independently calculate the required amount of vitamins and minerals needed by a pet every day. In this case, need the help of a veterinarian.

When feeding with dry granules, it is worth picking a diet from premium and super premium food, as they are made from high-quality ingredients with respect for proportions. In addition, in this case it is easier to determine the required portion of food and there is an opportunity to select the menu based on the individual characteristics of the pet.

With natural feeding, it is more difficult not to overfeed the pet, since, due to the excellent appetite, the krysaryks are able to eat much more food than is required. Given the size of the dog and its physical activity, it is fed two or three times a day, always following the established regimen.

Content

Ratliks are considered very specific dogs: they are completely unsuitable for living in outdoor conditions, but their activity and mobility require regular paddocks and physical activity.

Due to its modest dimensions, krysaryk can live very well even in a small apartment. But the room must be secured by removing the wires, unstable objects, blocking gaps into which a miniature doggie can penetrate.

Litter, house or mattress should be located away from drafts and heating appliances. Be sure to select a separate place where the dog bowls will always be.

Photos of Prague Ratter

Video about Prague rat

Where to buy a puppy

Acquiring a puppy is an important issue, especially when it comes to dogs of such a rare breed as Prague Ratter. First of all, the future owner must decide for what purposes he needs a pet.

If you plan to visit various exhibitions with your pet and use them in breeding, then it is important to purchase a puppy in the nursery or from experienced breeders who can guarantee that the baby meets the requirements of the standard. In Moscow, there is a nursery Ratlik blues, where you can buy pedigree puppy http://ratlik.org/.

In this case, also an important aspect is a good heredity, and if you can, then you should look at moms, dads, grandmothers, and grandfathers of the puppy. There should be no “gaps” in the pedigree - their presence indicates that dogs of unknown origin were breeding.

If a pet is acquired only as a pet, then the main criterion is its health. Usually this category includes puppies belonging to the pet class, which, due to minor flaws, cannot participate in exhibitions and are not allowed to breed. The price of such offspring is much lower, but the puppies have no serious defects.

Buying a doggie from random breeders, a person risks acquiring a representative of another breed, a half-breed, or a pretty, “purebred” pooch. In addition, no one will give any guarantee that the baby is not sick and does not have any genetic abnormalities.

Prague Ratter - tiny bold little dog, which will fit perfectly even in a large family with children and other animals. However, this is not a sofa option and will have to walk regularly and for a long time with the baby.