A rat hunter with an ideal weight of around 2,6 kilos? That is exactly the FCI standard’s account: small, fast and keen-nosed, the Prague Ratter (Pražský krysařík) was used to kill rats, hence its name. A sofa alone still does not meet its needs.
| FCI | Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 9 Continental Toy Spaniel, Russian Toy and Prague Ratter, Standard No. 363, without working trial, provisionally recognised |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Czech Republic |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males and females 21 to 23 cm (tolerance plus/minus 1 cm) |
| Weight | Males and females ideally approximately 2,6 kg |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | two coat types: short, glossy and close-fitting, or moderately long with fringes on ears, hindquarters, tail and chest |
| Colours in the standard | black, brown or blue with tan markings, including diluted variants; recessive yellow and rich red without markings; black-and-tan and brown-and-tan merle |
From the Bohemian royal court
The standard traces its history deep into the Czech state’s past. It appeared at royal festivities at Prague Castle and reached other European rulers as a gift from Bohemian kings. Rebuilding the breed began in 1980. Its section also includes the Continental Toy Spaniel, among them the Papillon .
What “provisionally recognised” means
The FCI provisionally recognised the Prague Ratter on 29.04.2019. Until definitive recognition, such breeds cannot receive a CACIB, the certificate towards International Beauty Champion status, according to the FCI. FCI titles such as World and Section Winner remain open to them, and their pedigrees must carry the FCI logo.
Curious, gentle and a little cautious
The standard calls it friendly, curious and gentle, somewhat reserved with strangers and very affectionate within its family. Despite its size, it is very active, attentive and lively. Daily walks with sniffing time, search games and tricks keep it occupied. Like the Miniature Pinscher , it enjoys learning when sessions stay short.
Care for two coat types
Short hair needs little more than a soft grooming glove; medium-length hair needs its fringes combed regularly. The standard mentions occasional tail docking in the country of origin. In Germany, docking is generally prohibited under Section 6 of the German Animal Welfare Act. Here, its tail stays as it grew.
Health: little research, clear boundaries in the standard
We found no studies specifically on the Prague Ratter, nor a lifespan figure. The standard does set boundaries: an open fontanelle, apple-shaped head, short muzzle and height below 18 cm lead to disqualification. General data on very small dogs help. In an English analysis of 210.824 dogs, those under 10 kg had more than twice the odds of patellar luxation (O'Neill et al. 2016). Periodontal disease affected 12,5 % of examined dogs, with risk rising as body weight fell (O'Neill et al. 2021). Toothbrushing therefore belongs in daily life. The standard also permits merle. Two merle parents are out of the question: in one study, 15 % of homozygous merle dogs were deaf in both ears, compared with 0,9 % of heterozygous dogs (Strain et al. 2009).
A good partner for
adults and families with older, calm children who take an alert tiny dog everywhere while still giving it real tasks.
Less suitable if
young children would carry it and pass it around, it would stay alone for many hours or you want a dog that shrugs off rough play with large dogs.
To find out whether such a small but alert dog fits your daily life, try our breed quiz ; explore more thoroughly in the book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). If a puppy is arriving soon, the free Puppy Starter Pack helps you get started. If your Ratter is already home, our dog portraits turn its photo into artwork, for example a poster in a wooden frame.
Further reading
- Chihuahua: why the barking starts at home
- Yorkshire Terrier: three kilos of terrier, not an accessory
- Puppy training: the 5 rules that really work
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 363 Pražský krysařík (Prager Rattler) (fci.be, German version dated 11.06.2019, English original dated 07.05.2019); FCI breed page and list of provisionally recognised breeds (fci.be); O'Neill DG et al., The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 2016; O'Neill DG et al., Epidemiology of periodontal disease in dogs in the UK primary-care veterinary setting, Journal of Small Animal Practice 2021; Strain GM et al., Prevalence of deafness in dogs heterozygous or homozygous for the merle allele, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2009.
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