ORIGIN: Czech Republic.
UTILIZATION: Companion dog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 9 – Companions and Toy Dogs. Section 9 Continental Toy Spaniels
Russian Toy and Prague Ratter. Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: Historically, this breed has been known since the remote past of the Czech state. Because of its small size, quick movement and highly developed sense of smell it was used for killing rats (which gave it the name "Krysařík" = Ratter). This quality 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 gift from Bohemian kings it came to other European rulers and later to the ordinary citizens. The search of historical facts resulted in proofs that this breed really is of Bohemian origin and can be traced to the early history of the Czech nation. In 1980 its regeneration successfully started. Pražský krysařík is again a favourite pet that lives as a family dog and is becoming popular also in other countries of in the world.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: A small smooth-haired or medium long coated dog with an almost square and compact body. Despite its small size it is a very active, alert and lively dog. Sexual dimorphism should be clearly defined.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
Height at withers to length of body: 1 : 1,05 – females might be longer.
Depth of chest 45 - 50% of the height withers.
Skull width to skull length 1 : 1 to 1,03.
Length of foreface 1/3 - 1 of the head length.
These measurements and proportions should be regarded as ideal, but the general appearance is more important.
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT: Gentle, curious and tender. Quick with good movement and steady pace. By nature slightly reserved towards strangers but very friendly in the family. With natural nobility and character.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Rounded, not parallel with nose, occiput is visible. Eyes are set wide apart. Skin on skull has no folds and is coated with short and fine hair.
Stop: Distinct.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Fully pigmented and colour according to coat colour.
Lips: Close-fitting, firm and closed lipcorners. Lip edges fully pigmented and colour according to coat colou.
Jaws/Teeth: Firm and converge to muzzle. Regular scissor bite. Preferably with no teeth missing.
Eyes: Dark, colour according to colour of the coat. Medium sized, rounded, no exaggerated bulging, set wide apart. Lids tight-fitting and well pigmented.
Ears: Set at the back of the head, triangular, firm, naturally erected, carried in a gentle angle to the sides.
NECK: Neck without folds, gracefully curved and sufficiently long, at the right angle to body and head.
BODY:
Top line: Level and firm.
Withers: Not visible.
Back: Short, straight, firm.
Loin: Short, well coupled.
Croup: Gently inclined, sufficiently long.
Chest: Oval in cross-section. Chest depth forms 45 – 50% of the height at the withers.
Underline and belly: Abdomen is slightly drawn-in, between abdomen and loins clearly merging into drawn-in flank.
TAIL: Set at the level of back, docked in country of origin. If not docked, it can reach no further than to the hock. Firm that gets narrower to the tip. The tail is straight half way up and carried slightly upright. In When the dog is moveing it is carried higher, it can be curled over the back in a semicircle.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
General appearance: Viewed from the front straight, parallel and legs should not stand very broad.
Shoulder: Muscular, close to the chest. Angle not too obtuse.
Elbow: Set close, straight. Turned neither out nor in.
Forearm: Adequately strong, straight.
Metacarpus (Pastern): Viewed from the front, a fluent continuing of forearm. Viewed from the side slightly inclined, solid.
Forefeet: Round, firm, with well arched, tight toes. Nails dark.
HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: Muscles well developed, viewed from the side, stifle joint to be well bent and hocks well angulated. Viewed from behid, the dog should stand solidly, parallel and legs not too wide apart.
Hind feet: Same as the forefeet but might be a little longer.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: Both forequarters and hindquarters should produce steady, flowing, parallel, light movement. Pads must not drag along. Hind feet to step fully into traces of forequarters.
SKIN: Skin is tough, strong, firm and fits tight to body. Pigment according to the colour of the coat.
COAT:
Hair:
1) Short, glossy, fitting close to body, thick, without bald places. Head is usually coated with thinner and shorter coat than the body.
2) Medium long, fringes on ears, quarters, tail and slightly more open on the chest.
Colour: Black and tan, brown and tan and other lighter nuances, also yellow recessive colour, merle and red. Tan is red, deep and most desired is a dark red tan, well marked. Tanmarkings are found above eyes, on cheeks, on chest and on the pasterns of the forefeet. Also on the feet, inside the hindquarters and under the root of the tail. On the fore chest it forms two similar and separated triangles.
Colours different from black and tan differ in the basic colour of the coat, nose, eye and markings. Deeper pigmentation is preferable.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at the withers: Males and Females: Ideal 20-23 cms
Weight: Males and Females: Ideal 2,6 kgs.
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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
FAULTS
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Narrow or insufficiently arched skull.
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Asymmetrical bite.
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Slightly arched back and loins, softer back.
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Feet slightly curving out- or inwards.
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Excessive tanmarkings on head, abdomen, not separated markings on the
chest.
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Excessive tanmarkings on upper lip
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Big white spot on the chest (more than 1cms).
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No white spots on toes.
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Black hairs in the red tan colour.
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Permanently curled tail, tail closely laying to one side, low-set tail.
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Long body with short legs.
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Nose not pigmented.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
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Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
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Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be
disqualified.
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Open fontanelle.
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Apple shaped head
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Too short in muzzle it means that foreface does not make 1/3 of the length of
the head.
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Blue or predatory eye (very pale yellow).
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Overshot bite.
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Hanging ears
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Strongly arched back and loins.
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Bald spots on any part of the body.
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More than 4 teeth missing (except P1 and M3), 2 or more incisors missing.
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Tanmarked dogs that lack tanmarkings on the head.
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Large white mark on the chest, more than 2cms and white markings anywhere
on body or legs.
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Excessive black overlay obscuring the tanmarkings.
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Size over 26 cms or under 18 cms.
N.B: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum (this expression is obligatory in every standard).
