Prazsky Krysarik

The Prazsky Krysarik is said to be the smallest breed in the world. The chest is broad, but not at all deep and descends only partly to the elbows. It has a lean, delicate body, which is covered with thin skin. The neck is moderately long and narrow, supporting its delicate head. The muzzle is narrow and fox-like, with straight but crowded teeth. Its coat is short with very thin, glossy fur. Coat color is mostly black and tan. The Prazky Krysarik is 2 cm shorter in maximum height than the Miniature Pinscher is in minimum height.

Best known for its active and lively nature, the Prague Ratter is a spunky breed that is full of original character. These tiny dogs thrive on strong and dependable relationships with humans, love to receive affection and play the role of lap dog during down time. This breed is highly intelligent and generally responds well to basic training and commands. As a pet, the Prague Ratter is obedient, loyal, loving, and very affectionate. The Prague Ratter adapts well to full-time indoor and apartment living, yet still enjoys spending time outdoors, playing games such as fetch, and taking long and leisurely walks. They are also known to be a very quiet dog unlike many other small dogs who tend to be very "yappy". Like any small dog one should be wary of allowing them to develop Small Dog Syndrome as they can become aggressive if they are not well-socialized from an early age.

The breed was popular in central European royal palaces in the Middle Ages. It was already an established breed by the time of the rule of the Polish king Bolesław II the Generous (1058–1081). He became fond of the Ratter and had two of them imported from Bohemia. As their name suggests they were also commonly used as rat catchers in rural and urban households. The popularity of the Prague Ratter started decline in the 19th century when the Miniature Pinscher became more fashionable. The breed went through a renaissance in the 1980s as Czechs and Slovaks started to breed them again. It is not yet an FCI acknowledged breed, as there is only about 2500 Prague Ratters registered and they usually only have 1-3 puppies per year. They are nevertheless presented at shows in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.