Breeds / Toy
Prague Ratter puppies
Intelligent, curious and playful, happy to settle on a lap once they have burned off some energy. Friendly at home but often reserved with strangers and wary of larger dogs.
The facts
- Size class Toy
- Country of origin Czech Republic
- Adult weight Not published
- Adult weight in pounds Not published
- Adult height 21 to 23 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth or long fringed
- Typical lifespan 12 to 14 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Prague Ratter
The Prague Ratter is the smallest of the Czech breeds, a fine boned toy dog that once earned their keep clearing rats from houses and inns. The FCI standard puts them at 21 to 23 cm at the withers with an optimum weight of about 2.6 kg, which makes them one of the lightest breeds recognised anywhere. They come in a short glossy coat or a moderately long one with fringing on the ears, quarters and tail, usually black and tan.
They are quicker and more robust in character than their frame suggests, though they stay reserved around people they do not know. Exercise is light: daily play and short walks are enough, but they are an enthusiastic jumper and need watching around furniture and stairs. Grooming is minimal, an occasional brush and a wipe over with a damp cloth. Teeth are the real job. Owners often forget how easily a dog this light is hurt indoors.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Prague Ratter puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. They can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so they need frequent small meals rather than two big ones. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hyperuricosuria, a DNA testable variant that predisposes affected dogs to kidney and bladder stones
- Dental disease, which crowded teeth in a very small mouth make likely, so daily brushing matters
- Injury from jumping and falls, since the breed is acrobatic and light enough to be hurt by a drop from a sofa
Your Prague Ratter puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Prague Ratter.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the Not published adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other toy breeds
More on the Prague Ratter
Previous: Portuguese Water Dog · Next: Presa Canario
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- fci.be for adult weight and height, coat type and country of origin
- wisdompanel.com for life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings and health notes
- Health notes from Prague Ratter breed information at https://www.wisdompanel.com/en-us/dog-breeds/prague-ratter. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for adult weight, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
Photo: Jenc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.