Fifteen years ago I was very lucky to hear about and acquire 2 imported Prague Ratters.  My whole family fell in love with them, as did  friends and neighbors. I decided to acquire more and there were about 4 or 5 Prague Ratter breeders here in the U.S.  Unfortunately,  it appeared that everybody's  was related to everybody elses. I then decided to get all of my breeding stock from the Czech Republic. Once again my lucky stars were shining and I was able to contact the top Prague Ratter breed advisor in the Czech Republic Zuzana Horakova. She very graciously picked out 6 puppies from the top breeders in the Czech Republic and thus my kennel was born. With my son and an 78 year old friend, we drove around the country (over 1,000 miles) picking up outstanding puppies from 6 different breeding stations. The breeders were so friendly and hospitable (even serving me roast pork, sauerkraut and bread dumplings). 

   It was quite a trip and I loved the country, people, beer, food and especially the puppies. Since then I have imported a total of 40 pedigreed Prague Ratters from 16 different breeding stations because it is imperative to have a diverse  gene pool to keep a breed healthy. Zuzana was instrumental in helping me acquire dogs that met the Prague Ratter standard, were healthy with outstanding personalities and came from the very best breeding stations.

   About 5 years ago I thought I would retire, but hardly any new stock was being brought in.  So I set up over 13 new breeders from Alaska, California, the midwest, Canada, South Carolina, etc. and I even sent one to the president of the Australian Prague Ratters Club.

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Some basic facts about

Prague Ratters

 

    You are about to learn about the smallest, smartest, healthiest, funniest and most adorable dogs in the world!!! 

    Prague Ratters are the smallest, most intelligent, healthiest, most loving and affectionate dogs in the world.Their claim to good health stems from the Czech Federation’s stringent breeding practices. Every litter gets examined by a breed advisor between 6 and 8 weeks and if any flaws are detected, a pedigree is not issued. This was Zuzana Horikova's job for many years, which explains why my breeding stock is of the highest quality. For a dog to be bred (not before 15 months of age), he or she has to be in 2 dog shows and get good ratings and then be examined by 3 experts for conformation, personality, coat quality etc. before they are allowed to reproduce.

 

 

   Another amazing quality that they possess is that they are brilliant.  They housetrain themselves and learn amazingly fast. They are Very, very easy to train. You will also not find a dog that is more alert and agile.  They can jump in the air and spin with ease. Many men and women use Prague Ratters for therapy dogs due to their loving personalities and intelligence.  I have one owner that uses hers as a service animal to remind her to take her medication.  Another one has her Prague Ratter alert her to an impending migraine. One recently went to his new home and wasn’t there 24 hours before he alerted a husband that his wife had fallen and was unconscious out in the yard. He barked and made enough noise at the back door that the husband came out to check on things. 

 

   A brief history tells us that they originated in the year 800 and were owned by royalty.  They were given as gifts to other royalty. Due to the Russians invading Czechoslovakia, Prague Ratters were relatively unknown .  They continue to be extremely rare, but are now recognized by the FCI and the American Rare Breed Association.

 

   They are the best of both worlds - they love to run and play and they are the biggest cuddle buddies in the world. The Czech breeders claim that Prague Ratters are a legal addiction, and I wholeheartedly agree.

 

   My goal as a breeder has always been to import and breed the official International Standard of the breed. I have developed close relationships and connections with Prague Ratter breeders for over a decade through visits and developing genuine friendships with the world's best Prague Ratter breeders.  I have imported 40 pedigreed Prague Ratters so that I can constantly widen the gene pool and increase the quality of the breed.  In the last couple of years I have been very fortunate that some of the highest quality breeders reached out to me offering me their puppies. I imported four two years ago and two more last year.

My other goal is to maintain and advocate ethical breeding practices and I totally disagree with any Prague Ratter breeder who allows their dogs to breed before 15 months of age or under 4 pounds.

 

   My biggest honor has been being invited to register my dogs with a Czech Dog club and my pedigrees will be issued by them, in addition to FCI and ARBA.  My kennel is now officially registered in the Czech Republic and again I am so grateful for all the support, help and love from Zuzana Horakova and other top quality Czech breeders.