Stop the Swedish assessment of Prague Ratter!!

Prazsky Krysarik (hereafter referred to as PK) – One of the smallest dog breeds, with origins in the Czech Republic. The breed is as of yet not FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) approved, therefore it has been registered in the Swedish kennelclub/association auxiliary register. The breed is, however, recognized and approved in the following nations, Finland, Denmark, Norway, the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Gruzia, Kazakstan, Estonia, Switzerland and Bulgaria.

The Swedish kennel club (SKK) approved SPKK to complete three breed assessments, whereas two have been completed. Somewhat peculiar is that only in Sweden is the breed stock considered too narrow, meanwhile there are approximately 700 registered PK. In order to illustrate, in comparison other Scandinavian countries have the following registrations in numbers;

Norway – approx.. 140

Denmark – approx.. 40 

Finland – approx. 133

How is this assessment process performed in Sweden?

(Below has been copied from SPKK web-page)

What is a breed assessment?

"A breed assessment entails that a pedigree book is generated for those canines that are approved by this review. The purpose of this assessment is to initiate a greater genetic variation by introducing “new blood”. At the time of valuation, two judges with vast experience of the breed will evaluate the canine’s exterior, in particular how well it corresponds with the Prazsky breed. 

Why is it important to have my dog assessed and pedigreed? 

The breed is still very young, thus low in quantity. Therefore adding new genes by other breeds will lower and eliminate the risks associated by inbreeding. The purpose is to get as many different genes, but only similar by exterior (as mentioned above) in order to secure breeding. If you are considering assisting to aid in this process, we ask of you to have the assessment done and if approved, consider loaning your canine for breeding purposes.

Previous assessments and results

During 2011 two assessments were conducted, one in Vallentuna and one in Växjö. Of the certified eighteen participating canines, fourteen were female and four male. Regrettably, very few of the assessed canines were used for breeding, especially male. The attempt is now to increase the sought genetic variation in the breed and an application for another assessment was approved by the SKK. As only two of the three approved assessments took place 2011 a dispensation was granted, thus allowing us to utilize the third assessment in 2014.

When and where?

At the moment it has not been decided when the assessment will take place, however, we’d like to inform you about this opportunity, allowing as many as possible to help our breed. We shall inform everyone as soon as the board has decided the date and place. We ask you to spread this information to as many as possible.

The assessment is performed by two appointed PK officials. If the attributes of the canine is deemed to meet the criteria it shall then be registered in the auxiliary register.

There are several similarities between an assessment and an exhibition, however, the difference is that the assessment is not a competition, rather a quality/trait evaluation. Your canine can be used for exhibition and breeding once you have received the pedigree with the SKK registration.

During the 2011 assessment several participants assisted and we encourage this also for this assessment.

Criteria for assessment

There are a number of criteria that your canine must meet in order to qualify for assessment. They are the following: 

-Reached nine months

-ID – marked, chip or  tattoo

-Owner registered with the SKK

-The owner must be a registered  member of the SPKK organization

-Tail docked  canines are not permitted

-Is not allowed previous assessments with “not accepted” as a result.

-Male canines must have both testicles, none castrated and Cryptorchidism (Undescended Testicles)

Addendum:  there are no longer any requirements of merle for the assessment. 

A plea to all owners of a possible Prazsky

If your canine has an appearance resembling that of a prazsky krysarik, you have a possibility to get your canine assessed and entered into a pedigree in this one time dispensation.  As a result your particular canine may be used for breeding.  We urge all owners to consider this opportunity as we need to increase the breed by either yourself ensuring breeding or loaning our canine for the purpose.  We also have a request that especially male owners take this opportunity, however, we are of course grateful for female owners to participate!

Should you be interested, do not hesitate to contact:

ida@spkk.se

What can you do to assist?

We can’t stress how essential it is that the prazsky krysarik breed really needs  to get “new blood” and increase the genetic variation! We therefore urge you to act upon this request immediately. 

We cannot expect to get anymore assessment openings within the near future, thus the breed s future relies on us spreading this very important message."

Breed council and board members of The Swedish prazsky krysarik club, SPKK

The text above is copied from the SPKK Swedish Prazsky Krysarik web-page.  We are a group that are questioning and opponents to the assessment process to take place in Sweden.   Below we shall highlight some contraindications to the above text that we’d like you to take a moment to consider.  

As it is specified above, a crossbreed that resembles a PK may be assessed. Some valid questions would be how can this benefit our breed? How do you recognize the health benefits? What information does one have of the canine that could be a combination of a Chihuahua, miniature pinscher, or a dachshund?  There is also the consanguinity to consider. 

There are several ways to go about increasing the breeding stock if one considers the breed to be to narrow. One alternative is to initiate a breed care program whereas you deliberately introduce another breed.  An example of the latter was implemented by the Clumber spaniel club 2001 when they crossbred with a Cocker spaniel. 

Presently crossbreeding is being done between the Småland hound and the Hygen hound. Worth to note is when this  approach is practiced to increase the  genetic variables , a breed that is  well  investigated and examined  by means of health and  several generations in the pedigree is used. 

Yet another questioning is the decision of no longer requirements for merle assessment. The modification is a contraindication in itself. The Board of Agriculture doesn’t consider it to be judicially valid to use two individuals with a predisposition for merle in breeding with each other as there is an increased risk of illness and disabilities in the offspring. Also *heterozygotes can be affected by illness and disabilities, because of this the Board considers breeding between a parent that has genetics for merle questionable. In the cases that this breeding occur and leads to inherited defects of the offspring, the “codes regarding breeding of canines” will have been violated against. The latter should always be considered when deciding to breed a canine bearing the merle gene.

*a hybrid containing genes for two unlike forms of a characteristic, and therefore not breeding true to type

Since the color merle is nowadays in the standard for the breed SPKK requested SKK for registration guidelines in respect to the color and the problems and complications this may cause. Since January 1st, 2012 there is a new registration regulation set – "registration prohibition for offspring as a result of two merle colored canines. Also, breeding ban for red or yellow offspring following a merle colored canine mating with a yellow or red canine” Therefore you shouldn’t breed a canine that is merle, nor should you mate a canine that is yellow or is a bearer of yellow, with a canine that is merle.

Above outline clearly shows that removing the merle requirement in order to meet the criteria for assessment demonstrates lack of responsibility towards the breed and also to the canines’ owner being led into the falsified hope of having their pet pedigreed. 

With all these facts considered, who are we to make the assessment decision in Sweden?  Is an argument that this should be performed in the breeds’ native country with all their knowledge and expertise, not legit? 

We and several other breeders do not share the opinion of the Swedish breed club express having a problem with.  We value our breed and DO NOT support this assessment. 

By signing this petition we hope that we can together show that we consider the breeds native country should handle this themselves! 

Veronica Leijdt & Gunilla Welander / Kennel Whatuas

Pernilla Hansen / Kennel Crested Clan

Veronica Leijdt Whatuas    Contact the author of the petition