Small Međimurje Dog

The Small Međimurje Dog — Mali međimurski pas, known locally as the Štakoraš or ratter — is a Croatian farmyard terrier from the country's north-western corner.

History

It has been bred in the Međimurje region for over a century as a yard dog and a killer of rats and mice, kept by smallholders rather than by any registry. Croatia's other native breeds are internationally recognised and this one is not, though the national clubs of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, the Netherlands, Finland and the Czech Republic all record it.

Temperament

The breed is known for being alert, quick and attached to its household, with a working terrier's readiness to announce anything that moves.

Care and training

It needs regular exercise and a secure garden, since it digs and hunts. The coarse, hard coat needs brushing but little else. Training benefits from short, interesting sessions.

Health

Generally robust; nothing is widely documented as breed-specific. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.