# Small Međimurje Dog Also known as: Međi, Štakoraš, Hrčičar - **Group:** Herding (FCI group 1) - **Size:** Small - **Origin:** Croatia - **Temperament:** Alert, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, Reserved with Strangers A small, short-legged Croatian farm dog known as the Ratter, bred to catch rats around the yard. It is smart, loyal and playful with family but wary of strangers. ## Overview The Small Međimurje Dog, or Međi, is a rectangular, short-legged native dog of northwestern Croatia. For more than a century it has lived in rural yards as a guard and a catcher of rats. It is recognised by the Croatian Kennel Club and several other national clubs, though not by the FCI. ## History People in Međimurje called the dog Štakoraš, meaning Ratter, for its skill at hunting large rats. Tradition held that a dog earned its place by quickly catching a fleeing rat flushed from a cellar, attic or manure pit. As rats became less of a problem, the dog's role faded. In 2003 enthusiasts began standardising the breed, and in 2010 the Croatian Kennel Club recognised it as the seventh Croatian native breed. A 2019 scientific paper described it as a distinct breed with several lines. ## Appearance The Međi is a small, rectangular dog with short legs and a medium build with moderately light bone. It has a lupoid look, with a wedge-shaped head and erect triangular ears. The coat is short, fairly hard and flat, with a slight mane on the neck and fringes under the tail. Bicolour and tricolour patterns are most common. ## Temperament It is lively, agile and very intelligent, and typically responds well to verbal commands. It is loyal and affectionate toward its family and playful with children. It is reserved with strangers and will bark loudly to announce them, but it is not aggressive toward people, other dogs or livestock. ## Care and exercise A small, active farm dog, it enjoys daily walks, games and tasks that keep its mind busy. It adapts to family life well if given enough activity. The short coat needs only occasional brushing. ## Ratings (1 to 5) - Energy: 4 - Exercise needs: 3 - Grooming: 1 - Shedding: 3 - Trainability: 4 - Barking: 4 - Good with children: 4 - Good with other dogs: 3 Page: https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/small-medimurje-dog Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Me%C4%91imurje_Dog · https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2943769 Photo: Canarian (CC BY-SA 4.0), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Medimurje-agouti2.jpg Profile written by an AI model from the sources above.