The Cesky Terrier is one of the rarest breeds. However, if you manage to acquire one of its representatives, consider that you are already a happy person. After all, the Czech Terrier is one of the most flexible, intelligent and calm dogs.
Of course, he is very mobile, playful and active, like all terriers, but at the same time he is not characterized by stubbornness, pride and pride. These wonderful terriers treat all family members with great love, including old people and children. They easily get along with other pets, unless of course, these are rodents.
Cesky Terrier photos
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Physical characteristics
The Cesky Terrier is a small dog of moderately elongated size. He may appear squat, but he is more muscular and sturdier.
At the withers, dogs reach 25-32 cm and weigh 7-10 kg. A distinctive characteristic is the coat: soft, long, thin, silky, slightly wavy texture. On the face, it forms a mustache and beard, in front of its eyes, thick eyebrows.
Distinctive features
- Head: The shape of the muzzle is rounded with a smooth transition to the nose. The back of the nose is divided by a furrow, the lobe is dark.
- Jaws: Fully developed, not wide. The lips are elastic, do not hang down. The incisors are on the same line.
- Ears: Triangular in shape, set high. Fallen on the head, the tips are adjacent to the cheekbones. The sink is open.
- Eyes: Medium in size, but covered with thick eyebrows. Color: walnut, hazelnut, light brown. The eyelids are painted to match the nose.
- Torso: Has a mini size. Slightly elongated, but stocky. The back is broad and straight, the withers powerful. The chest is oval in shape, lowered at the elbows. The lumbar region is muscular. The belly is rolled up so as not to hinder movement.
- Legs: Short, but unlike similar relatives, straight. The front legs are swollen. The blades are pressed against the body. The hind limbs are wider than the front ones, the skeleton is powerful. The thighs are wide, but not wide. Shortened legs. The pads are convex, pigmented under the coat.
- Coat: Soft to the touch, long, slightly wavy. There are such colors: bluish-gray, black with gray, brown. White and yellow spots on the back of the head.
Character and behavior
The Cesky Terrier is a loving and devoted companion with a softer temperament than other terriers.
In the role of a companion, he, on the contrary, is calm and relaxed. It’s easy to train and maintain. He is protective by nature, can be a good watchdog, but at the same time he is not aggressive and does not attack first.
In addition, he is very empathetic and will always alert you of suspicious activity. It is a great choice for families with children, as it combines calmness and gentleness, friendliness and patience.
Socialization will help the Cesky Terrier stay calm in the company of other people and animals. He is usually polite to strangers, but reserved.
These dogs are full of energy and enthusiasm. They love to play and run, so the activity is high. They love hunting and digging, for example, blowing up a fence. They are adaptive and small, they can live in any conditions, if they pay attention and walk with them.
Whether it will be a house or an apartment, it does not matter, the main thing is that he lived with his family. They are not adapted to life on the street or in an aviary. One of the features is that they love to eat and are able to steal food.
In general, the Cesky Terrier is a cute, soft, funny, loyal companion, a dog that loves its owner. They are friendly to people of all ages and large animals. Small and easy to train, he is well suited for keeping in an apartment, but he is a good hunter.
Health
Cesky Terriers have excellent, good health. Since the breed is relatively recent, no specific genetic diseases have been identified. They are rarely prone to known diseases:
- Scotty Crump syndrome. Its essence is convulsions, which will not lead to death, but will scare you very much;
- Dental diseases.
Life expectancy
With the right care, the Cesky Terrier can live 12 to 15 years.
Care
The owner should know the basics of grooming to keep his dog healthy and cheerful. To do this, it is necessary to periodically perform a number of care manipulations:
- Regular brushing of the coat. It is important from the very first days to accustom your baby to such an event. Then, in the future, there will be no problems with an adult dog. The skirt and beard are combed out with a comb with long teeth; for the rest of the coat, you can use a massage brush. For a shaved pet, brushing is sufficient.
- A haircut. Cesky Terriers can be trimmed from 3 months: the skirt and beard are trimmed for puppies, the hair of the tail, head, chest, back is trimmed. You can do it yourself or ask for help from professionals, but dogs of this breed are cut once every 7-8 weeks.
- Bathing your pet. The “Czechs” are washed once a month, and more often if necessary. It is recommended to use special detergents that soften the coat. On the eve of the exhibition, you should not bathe your pet, as its fur will acquire excessive volume and it will be difficult to fit.
- Dental care. The teeth are the weak point of this breed, so it is recommended to visit your veterinarian regularly for check-ups. Experts advise brushing the dog’s teeth 2-3 times a week and giving them bones or special dental treats that prevent the formation of plaque and calculus.
Exercice
Such a pet is not for lazy people, because you need to walk with it strictly twice a day and for a long time. Also, walking is not enough, it should be an active pastime, with games, jogging, exercises.
Living conditions
These small, intelligent dogs are great for keeping in an apartment or a country house. They are quite clean, unpretentious and can behave in a very disciplined manner. The Cesky Terrier is an excellent companion for walking, jogging, hiking, any active activity will bring pleasure to the pet.
At home, it should be provided with a separate place, bowls and toys. It is necessary to immediately outline the framework that the pet should not go beyond.
History of the breed
Since the history of the breed is well preserved, we know that it descended from the Scottish Terrier and the Silichim Terrier. The Scottish Terrier is an ancient breed native to the highlands of Scotland and we know quite a bit about its history.
The first mentions of this breed date back to 1436. The Seelyhim Terrier is not so ancient, it appeared between 1436-1561 in Pembrokeshire, created by Captain John Edwards.
It is from these famous breeds that the Cesky Terrier appeared. Its history is not ancient and begins in the middle of the twentieth century.
The creator of the breed is Frantisek Horak, an amateur cynologist. Before starting to create the breed, he worked for many years as a geneticist at the Prague Academy of Sciences. And working on the Cesky Terrier is part of his scientific work.
Since he was not only a geneticist, but also a hunter, in 1932 he got himself his first Scottish Terrier. The dogs that he used in scientific work, he also used in hunting. Gorak considered the Scottish Terrier a little more aggressive than necessary, and when he met the owner of the Silichim Terrier, he thought to cross these dogs.
He himself was the owner of the Lovu Zdar kennel, which translates as a successful hunter.
At that time Europe was experiencing cataclysms and wars, there was no time for new breeds. He managed to get down to work only after the end of the Second World War.
The birth of the Cesky Terrier took place in 1949, when a Scottish Terrier female Donka Lovu Zdar was crossed with a Silichim Terrier male Buganier Urquelle. Donka was a show-class dog, but regularly took part in the hunt like Buganier. They had one puppy on December 24, 1949, who was named Adam Lovu Zdar. Horak very carefully selected dogs for scientific work on physical and psychological parameters, painstakingly recorded all the results and steps.
Who, when, what lines, results – all this was preserved in his herd books. Because of this, the Cesky Terrier is one of the few breeds whose history is perfectly preserved, right down to the genetic nuances.
Unfortunately, the first representative of the breed was accidentally killed while hunting, which led to a delay in its development. Gorak continues to work and from the second crossing six puppies are born, this was a full-fledged start.
The Scottish Terrier is famous for its hunting qualities, and the Silichim Terrier has a good character. The Cesky Terrier became a typical representative of the group, but calmer than other terriers and well adapted to hunting in the forests of Bohemia.
In 1956, the breed was presented to the public, and in 1959 she first participated in a dog show. A few years later it was recognized by the Czech Kennel Club, and in 1963 by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI).
Popularity came to her not only among hunters, but also among amateurs. A dog named Javor Lovu Zdar received champion status in 1964, which caused a demand for dogs. From this moment, the breed begins its journey to other countries.
Gorak later wants to strengthen his breed by adding the blood of other terriers. FCI will allow him to do this and the choice will again fall on the Silichim Terrier. They are used twice: in 1984 and 1985.
The breed will enter America in 1987, and in 1993 there will be 150 registered dogs and the American Cesky Terriers Fanciers Association (ACTFA) was created. Despite the fact that the Cesky Terrier enjoys international recognition, it remains one of the six rarest breeds in the world.