If you love “terriers,” there’s no reason you wouldn’t love owning a Cesky Terrier or Bohemian Terrier. However, if you’re not “super” familiar with what it’s like to possess a terrier, you will want to keep reading our article all about the Cesky Terrier.
Because in…
In this article, we will attempt to discuss all the pros and cons of owning a Cesky and provide some background on how the breed came into existence.
Then, once we have a general understanding of the breed, we’ll also want to address a few medical issues you’ll want to be on the lookout for before adopting your Cesky Terrier puppy or adult rescue Cesky Terrier.
Cesky Terrier Fast Facts
Origin: Czech Republic
Original Purpose: Small game hunter and livestock herder
Height: 10 to 12 inches
Weight: 15 to 30 pounds
Life Span: 10 to 15 years
Dog Breed Group: Terrier Dogs
Origin of the Cesky Terrier
The Cesky Terrier is a relatively new breed in that it hasn’t been around for centuries, slowly evolving. Instead, the Cesky Terrier was actually “created” in 1945 when a breeder known as Frantisek Horak decided to breed the Scottish Terrier and the Sealyham Terrier together, inheriting the work-focused attitude from both ancestors.
His goal was…
To combine the Scottish Terrier’s rambunctious rat-catching instincts and the otter-hating master hunter tendencies of the Sealyham Terrier to create the super hunting dog for his Czech homeland. What happened next was that soon after the Cesky Terrier was introduced to the Czech Republic, this new little “pup” kickstarted a new trend in ‘Designer’ or ‘Hybrid’ types of dog.
Over the years…
This has resulted in a “mixed” bag regarding results. In some cases, responsible dog breeds have used our “genetic” knowledge to avoid the propagation of many avoidable hereditary conditions.
While in other cases, breeders have used some of this knowledge to maximize specific “characteristics” that they may value at the expense of a particular dog or dog breed (Chiari malformations and Color Dilution alopecia are just two medical conditions that come to mind).
Fortunately, with regards to the Cesky Terrier, only the “best” intentions were used when creating this unique little terrier, which is why you’ll find that even today, decades after they were initially created, they remain one of the healthiest terrier breeds out there.
Where has Cesky been hiding?
Since 1945 this breeds Frankinstein-esque beginnings; the Cesky has become a favorite breed with farmers throughout the English-speaking world. They are good with pets, good with sheep, and good with people.
Surprisingly though…
Cesky Terriers aren’t all that popular. Now it could be because some folks don’t think they’re the cutest of all the terriers (we like their short legs), or it could just be that the need for “working dogs” has declined. And since Cesky Terriers aren’t the type of dog that will be content sitting in someone’s lap all day!
Either way, the Federation Cynologique Internationale puts this dog as one of the rarest in the known world. This means that if you do decide to get your hands on one, not only are you going to have a nifty little working dog on your hands, but you’re also going to have something of a rarity to brag about as well!
Oddly…
The American Kennel Club did not officially recognize the Cesky Terrier until 2011 when the Breed Standard was set. For more information about what an “ideal” Cesky Terrier will look like, we would recommend that you check out the Cesky Terriers Club based out of the UK or the American Cesky Terrier Fanciers Association, which are both great resources for information about the Cesky Terrier dog breed.
What will my new Cesky look like?
Your new pup will have a striking shape on his head and neck. He will have a long neck, and like most other terriers, your Cesky will have a big beard. His fur will be very soft, come in all shades of Grey, and sometimes even appear silver!
Because…
Your Cesky will have a silky coat like most “Scottie dogs”; his undercoat will be prone to the same tangling that most “Scottie dogs” suffer. This is why you’ll want to perform daily brushing on them to ensure that they remain “knot-free.”
Traits, temperament, and territories!
The Czech Terrier is one hundred and twenty-five percent Terrier. From his Scottish Terrier rat-dog abilities to his Welsh Terrier herding skills, this dog will be best suited for an owner who can keep his Cesky Terrier busy with plenty of exercise.
And you might think…
That is because your Cesky Terrier isn’t all that big. They won’t require all that much room to roam around, but you would be incorrect to make that assumption. As we said, these little guys are “125% all terriers”.
So, they will hunt like a terrier, bark like a terrier, and dig like a terrier. This is why if you live in an apartment or a home without access to a secure yard, this isn’t going to be the “right” dog for you!
These are not…
The “type” of dogs you will want to leave in an empty room with nothing to do but eat your shoes, furniture, toys, or just about anything else they can get their teeth on! And even when properly trained, Terriers have been known to be a bit “spiteful,” meaning that your terrier may see that they shouldn’t eat your favorite pair of shoes. Still, because you decided to leave them in the house all day, they just wanted to let you know how they “felt” about that decision!
That said…
If you keep your Cesky occupied and socialize with him often, and find exciting chores for him to do around the house, we think that you’ll find your Cesky will love you unconditionally for as long as you both shall live.
Is the Cesky Terrier a healthy breed?
As we mentioned, the Cesky Terrier was created for all the right reasons using healthy terrier breeds to create a “master” hunter. As a result, the species remains quite beneficial today with no “true” genetic dispositions towards any common ailments. And while some, May say that they are at risk for developing hip dysplasia, this risk is relatively low and not any higher than any other dog breed risk, in our opinion.
But this does not…
Change the fact that your new pet may one day develop an illness or suffer from an injury that could require them to receive veterinarian care. This is why we always encourage anyone considering purchasing or adopting a new pet to look at what it might cost to buy a pet insurance policy for their animal.
This is because owning a pet can be expensive, and you never know what conditions your dog may or may not develop throughout their life. Knowing that you have a pet insurance policy in place that could help you afford the cost of treatment if the need arises is HUGE!
Now will…
A pet insurance policy be suitable for everyone? Probably not, but until you know what it costs, how will you know if it’s right for you?
For more information, please visit our article titled: Best Pet Insurance Companies.
