The history of the Bohemian Terrier, the external appearance of the dog, character traits and health, recommendations for care, training, interesting facts. Purchasing a puppy. This is a fairly young breed, bred by an amateur cynologist. The enthusiast passed on the inclinations of his relatives who worked with dogs. He devoted his whole life to these animals. As a result, he got a completely new, wonderful species of canines, in which you can find literally everything.
With such animals, you can hunt wonderfully and live peacefully in the house. They are soft, kind and flexible, but at the same time active and playful. In Russia, practically nothing is known about them, but in their homeland they are very popular. Who got acquainted with the breed, discovered the ideal friend and companion.
History of the origin of the Czech Terrier
The fame of breeding the Czech Terrier, which was once called Bohemian, belongs to František Horak. He spent all his childhood years in the castle, but this man was not an aristocrat. He lived there because his father, grandfather and great-grandfather served there as simple hunters and grooms. From here came the boy's love for dogs. Growing up, he became interested in breeding Scotch Terriers and achieved outstanding results. He became one of the best breeders in Czechoslovakia, but did not stop there.
An amateur cynologist began work on the development of a new breed in 1948. He took as a basis two British types of terriers: scotch tape and sealyham. What task did Gorak set for himself? First, he wanted to breed a universal dog breed. On the one hand, they were supposed to be excellent hunters, on the other, quiet and calm companions at home. He wanted the terrier to be owned by anyone. At first glance, it seems that the task is not feasible, but the enthusiast has successfully coped with the difficult work.
Scottish exuberant temperament of Scotch, he softened the character of the Sealyham Terrier, which was not distinguished by good health, but he managed to solve this problem too. In the course of selection, Frantisek Horak managed to eliminate two more problems. All British terriers tremble, and this makes it difficult to care for the dog. The Bohemian Terrier can simply be trimmed with a clipper.
The second problem was much more serious. After World War II, the total number of dogs, and even more terriers, was minimal. On the basis of such a variegated population, the gifted dog handler managed to breed his national breed of dogs, and thereby increase the number of European terriers.
As a result, in 1963, by the Czechoslovakian Cynologists' Union and the International Kennel Federation, they were recognized as a breed. In 1980, a group of enthusiasts brought them to the United States of America. In 1988, the Americans created the Bohemian Terrier Club and by 1993, there were 150 of them.
In 1989, the breed first arrived in the UK, and in 1990 was recognized by the local Kenel Club. On January 1, 2000, the variety already had the status of a rare breed. Since then, she has successfully competed in the country's show contests.
The word "terror" is translated as earth. Basically all terriers work in or near the burrow. For Czech dogs, the main object of prey is foxes or badgers. The badger is a very dangerous animal with huge claws, in the hole it behaves extremely aggressively and cunningly. Such a beast must be played on someone else's territory. What a resourceful mind and persistent character this dog needs to have. Its thick coat serves as a kind of protection in the battle with the beast.
There are very few Bohemian terriers and they are not known outside the Czech Republic. They are very popular in their homeland. Firstly, it is the country of hunters. For many Czechs, this is a hobby or family tradition, passed down through generations, and there are a large number of dogs here. Walking along the street in the morning or evening, you can notice that literally every second person walks with his four-legged pet. On the territory of modern Czech Republic, there are no more than six hundred of them. And in the world there are more than five thousand and their number is constantly growing. Books about Bohemian Terriers are being published. This cuddly breed is of great interest to dog lovers. In 2012, the Czech Cynological Association immortalized the name of František Horak with a medal depicting all the national dog breeds of their country. It was given to people who were involved in their breeding.
Description of the external standard of the Czech Terrier breed
The Bohemian dog is a hunting terrier. The dog is of a rectangular format, with well-developed muscles, short legs, naturally drooping ears and tail. Has a long, silky hairline. It can be in shades of gray, from charcoal to platinum, as well as sandy, black or rarely brown color. She has excellent skills for sports.
The height at the withers is ideally 29 cm for males, 27 cm for bitches, with a variation of 2 cm. Weight varies between 5, 9 and 10, 0 kg, depending on gender. The animal must move freely. Running is quite slow, but confident. In this case, the position of the forelimbs is in a straight line forward.
- Head has the shape of a long blunt wedge, the ideal length is 20 cm and a width of 10 cm. The plane of the forehead forms a slight transition to the bridge of the nose. The occipital protuberance is easy to feel, the cheekbones are moderately noticeable. The frontal furrow is only slightly marked. The width between the ears is slightly wider for males than for bitches.
- Muzzle with a straight bridge of the nose. A narrow muzzle is undesirable. The stop is not accented, but visible. The lips are relatively thick, neatly matched, black-pigmented. The teeth are strong and evenly aligned in relation to the jaw. Scissor bite. The absence of 2 premolars in the lower jaw is allowed. If there are no more than 4 teeth or other incisor problems, then such individuals are disqualified.
- Nose well developed, dark. It should be black in dogs of all shades: gray, sand or brown.
- Eyes The Czech Terrier is slightly deep set, of medium size, with a calm and friendly expression. Brown or dark brown in individuals of all shades: gray, sandy and brown.
- Ears medium in size, positioned in such a way as to cover the auricle well. The high fit promotes contact of the front edge of the ear with the cheek. They are in the shape of a triangle.
- Neck set high, well muscled and strong. Medium length, with a gentle curve.
- Frame elongated, elongated, muscular. The withers are not too pronounced, there is no dewlap. The croup is well developed and moderately sloping. The loin is relatively long, mesomorphic, wide and slightly rounded. The line of the back in the pelvic region is slightly higher than towards the withers. The chest is voluminous, deep, cylindrical in shape. The ribs are gently curved. The belly is slightly tucked up. The groin line is well filled.
- Tail low rise. Its ideal length is 18–20 cm. At the base it is wide and tapers towards the end. In a calm state, it can be lowered down or with a slight bend at the end. With active movement, it takes the shape of a saber and is located on the horizontal line of the back. A curved tail with a ringlet that is located on the back is considered a defect.
- Front limbs - short, straight, well boned and parallel to each other. The articulation angles are moderate. The shoulders are well muscled and well laid back. The elbows are somewhat loose. The hindquarters are parallel to each other, muscular. The thighs are strong. The knee bends well. The shins are relatively short. The hocks are well developed. Slightly shorter in height than the front legs.
- Paws - in the form of a vault, with well-curved, tightly spaced toes. It has strong claws and developed thick pads. The hind feet are slightly smaller than the front ones.
- Coat - long guard hair with a characteristic slightly wavy texture and a silky sheen. The undercoat is soft and dense. Disadvantages: Curled, coarse or wadded coat. For Czech Terriers, a special haircut is created, leaving long hair above the eyebrows and in the lower part of the body.
- Color reaches its final saturation in mature dogs by three years of age and older. It has two varieties of coat color. First: any shade of gray (coal to platinum, gray with black pigment). Second: coffee (brown with sandy pigment). Black color can appear on the head, beard, cheeks, ears, limbs and tail. White, gray, brown and yellow markings are allowed on the head, beard, cheeks, neck, chest, limbs and around the anus. A white collar or white ending on the tail is permitted. The main color should always prevail. Disadvantages: Long mottling for dogs over two years old, light spots covering more than twenty percent of the body.
Features of the character of the dog Czech Terrier
Bohemian Terriers are loving and loyal friends. Small, good-natured and athletic, they are always cheerful and companionable. Despite the fact that many keep them as pets, they are real hunters and retain this tendency. Animals are hardy and gambling. They are fearless, do not retreat even in front of a large beast.
Very energetic and agile. They love to run and play, so terriers are very active. They also love “earthworks,” like blowing up a fence. They are very fond of food and can steal food. Cautious but friendly and interested in everyone.
Such cute creatures will brighten up the loneliness of an elderly person, since they have a calm disposition and for people of age, it will be easy to handle them. Suitable for families with a large number of children of different ages, as they are happy to play.
The cat will not be a hindrance, they will definitely make friends with her. In fact, it is a versatile companion dog and a true friend. On the street, and in an unfamiliar situation, pets are wary. But at home, when they got to know the guest a little, these are the sweetest creatures.
Czech Terrier health
Life expectancy in these dogs is 12 to 15 years. Like all breeds, they can have some health problems such as knee dislocation, thyroid damage, heart and eye diseases. Some individuals may encounter such flaws in their lives, but most Czech Terriers are robust and healthy.
When dealing with a responsible breeder, those who want to own such a pet can get advice about the specific disease problems of this breed. In professional kennels, genetic testing of their breeding producers is used to reduce the likelihood of hereditary diseases in puppies. In order for a pet to grow strong, it must be properly maintained, and this is: balanced nutrition, walks and proper physical activity. In addition, it is necessary to carry out disinfection from internal and external parasites such as worms, fleas and ticks. Vaccination of the Bohemian Terrier is compulsory. The manipulation is carried out throughout the life of the animal, once a year.
Recommendations for the care of the Czech Terrier
- Wool cut in a certain way, according to a pattern, using a typewriter and scissors. Part of the head, ears, body is cut short to highlight the well-developed muscles of the Bohemian Terrier. Longer hair is left on the face and limbs. Shapes A and U are cut with scissors on the upper side of the front legs and the neck, head, chest, shoulders, tail. The back of the thigh is trimmed shorter from the top of the V on the tail and around the anus. The hair on the muzzle is cut from the middle of the eye to the rear edge of the lip line so that the characteristic eyebrows and beard are formed. All transitions between areas with long and short hair should be smooth, harmonious for the eye - never sharp. The hairstyle shaping procedure is repeated every six to eight weeks. The remaining long hair is brushed with a special comb every day. Bathe the dog as it gets dirty with typed means. After returning from hunting, the pet's dirty fur coat must first dry before combing it out. If you have a show dog for exhibitions, then of course before the shows it is better to turn to professional specialists - groomers.
- Ears checked regularly to avoid the buildup of sulfur and dirt, which can lead to infection.
- Eyes if necessary, wipe with cotton pads moistened with water.
- Teeth The Czech Terrier should be cleaned regularly so that there are no deposits of stones and periodontal disease. For prevention, let him nibble on the edible bones from the pressed veins of cattle.
- Claws should be trimmed regularly, using wire cutters or a sander, to prevent cracking and overgrowth.
- Feeding has its own focus and composition, which will satisfy the needs of the animal at various stages of its life. Everything is selected depending on the variety of your dog. Many ready-made concentrate companies produce feed for small, medium, large and giant breeds. What you feed your pet is your individual choice, but it is best to consult a veterinarian or breeder. This is the best way to determine the frequency of meals, its composition, for both the puppy and the adult dog, in order to increase its lifespan. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times. Bohemian Terriers are big gluttons, so don't overfeed your four-legged friend. Excess weight can seriously harm your health.
- Walking must be active and regular, at least twice a day. If it is not possible to keep Bohemian dogs in pairs, then find friends for your pet to play on the street. It will be good to allocate a small aviary in a private house so that the dog runs up and frolic.
Training of the Czech Terrier
It is necessary to socialize and start teaching elementary commands from an early age of the pet. While Czech Terriers are determined and proactive hunters, they are more docile and obedient than the usual hot-tempered terrier. They are afraid of strangers and protect loved ones.
Since they love their master, they try to please him, so they lend themselves well to training. Smart, adventurous, and family oriented. These dogs are active and smart enough to compete with other dog breeds in tests of obedience, agility, pursuit and search for prey.
Interesting facts about the Bohemian Terrier
All puppies of the Czech Terrier are born black and only by six or seven months their final color is established.
Purchase and price of a Czech Terrier puppy
If you want to have a Czech Terrier, then it has many advantages:
- compact size and pleasant character, allows you to take them with you everywhere;
- silky, wavy coat, does not take long to groom;
- energetic outdoors, soft and quiet indoors;
- are friendly to most of their fellows, good-natured and easy-going in dealing with other pets;
- love all family members, especially children;
- are not picky about food.
To buy a terrier, it is best to do business with professional breeders. The best nurseries are located in their homeland, in the Czech Republic. In them, dogs pass a good selection for: health, exterior and working qualities. They will help you in choosing a puppy, advise you on further growing, care and education. Throughout the life of a pet, you can turn to specialists for practical advice. The price may vary depending on the requirements for the future pet. The approximate cost can be from $ 500 to $ 900.
For more information about the Czech Terrier, see this issue of Planet of the Dogs:
