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Czech Mountain Dog |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
Croatia | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen | |
This breed is also known as |
Bohemian Mountain Dog
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A brief presentation of the Czech Mountain Dog |
| The Czech Mountain Dog (Český horský pes) is a large working dog produced by Czech breeders in the late 70s of the 20th century. It has gained popularity for its versatility and great sturdiness, allowing it to be used not only as a sled dog, but also as a sheepdog and rescue dog. These dogs make wonderful pets for sports enthusiasts. |
History of the Czech Mountain Dog |
| The first litter of the Czech Mountain Dog was produced in 1977 by a deliberate crossbreeding of the Slovak guard dog with a black and white sled dog, which was imported from Athabasca in the Czech Republic. The breed's main developer was Mr. Petr Hanzlík, who was inspired to create a multifunctional, highly trainable and robust dog, ideal for work in mountainous areas. To reinforce the dog's characteristics of endurance, sturdiness and strength, other breeds were added to the mix in the 1980s. Among the most likely candidates for this position are the Central Asian Ovcharka, the Landseer and the English Setter, but this has not been officially confirmed. Czech Mountain Dogs are mainly used for sports such as pulling, sledding, skijoring, bikejoring and more. The breed's value lies in its supreme intelligence, docility and endurance. Thanks to its trainability, it has proved useful for search and rescue operations as well as livestock management. Today, however, this dog is generally acquired for guarding purposes and as a family pet. Its dense double coat provides reliable protection against the freezing cold and can therefore be kept outdoors. Despite minor differences in the appearance of working specimens of the Czech Mountain Dog, it is completely standardized and can be encountered at dog shows in European countries. This is a fairly recent breed of dog that has not yet been recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). However, it was recognized as a national Czech breed in 1984. |
Appearance of the Czech Mountain Dog |
| The Czech Mountain Dog is an incredibly robust and energetic breed, capable of pulling the sled relentlessly for hours on end. This means that even a long, fast walk won't provide an adequate outlet for their exuberant energy. Ideally, this breed should be kept in the home with a spacious, well-fenced yard where it can roam and play without any restraint. If the dog's exercise needs are not adequately met, it will be very prone to behavioral deviations such as destructiveness, nervousness and even aggression. The coat is rich, dense and weather-resistant, most often seen in white with darker markings of various shades. Average height is around 66 centimeters. |
Temperament of the Czech Mountain Dog |
| The disposition of the Czech Mountain Dog is friendly and assured. It's also a homogenous, docile breed that will make an excellent pet for an active individual. This dog has a tendency to compete for leadership. Timely obedience training will enable him to understand his position and the rules of behavior of his human pack. He's generally good with children, but is too strong and animated to fully trust a toddler. Czech Mountain Dogs are instinctively wary of strangers. However, unprovoked human aggression is quite rare for this breed. A well-socialized dog will behave politely in the presence of strangers, even if it will remain slightly reserved and aloof. Thanks to its strong protective capacity and innate vigilance, it can be transformed into an extremely effective watchdog. This large, fierce dog is also ideally suited to the role of watchdog. Czech Mountain Dogs have a bad reputation for strange dogs. He always wants to take a dominant position among the group of other dogs and is quite prepared to fight for it. That's why you have to walk both muzzled and on a leash. This dog has a medium prey drive and can cohabit with other pets with relatively few problems. Nevertheless, it should familiarize itself with the existence of other animal species as early and as accurately as possible. |
Needs and activities of the Czech Mountain Dog |
| The indulgent, intelligent Czech Mountain Dog is characterized by excellent trainability. This breed requires rather basic instructions in everything to do with breeding or sledding. At the same time, some of its specimens can be quite willful and stubborn, so their training may require extra effort. Whatever the case, this confident, powerful dog will not follow orders from anyone it does not recognize as a leader in its own right. He responds best to firm but fair management. He should be motivated to work only with reward-based methods, which should certainly include his favorite treats. Screaming or physical abuse will not bring desirable results to Czech Mountain Dog training. |
Maintenance of the Czech Mountain Dog |
| The Czech Mountain Dog is a hard-working breed and therefore requires a negligible amount of care. Its long, thick coat includes a rich undercoat that provides good protection against the cold of winter. The dog should be brushed at least every two weeks to keep his coat free of knots and matting, although he will certainly benefit from more frequent brushing. The rest consists of basic maintenance tasks, such as trimming the nails once every two months and cleaning the ears if they look dirty. The breed is a heavy seasonal shedder. |
English (United Kingdom)