Czechoslovakian Wolfdog: Breed Characteristics

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (also known as a wolfhound) does not only resemble a wolf on the outside. Its nature is also very special and his upbringing requires a lot of empathy, patience, and dog sense. The shepherd dog with wolf blood is not suitable for beginners.

Origin and history

The history of the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog begins in 1955 when the first attempts at crossing the German Shepherd Dog and the Carpathian Wolf were made in the then Czechoslovak Republic. The goal of this crossbreed was to create a reliable service dog for the military that combines the keen senses of the wolf with the docility of the sheepdog. It turned out, however, that the wolf-typical characteristics, such as shyness and flight behavior, remained deeply rooted even after several generations so that breeding of this breed almost came to a standstill in the 1970s. It was not until the 1980s that efforts were made again to preserve the breed. International recognition came in 1999.

Appearance

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog resembles a high-legged German Shepherd Dog with wolf-like features. Above all, the physique, the coat color, the light mask, and the wolf-typical light-footed, trotting gait clearly show the wolf heritage.

The  Czechoslovakian Wolfdog has pricked, amber ears, slightly slanted amber eyes, and a high-set, hanging tail. The fur is stock-haired, straight, and close-lying and has a lot of undercoats, especially in winter. The color of the fur is yellow-grey to silver-grey with the characteristic light mask typical of wolves. The fur is also lighter on the neck and chest.

Nature

The breed standard describes the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog as spirited, very active, persistent, docile, fearless, and courageous. It is suspicious of strangers and also shows strong territorial behavior. However, the dog develops an intimate bond with its reference person and its pack. As a typical pack animal, the wolfhound hardly tolerates being alone.

According to the breed standard, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is versatile and very docile. It is very athletic and extremely intelligent. However, one must not ignore the very original nature of this breed. Conventional training methods do not achieve much in this dog. It needs a person with a lot of dog sense who has enough time and patience to deal with the peculiarities and needs of this breed.

A Czechoslovakian Wolfdog also needs to be kept busy, loves the outdoors, and needs plenty of exercises. It can also be used for dog sports such as agility, steeplechase, or tracking. As with all dog breeds, it is also important to socialize them early and carefully, familiarizing them with many environmental influences and getting them used to other people and dogs. Taking care of a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is comparatively uncomplicated given the otherwise rather demanding attitude. However, the stock-haired coat sheds heavily.