Description

The Czechoslovakian Wolf-Dog was bred by crossing the Carpathian Wolf with working-line German Shepherds. The resulting hybrids were then bred together, and by the fourth generation of cross breeding the dogs resembled the breed we have today.

The Czechoslovakian Wolf-Dog is very wolf-like in appearance; at first glance you would probably mistake them for a genuine wolf! They have the typical short triangular ears and strong jaws of a wolf, with beautiful amber eyes.  These large dogs have a rectangular frame, with firm musculature and a slightly sloping top-line. Their fuzzy tails are high set; the tail normally hangs down, but when the dog is excited, the tail arcs up in a slight curve.

Origin: Czech Republic/Slovakia (Czechoslovakia at the time when the breed was developed)

Look

This breed has the typical colours of a wolf, ranging from a yellow-grey to a silver-grey colour, and even dark grey. They have a light mask on their face, and typically their underside is also lighter. The The Czechoslovakian Wolf-Dog has dense, straight fur. Their winter coat has a thick, fuzzy undercoat, whilst their summer coat is much lighter. They shed heavily twice a year with the changing seasons, but generally brushing will keep shedding in check for the rest of the year.

Health

The Czechoslovakian Wolf-Dog is a healthy and long-lived breed. They generally only have one typical health issue:

• Hip dysplasia

At NewDoggy.com, we promote puppies coming from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines. NewDoggy.com’s Health Certificate certifies that all promoted puppies are in good health.

Learning

The Czechoslovakian Wolf-Dog is highly intelligent and capable of learning a huge variety of tricks; for this reason, they are prized as working dogs. The problem is that they need to be motivated in their training. These clever dogs hate endless repetition, and will become miserable if training is too monotonous. For these reasons, it often takes longer to train this breed than it would another.

Temperament

Considering that their recent ancestors were wild wolves, The Czechoslovakian Wolf-Dog is surprisingly docile and loyal – if trained properly! They are playful, brave, and active, and with proper training these qualities can be nurtured into a wonderful, intelligent dog. The breed is good with children, but suspicious of strangers, and generally not trustworthy with other pets as they have a high prey-drive (for this reason, it’s probably best to keep them on a leash unless you are very confident that your dog will return to your call).

With good consistent training, socialisation, and handling, most of these dogs bond to the whole family, and will be fiercely loyal. Adolescence can be a tough time with this breed, as they tend to be quite moody teenagers!

Living with

It’s important to stress that the Czechoslovakian Wolf-Dog is NOT a dog for beginners, or for those who aren’t willing to devote time and effort to their pet. They are athletic, intelligent dogs that were bred to work, and without an outlet for these characteristics, they will become miserable. Without proper training and socialisation, you will have a large, difficult dog on your hands.

The Czechoslovakian Wolf-Dog is very energetic, especially as a puppy, and needs proper physical and mental stimulation. These dogs were originally bred to be working animals, and won’t be happy with nothing to do. They need a job, or will become bored and hard to manage. If you love canine sports or outdoor activities such as hiking, the Czechoslovakian Wolf-Dog could be the ideal dog for you.