A distinctive little terrier with a charming look, the Cesky terrier is a characterful pooch and one with attitude! This little dog with a big personality can be stubborn and tenacious but is also loveable, loyal and fun. They are calmer than many terrier breeds but need plenty of exercise and crave company all day.
Which breed group is the Cesky terrier in?
Breed group: Terrier
Cesky terrier breed history
Developed in the Czech Republic during the 20th century, the Cesky terrier was bred by Frantisek Horak who also bred horses and eventually became a geneticist. He acquired a Scottish terrier in the 1930s but found that it was too aggressive. He later crossed Scottish terriers with Sealyham terriers as he believed that this would result in excellent hunting dogs which all the right attributes which were not aggressive. The public were introduced to his Cesky terriers in the 1950s and his dogs proved to be proficient hunters of rabbit, duck, fox and wild boar. They were courageous and tenacious dogs with oodles of stamina.
Cesky terriers are now prized in the Czech Republic and have become popular further afield, particularly in Scandinavia. The Cesky Terrier was officially recognised by The Kennel Club in 1990 but it remains difficult to find a puppy due to the limited number of breeders.
Cesky terrier breed characteristics
Sturdy and short-legged, Cesky terriers are longer than they are tall and boast distinctive long heads. They have bushy beards, thick moustaches and impressive eyebrows. Their eyes are triangular and hang down close to the dogs’ cheeks. Their backs rise gently and they possess powerful hindquarters with muscular thighs. Tails are carried down when the dogs are at rest but higher when the dogs are excited. These terriers have gorgeous wavy coats with an appealing sheen which can be grey, grey and tan, grey blue, light brown, silver or wheaten.
Calm and rarely aggressive, Cesky terriers relish human company but can be wary of strangers. They are very smart and so require constant mental stimulation and they need plenty of exercise. Their Strong prey drive could see them chasing small pets and they can’t be left home alone as they tend to suffer from separation anxiety.
- Lifespan: 9-15 years
- Height: up to 29cm
- Weight: up to 10kg
- Sturdy
- Short legs
- Long heads
- Beards and moustaches
- Bushy eyebrows
- Wavy coats
- Variety of colours
- Wary of strangers
- Intelligent
- Strong prey drive
- Calmer than other terriers
Health issues with the Cesky terrier
As this breed is relatively rare, information regarding its health is limited. However, Cesky terriers are known to be prone to the following conditions:
- Hip dysplasia
- Primary lens luxation (PLL)
- Scottie Cramp
- Patella luxation
- Cancer
- Obesity
What is the Cesky terrier bred for?
The Cesky terrier was bred to hunt small foxes and other prey and to be able to work in packs or individually.
What sort of owners does the Cesky terrier suit?
Cesky terriers are loyal pets which are generally good with children. They shed little but do require lots of exercise and mental stimulation. They get on well with other dogs and are easy to train. However, they can be somewhat tenacious and stubborn. As such, these dogs are best suited to active owners who are prepared to be firm during training and to devote time to grooming their pet. Owners may have to possess great patience as Cesky terriers like to chew and may be destructive. These dogs are not suited to being left home alone and so require owners who are with them all day.