The Czech Republic is known to be one of the “dog-friendliest nations in Europe” and is known for creating up to seven different breeds of dogs, mainly to hunt and guard livestock. The two oldest breeds are the Bohemian Shepherd and the Prague Ratter, followed by the Bohemian Wire-haired Pointing Griffon, the Czech Terrier, the Bohemian Spotted dog, and the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. The youngest of the seven breeds is the Czech Mountain dog.

The Bohemian Shepard:

The Chodský pes or Bohemian Shepherd dates to the 13th century and was created to guard the Kingdom of Bohemia. The dogs would accompany the farmers, or Chods, from the western Bohemian region of Chodsko to guard the southwestern border crossing to Germany. They were also used to herd sheep and protect people’s property. Today, due to their friendly nature and intelligence, they are used as service animals, therapy dogs, and for scent tracking and search/rescue missions. They are also used as family pets because they are easy to train, playful, and great with children and other dogs.

The Bohemian Shepherd became part of Czech consciousness due to the novel Psohlavci (The Dogheads) written by Alois Jirásek. The dog was also depicted in drawings by the Czech painter Mikoláš Aleš and is now used as a symbol on the badges of Czech Scouts.

The Prague Ratter:

The Pražský Krysařík or Prague Ratter is the smallest Czech dog breed and dates to the Middle Ages. Historical writings state that the Polish King Boleslaw II was very fond of the Prague Ratter and brought two of them to his palace from Bohemia. In 1377 Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, presented three of these dogs to the French King Charles V as a gift. This breed is also connected to other European rulers, such as Rudolf II.

According to breeder and veterinarian Vladimira Ticha, the Prague Ratter was used in urban and rural houses for catching rats and mice before cats were widely domesticated. They were also used in royal houses to protect people from being poisoned by others. During meals, the dogs would walk on the table tasting the food and drinks to detect poisons.

The Bohemian Wire-haired Pointing Griffon:

The Český fousek or Bohemian Wire-haired Pointing Griffon was originally bred in the Czech Republic as a versatile hunting dog that could adapt to any terrain (e.g., fields, water, and forest). This dog was already an established breed during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is considered one of the oldest breeds of Pointers in Europe. The breed almost died out during WWI and WWII, but enthusiasts saved them, and their popularity is now growing abroad.

Nowadays, the Český fousek is used less for hunting and more as a family pet as it is a very friendly, affectionate, intelligent, and loyal breed. It is also more suited for the countryside than urban areas because it needs a lot of space and exercise.

The Czech Terrier:

The Cesky terrier or Czech Terrier was created in the late 1940s by František Horák by breeding a Sealyham terrier with a Scottish terrier. Horák wanted to create a small, short-legged, and easily trainable dog for forest hunting. Now these dogs are rarely used for hunting. Due to their calm and loyal nature, they are used mainly as family pets or as a show breed. The Czech terrier was first introduced in the US in the 1980s and in the UK in 1989. This dog is considered one of rarest breeds in the world.

The Bohemian Spotted Dog:

The Český strakatý pes or Bohemian Spotted Dog, originally called “Horák’s Laboratory Dog”, was first created in 1954 as a medical research animal. František Horák, a Czech cynologist or specialist in canines, worked in the laboratories of the Czechoslovak Academy of Science’s Institute of Physiology. He wanted to create a dog that would be best for lab experiments; meaning a dog that would be calm, gentle, and easy to care for and breed. He bred a Misi and a Riga to create a breed that was used in research for epilepsy, genetic illnesses, medication testing, and organ transplants. This breed was one of the first animals in Czechoslovakia to receive a kidney transplant.

Due to its experimental use, this breed remained a secret and wasn’t seen outside of the laboratory until 1961, when it showed up at a dog show in Prague-Chucle. In the 1970s the use of the breed in experiments was reduced, and by 1981 the breed was no longer used by the laboratories. Any remaining dogs were given to private breeders with the first litter born outside of the labs in 1981. From this point on, the breed was named the Bohemian Spotted Dog. Now the dog is a popular breed in the Czech Republic and makes excellent family pets.

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog:

The Československý vlčák or Czechoslovakian Wolfdog was created by Karel Hartl, a Czech, in 1955 by crossbreeding a Carpathian grey wolf with a German Shepherd. Hartl wanted a dog that had the qualities of a shepherd but the stronger senses and stamina of a wolf to be used as a work dog for the military border patrol. According to breeder and veterinarian, Vladimira Ticha, “It was originally intended as a research experiment, but then after some consideration it was concluded that the border guards could have their own dog breed, like the Russians have their black Russian terrier, so we could have the Czechoslovakian wolfdog.” The breeding of the dog was expanded in Slovakia by Frantisek Rosik (a native of Moravia). In 1993 when Czechoslovakia was dissolved, a meeting between Czech and Slovak breeders resulted in Slovakia taking charge of the breeding. However, they can’t make any changes without the Czech Republic approving it.

The breed is still used as a work dog. In the US and Europe, they are used for search and rescue, tracking, and herding. They are also popular as companion dogs for active owners. Approximately 2,000 wolfdogs currently exist in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Mountain Dog:

The Český horský pes or Czech Mountain dog was created by breeding a Slovak Cuvac with an Alaskan in 1977. The breed is the youngest and the least common of the Czech original dog breeds. This large, powerful dog was originally bred for working in the mountains in rescue-work and dog sledding. Today they continue their work as avalanche rescue dogs and are still trained for sledding. However, the breed is mostly kept as family pets. They are very friendly, loyal, affectionate, and great around children. They are best suited outdoors with a lot of space to exercise.

Written by James Travis

Sources:

“Czech Dog Breeds.” Czechology. February 20, 2024. https://www.czechology.com/czech-dog-breeds/.

“Dog Breeds.” American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/.

Fodor, Anna. “Czech Dog Breeds Series.” Radio Prague International. July 7-20, 2022. https://english.radio.cz/czech-dog-breeds-8742713/7.

Frankova, Ruth. “Czech Dog Breeds Series.” Radio Prague International. June 15-29, 2022

Frankova, Ruth and Klara Stejskalova. “Czech Dog Breeds: Prague Ratter.” Radio Prague International. Febrary 23, 2022.

Peterson, Tony J. “Cesky Fousek: Breed Profile.” Gun Dog Magazine. August 3, 2019. https://www.gundogmag.com/editorial/breed-profile-cesky-fousek/175470.