Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog breed originates from attempting to cross German Shepherds with wolves. With its wolf-like appearance and behaviour, it should definitely be left in experienced hands.

Characteristics

The close resemblance to the wolf can be noted in many respects with these pedigree dogs. On one hand, the typical reserved behaviour around anything new and unfamiliar, coupled with an innate flight instinct, and on the other, pronounced hunting behaviour constantly exemplified by great courage and fearlessness characterise the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog.

“Big bad wolf” or loyal companion?

Above all, its quick reactions, extreme performance and excellent sense of smell make the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog predestined to work as a service dog for the military or police. Thus, the Czechoslovakian army’s desire for tough working and utility dogs marked the beginning of the first breeding attempts. The Wolfdog should combine positive characteristics of German Shepherds with essential wolf features to become a more capable border watchdog. The army hoped to gain new strength through these dogs that were to be as similar as possible to wolves. However, the shyness and fearfulness of some of these hybrid dogs proved to be problematic and ultimately unfit for service.

Pronounced pack behaviour

Although healthy mistrust and a certain guardedness are nowadays expressly desired according to the FCI standard, responsible breeding, consistent training and comprehensive socialisation have managed to steer these fundamental characteristics in a positive and socially acceptable direction. Under the specified prerequisites, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog can become a fearless companion that proves very teachable and obedient in training. Their loyalty to their owner evokes the wolf’s pronounced pack behaviour and is helpful in this respect. Their above-average intelligence makes them grateful model pupils even when it comes to demanding exercises. These intelligent pedigree dogs are thoroughly capable of critically questioning the tasks they are given, so they should be purposeful.

For whom is the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog suitable?

A high level of experience, patience and intuition is certainly required in order to offer these temperamental Wolfdogs the appropriate training and activity that they require. Only experienced dog owners will succeed in catering to their particular needs. According to their nature, these dogs must be thoroughly physically and mentally stimulated in order to become even-tempered and satisfied companions.

Are they feasible family dogs?

Cautious and early socialisation minimises these naturally shy dogs’ fear of unfamiliar humans, animals and situations. When appropriately trained and socialised, it’s feasible for a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog to make a good family dog. Especially when around children, the patient and loving side of these incredibly loyal dogs comes to the fore.

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Appearance

The mistrust with which the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog meets strangers can be reciprocal for certain encounters. The fairy tale of the “big bad wolf”, which is fixed in the memory of many, doesn’t help here! Even as a loyal companion dog, its close relation to the wolf cannot be denied. The wolf-like qualities are evident in the physique, wedge-shaped head, grey coat and strong muscles.

Elegant and powerful with thick fur

The entire body appears powerful and elegant. The robust and weather-resistant stock hair is yellow- to silver-grey in colour, whilst a dark-grey shade is occasionally possible. White markings on the chest and base of the neck are typical characteristics with Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs of all colours. A peculiarity shared with the wolf is how the fur adapts according to the season. The fur is very different in the winter and summer. In winter, the undercoat covers the whole body, forming a dense coat along with the top hair. It reaches from the ears across the stomach and down to the toes!

Understanding behaviour through looks alone

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog has a slightly arched forehead with a moderately pronounced stop and typical characteristics depending on the sex. There is a clear differentiation between males and females. The narrow, slanting and generally amber-coloured eyes lend the Wolfdog its typically intense expression. Its triangular prick ears are medium-sized and reveal both its wolf-like heritage and types of body language – the Wolfdog is capable of expressing itself in many ways through gestures. This breed are very restrained when it comes to barking – however their howling could seriously test your neighbours’ patience.

History

The history of this interesting breed dates back to a highly audacious biological experiment in the middle of the 1950s. In the then Czechoslovakian Socialist Republic, the biologist Karel Hartl crossed German Shepherds with Carpathian wolves. The army gave him the order to do so, since it was on the lookout for primal service dogs that were more suitable to the extreme weather conditions in Czechoslovakia’s high border regions. Hartl initially didn’t intend to create a new official dog breed through his experiments and was primarily focused on scientific interest and the discoveries regarding the fertility and anatomic peculiarities of the two subjects.

Brita: She-wolf and primordial mother

In the CSR’s border protection facilities, the breeding attempts between 24 carefully selected shepherd dogs and four Carpathian wolves were to take place. Three arduous years passed until the first litter was born on 26 May 1958. The she-wolf Brita – nowadays the primordial mother of the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog breed – had refused to mate up until then and attacked all the stud dogs chosen for her. Mating only came to pass when the aggressive and extremely dominant male shepherd dog Cézar z Březového háje happened to enter the she-wolf’s enclosure.

The rise and fall of Wolf-dog mongrels

Hartl continued to pair wolf-dog hybrids from the first generation with German Shepherds and developed four breeding lines over the course of the years, in which he repeatedly crossed wolf-dog mongrels. The last wolf cross-breeding took place in 1983.

Although the first generations were to some extent trainable, the hybrids were still too reserved and aggressive to be deployed with the army. Only from around the fifth generation onwards could a few dogs be deployed for service, however, only after comprehensive and early socialisation which allowed them to bond closely with humans. This time commitment was probably too great for the army and it withdrew from its request for a new service dog breed. As a result, breeding of the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog almost ground to a halt in 1971.

The path towards recognition

After the army stepped back from its role as initiator, breeding efforts for the Wolfdog came to a standstill. Only ten years later did interested breeders and cynologists form a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Club in 1982, thereby recommencing breeding. The CSR’s cynological umbrella association quickly recognised the results as a new national breed. In 1989, the FCI initially followed with provisional recognition. Ten years later in 1999, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog gained definitive recognition. Since then, it has been listed under the FCI standard number 332 in group 1 (sheepdogs and cattle dogs), section 1 (sheepdogs).

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