Cesky Terrier: Is this Right Breed for You

Pronounce it “chess-kee,” meaning Czech

Cesky Terrier, by Janice Jones, Last Updated 04-28-2024

Bred for hunting, the Cesky makes an excellent family pet.  They are sweet and mild mannered and want to please. 

They crave attention and do not like being
left alone, but are very adaptable and will feel equally at home in the county
or city. 

They are playful, calm and inquisitive indoors, but outside, their
instincts are likely to take over. 

Hunting and chasing small animals are
inborn traits, so training and early socialization are two tasks that every Cesky owner must accomplish. 

Terriers like to dig, so if you plan to give
your Cesky some quality outdoor time, be sure your fence is secure.  

With strangers, Cesky Terriers
can be reserved but polite.  Continual
socialization is recommended for this breed throughout their life. 

They are
relatively easy to train and respond to commands. 

Like other terriers, he does have his
independent streak and can be stubborn at times. 

Praise and food work well for training
success. 

The Cesky Terrier

These dogs are
great with kids and do well with other
dogs as long as they have been introduced and socialized at a young age. 

They don’t do well with pocket pets such
hamsters, gerbils, mice and rabbits because of their natural instinct to hunt
and kill small animals

The Cesky is one of
those breeds that are born one color and tend to lighten up as they get
older. 

Adult colors are gray but they are born black with white areas
on their body.  Two years later, your dog
will be any shade of gray from very dark charcoal to almost white.

The downside to this breed is its lack of
availability.  They are very rare and if
you think this is the breed for you, you may be in for a wait. 

History

The Cesky
Terrier is a recent addition to the dog world and its history is well
documented.  Many breeds go back hundreds
if not thousands of years, but the Cesky got it beginnings in 1948. 

A Czech breeder, František Horák was an avid
hunter and bred Scottish terriers. He wanted a dog that was able to hunt in packs
the forests of Bohemia and the Scotty was not well suited to pack hunts. 

So he purchased a Sealyham Terrier because he
thought they would make better hunting companions.

Years passed as Mr. Horak
continued to study both breeds.  He wanted
a hunting dog that would also make a loving family member. 

This
translates into a well-muscled, short legged rugged hunting dog.  Plus a dog that could easily be cleaned up at
the end of the day and turned the ideal family dog. 

As he dreamed about his perfect dog, he kept
careful notes on the dog’s physical characteristics and his breeding, 

He so he crossed
a Sealyham Terrier with a Scottish Terrier. 
The breed became known in other parts of the world and was first
recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1963.

It first migrated to Germany, the
Scandinavian countries and then to what was then the Soviet Union. From there, the breed made its way to England,
Canada and, in the 1980’s, to the United States.

In 1980, a group
of American enthusiasts imported the breed into the U.S. and formed the Cesky
Terrier Club of America. 

The AKC first
accepted the breed into their Foundation Stock Services in 1996 and took the American Cesky Terrier Fanciers
Association as the parent club.  Both organizations remain active in America. 

Then in 2011, the Cesky Terrier was
officially recognized by the AKC in the Terrier Group.  This dog is AKC’s 172nd breed.

The Breed, At a Glance

Explanations for At a Glance Ratings 

• Playfulness:  Most=5   Less=1
• Affection:  Most=5   Least=1
• Friendliness Towards Strangers:  Most=5  Least=1
• Good with Children:  Good=5   Not Good=1
• Good with Other Dogs:   Good=5   Not Good=1
• Good for First Time Owners:  Good=5  Not Good=1
• Amount of Exercise Required:  Much=5  Minimal=1
• Ease of Training:   Easy=5   Difficult=1
• Watch Dog Ability:   Excellent=5   Poor=1
• Grooming Needs:   Extensive=5  Minimal=1
• Shedding:   Heavy Shedding=5   Minimal Shedding=1
• Cold Tolerance:   Cold Well Tolerated=5    Poorly Tolerated=1
• Heat Tolerance:   Heat Well Tolerated=5   Poorly Tolerated=1

Personality

Somewhat reserved by nature, these dogs are loyal and
protective of family members. 

Clever,
adventurous, they make a great family pet. They are active and terrier through
and through.  This means that they love
to dig and chase. They make excellent watch dogs but are not considered to be
overall vocal. 

They make an excellent playmate for active children and
enjoy a good daily walk. 

They are
considered easy to train. Even though they are active, they do not require a lot of
work out. 
A backyard where they can run and a daily walk will all that is
necessary.

Grooming

As is the case with most terrier breeds, the Cesky requires a moderate amount of
grooming.  Unlike many
terrier breeds that are hand-stripped,
the Cesky is clipped about once per month to keep them looking their best. He
has a silky, somewhat wavy coat that doesn’t shed much.  Daily brushing is ideal. 

Long hair on the muzzle, legs and featherings can be brushed daily using
a pin or bristle brush. 

If the dog gets very dirty or muddy, it is recommended that the dog be
allowed to dry before being brushed. 

Much of the dirt/mud can be brushed out. 
Some areas of the body can get matted such as under the arm area.  Bathing is important to keep the coat looking
its best and a quick blow dry. 

Nails need to be trimmed short
through clipping or grinding.  Ears are
prone to wax buildup so they should be checked
on a regular basis.  Hair
continues to grow inside the ears, so these hairs should be plucked to prevent
infection. 

The hair between the paw pads also grow. Trimming these hairs as
well as clipping around the foot will prevent the Cesky from bringing mud and
dirt on his paws into the house.  Teeth should also be often brushed. 

Health Concerns

Cesky Terriers are
considered to be quite healthy, but like many other small breed dogs, prone to
patellar luxation, cardiac and eye problems.

Getting to Know the Cesky Terrier
Pin for Future Reference

National Breed Club

American Cesky Terrier Fanciers Association

About Janice (author and voice behind this site)

Having lived with dogs and cats most of her life, Janice served as a veterinary technician for ten years in Maryland and twelve years as a Shih Tzu dog breeder in Ohio.

Her education includes undergraduate degrees in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a master’s in Mental Health Counseling.

She is a lifelong learner, a dog lover, and passionate about the welfare of animals. Her favorite breed for over 50 years has been the Shih Tzu, but she has also lived with Poodles, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Beagles, English Bulldogs, Carin Terriers, and a Cocker Spaniel.

When not writing, reading, and researching dog-related topics, she likes to spend time with her eight Shih Tzu dogs, husband, and family, as well as knitting and crocheting. She is also the voice behind Miracle Shih Tzu and Smart-Knit-Crocheting

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