Cover photo
What do you get when you cross a German Shepherd and a wolf? Well, during the 1950s, the Czechoslovakian military asked the same thing and went a bit further. They actually did it. The cross between a German Shepherd and the Carpathian wolf led to a new dog breed called the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. These dogs were supposed to guard the borders and be “ferocious”. However, the outcome was completely different. The new breed looked like a wolf but was actually a lively, affectionate dog.
Origins: former Czechoslovakia, 1950s
AKC: Miscellaneous Class (Foundation Stock Service)
RKC: Not recognized
FCI: Group 1 (sheepdogs and cattle dogs)
UKC: Herding dogs
Physical Traits
The body shape, movement, and color are similar to a wolf. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a medium to large dog with a compact and firm constitution. Simply put, if you see one, you will think it’s a wolf.
Height: Males – from 25.5 inches (64 cm)
Females – from 23.5 inches (60 cm)
Weight: Males – from 57 pounds and up (25 kg and up)
Females – from 44 pounds and up (20 kg and up)
Coat: medium-length, straight, stands close to the body. A winter coat is much denser than a summer coat.
Color: Gray, yellow and gray, silver and gray, with lighter masks (wolflike color)
Eyes: small, amber color
Ears: pricked, triangular and short
Tail: hanging straight down
Nose: black
Skull: mesocephalic, long, scissor or pincer bite
Social Traits
People wanted to make something that would protect the borders, stay alert, suspicious, and be quite ferocious when defending its territory, but it (thankfully) didn’t go as planned. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (or Československý vlčiak) kept a few things from the wolf, but it’s mostly regarding the physical traits, not social.
What to expect from a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog:
- They are reserved with strangers
- They are very loyal to their owners
- Affectionate with owners
- Lively, energetic, and alert
- They are smart
- They need a strong-willed owner who can properly socialize them, be consistent, and never show inconsistency
- They do not bark a lot, almost never, but communicate through whining and body language.
- They need a “pack member”, so it’s not recommended to leave them all alone for a long time every day.
- They are loyal and protective toward the youngest members of the family, but they are not recommended for families with very young children because of their rough play style and specific wolf-like communication. In other words, they will nip or growl if children annoy them too much.
- They can be prone to same-sex aggression
- They have a very high prey drive, so having small animals such as rabbits or cats is not recommended. They can be tolerant and friendly with the small animals they grew up with, but other animals are often seen as prey.
- Even though they are put into Herding group, they are not very good with livestock either, unless they had proper habituation, socialization, and training.
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog needs proper socialization from an early age to make sure it grows up into a calm and confident dog who knows that it cannot see everyone who passes by its territory as an intruder or danger. Socialization has to continue into adulthood and never stop.
Activity Needs and Trainability
This dog needs lots of daily activity, and you cannot have a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and take him out for a few “potty walks” and that’s it. They have an innate desire to roam; they are very energetic and have a lot of stamina. The best option is to take them on hikes, long walks, and intense playtime where they can run around and have enough both physical and mental stimulation.
As you can see, these dogs are not your everyday family dogs. They need you to adapt to them, not the other way around. This is especially important because they can turn boredom into anxiety, misbehavior, or even aggression (toward strangers).
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog doesn’t thrive in urban environments. Of course, they can live anywhere if they have enough mental and physical stimulation, but country life is the best option.
They’re very trainable, although they lack the inherent desire to please seen in dogs like Goldens and Labs. You will need to give them a purpose, a reason why they should do what you’re asking from them. This takes practice, patience, and consistency.
They are very good at complicated jobs. Their skills shine in tracking, search and rescue, and scent work, as these tasks stimulate their minds with a defined objective. Doing some of the dog sports with your Wolfdog is a great way to keep them happy and healthy.
They need lots of daily activity and mental stimulation, at least 2 hours a day
Doing dog sports is recommended
Very intelligent, but get bored when the tasks are repetitive
Health and Nutrition
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a healthy and robust dog breed with just a few health issues. Some health problems noticed in the breed are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Degenerative myelopathy
These health issues are mostly present in the American lines. The key is to continue the responsible breeding programs, which include test-screening breeding pairs to make sure they don’t have any hereditary diseases.
The amount of food varies greatly depending on the dog’s activity levels and health. The general recommendation is 3 to 5 cups of kibble a day, but it truly depends on the dog. The best option is to consult the vet. You can easily and quickly check it out yourself by following the BCS.
3 to 5 cups of kibble a day
Healthy dog breed
Lifespan around 15 years
Grooming
A Czechoslovakian Wolfdog’s fur is designed to protect it from the weather. They rarely require bathing and have almost no smell, or the so-called “dog odor”. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog needs daily brushing during its twice-yearly shedding periods.
The winter coat is also thicker, heavier, and longer, unlike the summer one, so grooming may be needed more often in winter.
Moderate shedding (heavy shedding twice a year)
You can use the combination of a pin and slicker brush
They don’t have a strong dog odor (no need for too many baths)
Final Thoughts
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is not for everyone. These dogs need a confident owner who has a lot of experience with dogs, especially dog breeds that are not naturally eager to please. That means that having a Golden Retriever prior to a Wolfdog won’t help you much. The Wolfdog is very loyal to its owner, affectionate and ready to go through fire and ice with its owner, but they are aloof with strangers, and if not properly socialized and trained from an early age, they won’t make a difference between an adult and a child entering their territory – they will see them all as intruders. Don’t forget that the Wolfdog also needs a lot of daily activity and mental stimulation.
Cover photo by Margo-CzW
