COUNTRY: Czechoslovakia
WEIGHT: 13-20 pounds
HEIGHT: 10V2-14 inches
COAT: Long, fine and silky, with a tendency to wave
COLOR: Blue-gray (born black) or light coffee brown (born chocolate)
OTHER NAMES: Bohemian Terrier
GROUP: TerrierThis handsome terrier is a modern development created by a Czechoslovakian breeder, Dr. Fran-tisek Horak. The Czesky is a superb ratter and alarm dog that will go to ground.
Dr. Horak was a knowledgeable geneticist and breeder of Scottish and Sealyham Terriers. He was also a sportsman and expected his terriers not only to win shows but to win trophies in the field. Horak crossbred his terriers, starting in 1949, and attained several positive qualities: the gameness and size to go to ground, and all the physical and mental attributes to participate in the hunt. He also attained a dog of style and beauty, accomplishing his purpose within just four breedings and in less than a decade! The first representative of the breed was Javor Lovu Zdar, who drew great attention in the dog world with his silvery blue jacket.
The breed has very slowly gained some ground, first in its homeland and now in a few other European countries. FCI recognized the Czesky in 1963, but the breed has been off and on in danger of disappearing.
Although Horak supposedly used only Scot-ties and Sealyhams, this combination creates many question marks. The Czesky has several traits that are quite uncommon in the majority of terriers. These distinctions include the low carried tail, extreme ratio of length to height, long silky coat, chocolate color, and the fading gene that lightens black to gray and brown to coffee. Both Scottish Terriers and Sealyhams have high-set, gaily carried tails, harsh and wiry broken coats, shortish legs without long bodies, and no hint of the chocolate color or fading factor. The Dandie Dinmont, however, carries most of these traits: the chocolate gene, silky coat, low tail and long, low body. Whether Dr. Horak was able to find these recessives in purely Scottie/Sealyham breeding stock or actually used some other crosses is an unknown.
An easygoing, obedient nature is typical, and he is a fine house dog and children's companion, residing in peace with other domestic animals. The long tail is carried rather low, and the ears fall forward in a semi-drop.
The Czesky has a lovely sheen to its coat, which is clipped on the upper body. A full underline and front is left, along with a profuse beard and eyebrows.