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Frequently
Asked Questions About the Cesky Terrier
How was the
Cesky Terrier developed?
Mr. Frantisek Horak,
of the Czech Republic, crossed the Sealyham and Scottish Terrier,
and kept very good records of all his breedings. There are some
publications that state, or insinuate, that other breeds were used
in the development, but this is not true. All Cesky Terrier owners
can trace their dogs directly back to the Sealy and Scotty who
started it all.
How long does a
Cesky Terrier live?
The breed should have a life span that is about the same
as the parent breeds, which is about 12 to 15 years.
What colors are
available in the Cesky Terrier?
The standard allows for a gray or a
light brown variety, but the brown variety is extremely rare. We
only know of one dog (born in June 1994) in the Czech Republic.
Prior to that, there were three brown CTs born in the 1950's.
Some gray dogs start out as pups with a brown coat color, but
with a black nose. They turn gray at a young age, and are
usually a lighter gray. The gray CTs may be from platinum to
charcoal gray. They may be unicolored, with a little white on
the chest and/or feet, or they may be bicolored, with lighter
furnishings of lighter gray, tan or off-white.
How is the
temperament of the Cesky Terrier, and does he bark?
The CT is less aggressive than the
parent breeds, and is probably the mildest of all the terrier
breeds. He is somewhat reserved with strangers, but is dedicated
to his owner and friends. He usually gets along better with
other dogs than other terrier breeds, and loves people of all
ages -- especially well behaved children. He will usually bark
if someone comes to the door, but will not bark constantly.
How often will
I have to groom a Cesky Terrier?
The CT should be brushed and combed
out at least two times a week to keep his coat in good shape. He
does not shed, but any non-shedding type of coat will mat if not
cared for properly. He needs to be trimmed (with electric
clippers -- even for showing) about every 6-10 weeks. There is
no stripping in this breed. Most people learn to groom their own
CTs, but it can also be done by a professional groomer.
What is the
size of the adult CT?
The original FCI standard called for
a dog from 13 to 20 lbs. The new FCI standard allows a CT to be
up to 22 lbs., but disqualifies any dog who is over that weight.
The NCTCA Standard calls for a dog
from 13 to 22 lbs., but it faults any dog over that weight, and
disqualifies a dog over 26 lbs. We felt this was more
reasonable. There are some oversized CTs in the U.S., but
responsible breeders are trying to produce pups within the
standard. Most CTs will be from 16-22 lbs. as adults.
Can the CT be
used as a hunting dog?
The CT was developed as a "go
to ground" terrier by Mr. Horak. They are used in hunting
various animals in Europe -- birds, rabbits, fox, and even wild
boar. Most CTs in the U.S. are pets or show dogs, but the
hunting instinct is still there if needed.
How will I know
what shade of gray a puppy will be, and when will it change?
Gray Cesky Terrier pups are born
black -- usually with a small white blaze on the chest, and
sometimes white feet or toes. The bi-colored pups have a
coloring similar to a Rottweiler -- black and tan, or black and
brindle. They will have lighter furnishings when grown. Some
pups show a lightening or color change by six weeks. These pups
will usually be a lighter shade. Some pups do not show much
change for many months, and some of these end up with a darker
color. The CT seems to have some color change even as adults.
Each time you trim a CT, he is a slightly different shade of
gray.
Is the Cesky
Terrier AKC registered?
The American Kennel Club has not yet
approved the CT for recognition, but has a service for
registering rare breeds. Registries from both original breed
clubs were turned over to AKC FSS: The NCTC registry was turned over to
the AKC in Feb. 1996, and the CTCA registry was turned over in
2001. We now register all pups with the AKC-FSS registry.
If I get a show
puppy, where would I show it?
Until we can show at AKC
conformation shows, we can show at rare breed shows and matches
that will allow rare breeds. NCTCA awards points and
Championships if "show sheets" are filled out. Fifteen
points are required for a Championship with NCTCA -- with 2
major wins. Some of the rare breed show-giving organizations
also award championships -- usually based on a certificate
system.
AKC now allows Cesky Terriers to
show in performance events, such as agility, earthdog trials,
obedience, tracking, etc. and earn AKC titles in those events.
For more information on showing
in conformation and performance events, see Events.
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