INTRODUCTION

The Czechoslovakian wolfdog (also referred to as PLC) is a relatively new breed of dog, the original lineage of which can be traced back to an experiment conducted in 1955 in Czechoslovakia. After beginning the gestation of the lineage of the 48 German Shepherd Dogs with four European wolves, a plan was drawn up to create a hybrid that would have the temperament, mentality and trainability of the German Shepherd, along with the strength, physical constitution and endurance of the wolves.

THE ORIGIN OF THE CZECHOSLOVAKIAN WOLFDOG

This breed was developed by the Czech military for the purpose of defending their borders. Previously the borders were defended with German Shepherds, but a Czech colonel thought it would be good to cross them with wolves, and thus this breed was born, having the temperament, mentality, and trainability of the German Shepherd, together with the strength, physical constitution and endurance of the wolf.

In 1955, in the town of Libejovice in South Bohemia, a project was initiated by Colonel and biologist Karel Hartl, the first optimal crossbreeding was carried out between a she-wolf named ‘Brita’ and the German Shepherd ‘Cezar Z Brizoveho Haje’, from which the first litter was born on May 25, 1958.

The first and second generations of these lines were, aesthetically speaking, similar to the dog, but showed a much stronger character. In temperament, tenacity, shyness and aggressiveness, they were similar to wolves. It was found that hybrids from the second generation onwards could be educated and trained if they were taken away from their mothers in time and raised individually. The third and fourth generation individuals gradually acquired a more wolf-like appearance, but were still different from both the German Shepherd and the wolf.

They were successfully used by the army as service dogs for border guards. The result was really good, which led to the decision to create a breed from the work done. Since the dog is in fact a subspecies of the wolf (albeit with very different ecological and ethological characteristics), this experiment produced puppies that could breed with each other, giving rise to the breed we know today as the Czechoslovakian wolf dog.

At the end of this experiment, the breeding of this breed began, with the intention of achieving in a single animal the best qualities of the German Shepherd and the wolf, with which the breed was consolidated. By 1982 the Czechoslovakian wolfdog was recognised as the national breed of the now dissolved Republic of Czechoslovakia.

In 1989 it was provisionally recognised by the FCI, becoming officially definitive in 1999.

WHAT IS THE CZECHOSLOVAKIAN WOLFHOUND LIKE?

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Strongly built, larger than medium size, with a square frame. Similar to the wolf in body structure, movement, coat, colour of coat and mask.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:

LENGTH OF BODY: HEIGHT AT WITHERS = 10 : 9

LENGTH OF MUZZLE : LENGTH OF SKULL = 1 : 1.5.

HEAD: Symmetrical, well muscled, seen from the sides and from above, forming a truncated wedge. Sexual characteristics well established.

CRANIAL REGION:

SKULL: Seen from the front and from the sides, a bulging forehead can be distinguished. There is no noticeable frontal furrow. The occipital protuberance is clearly distinguishable.

NASO-FRONTAL DEPRESSION (STOP): Moderately marked.

FACIAL REGION:

TRUFA: Oval in shape, black in colour.

HOCIO: Dry, not broad. Nasal bridge straight.

LIPS: Tight fitting, adjacent to the cheeks, closed corners, lip margins black.

JAWS / TEETH: Jaws strong and symmetrical. Teeth well developed, especially the fangs. Scissor or pincer bite with 42 teeth constituting the normal dental formula. Teeth evenly arranged.

EYEBROWS: Dry and well muscled, not protruding noticeably.

EYES: Small, slanting, amber in colour. Eyelids well fitting.

EARS: Erect, slender, triangular, short (not longer than 1/6 of the height at the withers); the lateral point of the ear set on and the outer corner of the eyes form a line. An imaginary vertical line from the tip of the ears runs the length of the head.

NECK: Dry, well muscled, forming during stance an angle of 40 degrees to the horizontal line. The neck should be so long that the nose reaches the ground easily.

BODY

UPPER LINE: With a smooth transition from the neck to the back; slightly sloping.

CRUIS: Well muscled, well let down, without affecting the flow of the topline.

BACK: Firm and straight.

LOINS: Short, well muscled, not broad, slightly sloping.

Croup: Short, well muscled, not broad, slightly sloping.

CHEST: Symmetrical, well muscled, broad, pear-shaped, tapering towards the sternum. The depth of the chest does not reach to the elbows. The point of the sternum does not protrude beyond the shoulder joint.

BOTTOM LINE AND ABDOMEN: Abdomen rigid, tucked up. Flanks slightly tucked up.

TAIL: Set on high, hanging straight. During arousal, as a rule, the tail is raised in the shape of a sickle.

LIMBS :

FOREQUARTERS: Straight, firm, lean, close to each other, with feet slightly turned out.

Shoulders: The shoulder blade is positioned considerably forward, well covered with muscle. Forms an angle of approximately 65° to the horizontal line.

ARM: Strongly muscled, forming an angle of 120-130° to the shoulder blade.

ELBOW: Close fitting to upper body, neither turned in nor out, distinct and well movable. Upper arm and forearm form an angle of approximately 150°.

FOREARMS: Long, lean and straight. The length of the forearm with the carpus forms 55% of the total height at the withers.

CARPIAN JOINT: Strong and movable.

Pastern: Long, forming an angle of at least 75° to the ground, springy, swinging slightly during movement.

HANDS: Large, slightly turned out, with long, arched toes, strong, dark nails. Pads dark, springy, well developed.

HINDQUARTERS: Robust, parallel. An imaginary vertical line starts from the iliac protuberances and runs through the middle of the hocks. Dewclaws are undesirable and must be removed.

Thighs: Long, well muscled, forming an angle of approximately 80° to the pelvis. The coxofemoral joint is stable and freely movable.

KNEES: Strong, well movable.

LEGS: Long, tapering, well muscled, forming an angle of approximately 130° to the tarsus.

HIP: Lean, strong, well movable.

METATARSUS: Long, lean, almost rectangular to the ground.

FEET:Toes long, arched, with strong, dark nails. Pads well developed.

GAIT / MOVEMENT: Harmonious, light, wide trot in which the limbs hardly move off the ground. Head and neck inclined towards a horizontal line. Gait with ambling.

SKIN: Elastic, tight, without folds, not pigmented.

COAT

HAIR: Straight, close fitting. The coat in winter is very different from that in summer. In winter the undercoat is very dense; in conjunction with the outer coat, it covers the whole body with a thick coat. It is necessary that the coat completely covers the abdomen, the inner thighs, the scrotum, the inner part of the ear pinnae and the area between the toes. The neck should also be well covered with hair.

COLOUR: Yellowish grey to silvery grey, with characteristic light mask. Light hair also under the neck and on the front part of the chest. A dark grey colouring with a light mask is permitted.

SIZE AND WEIGHT

HEIGHT AT WITHERS:

• Males: at least 65 cm,
• Bitches: at least 60 cm.
  
  

WEIGHT:

• Males: at least 26 kg,
• Bitches: at least 20 kg.
  
  

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

• Heavy or light head.
• Flat forehead.
• The absence of two PM1 (premolars 1) or both M3 (molars 3) should not be penalised. However, the absence of one M3 in addition to two PM1 or the absence of one PM1 in addition to the two M3 should be considered as a fault.
• Eyes of a different colour, dark brown or black.
• Ears coarse, set on high or low.
• High set neck when calm, or low set during standstill.
• Withers not very noticeable.
• Atypical dorsal line.
• Long croup.
• Tail long, low set and incorrectly set.
• Forequarters too little or too angulated.
• Weak carpal joint.
• Hindquarters too little or too much angulated, insufficient musculature.
• Mask not very noticeable.
• Movement with short or undulating steps.
  
  

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:

• Aggressiveness or extreme shyness.
• Any dog showing clear signs of physical or behavioural abnormalities should be disqualified.
• Abnormal proportions.
• Faults in behaviour and character.
• Atypical head.
• Missing teeth, (except two PM1 and M3, see § serious faults). Non-uniform bite line.
• Atypical position and shape of eyes.
• Atypical position and shape of the ears.
• Dewlap.
• Strong slope of the croup.
• Atypical chest.
• Atypical set on and position of the tail.
• Atypical forelegs and lack of posture.
• Atypical erect coat.
• Colour other than stipulated in the standard.
• Loose ligaments.
• Atypical movement.
  
  

N.B.:

• Male dogs should have two apparently normal appearing testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs of typical breed conformation should be used for breeding.
  
  

TEMPERAMENT: Socialisation in this breed is indispensable and critical. The imprinting and socialisation periods are shorter than in other breeds. It should therefore be started by the breeder and continued by the owner. He has to go out, get to know places, situations, textures, noises, and everything possible, with the aim of becoming a stable adult and accepting of new environments. It is important to positivise the car, as it is common to observe problems of dizziness and anxiety.
This breed was created with the aim of being used in military work and that marks many characteristics of their behaviour. They are dogs with a strong temperament, which can be observed from puppyhood. It is common to hear new owners asking for help because their dogs do not allow themselves to be handled easily or because they defend toys or food by making noises and fussing. Fortunately, these issues can be avoided and/or solved with hard work and dedication with positive results.
They are brave and tend to show a good degree of defence of the family group. In some cases, they can be somewhat distrustful of new situations or people, but thanks to their curiosity and work, this can disappear. They have a high activity level, they require outings and exercise. It is highly recommended to do some sporting activity with them. They generate a very strong connection with the owner, which is why it is necessary to teach them to be left alone from the moment they arrive home, in order to prevent them from generating separation anxiety.
Their intelligence and interest in manipulating their environment is surprising. Almost all dogs of this breed are able to open doors, windows, levers, knobs, and even turn keys or open drawers to inspect them. It is impossible to get bored with them. The downside of this is that boredom, if they are alone, can lead them to seek entertainment such as wanting to get out of the house for a walk or making up toys with the first thing they find, which usually does not match the toys we would provide them with as owners.
When they mature, both males and females become dominant with their peers of the same sex, although females may be somewhat more permissive and calm. This is more pronounced with unfamiliar dogs.
In training, they are very versatile dogs. They can carry out a wide range of activities, from canicross, obedience, scenting, etc. Because of their qualities, it should be borne in mind that training should be fun, varied and short sessions. If the same exercise is prolonged or repeated too much, they tend to get bored, which is why obedience training is not usually their favourite. They are particularly fond of outdoor activities in the countryside and of giving free rein to their immense scenting and physical abilities. Military training and attitudes should also be set aside, as they do not understand them and may respond to them. They are easily invaded. They are best suited to owners who like to enjoy the journey and the challenges they offer.

CARE OF THE CZECHOSLOVAKIAN WOLFDOG

The Czechoslovakian Wolfhound is not a dog like any other dog, it requires a lot of care and preparation from its owner and is not suitable for beginners or for families with other animals or small children.

• KNOWLEDGE OF TRAINING AND CANINE ETHOLOGY: It is essential that the owner of a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog has advanced knowledge of training and canine ethology. The socialisation and mentality of this breed of dog is complicated and must be done in the correct way to avoid inappropriate or dangerous behaviour.
  
  

• SPACE: The Czechoslovakian Wolfhound is not an appropriate dog to live in a flat as they need wide spaces and some of them are sensitive to crowds or loud noises that can occur in the city, if not exercised correctly they can develop destructive behaviour.
  
  
  
• SOCIALISATION: The Czechoslovakian Wolfhound puppy should be socialised correctly and with intensity so that in the future he will have as few problems as possible, although the great majority of them develop a distaste for dogs of the same sex when they reach adulthood.
  
  

• SECURITY: The Czechoslovakian Wolfhound is a dog with a tendency to escape, so security measures should be strict, the fences of the land where the family lives should be very high and very deep and have some kind of security mechanism to prevent the dog from climbing the fence or jumping over it (anti-escape fences).
  
  
  
• SINGLE DOG: As the Czechoslovakian Wolfhound is a dog with a very strong personality and instincts, it is best if he is the only animal in the family.
  
  
  
• FOOD: The most recommended food for the Czechoslovakian Wolfhound is raw food (BARF), in the case of not being able to offer it we will have to look for high quality feed without cereals with high indexes of meat or fish, such as Reis d'Aranda's Angus beef feed for adult dogs or the Scottish salmon feed for puppies of the same brand.
  
  
  
• GROOMING: This breed should be groomed every week, especially during the moulting season, and should be taken to the groomer's every three months.

THE HEALTH OF THE CZECHOSLOVAKIAN WOLFDOG

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog has some hereditary diseases and genes which can be easily detected with the appropriate health tests, a minimum to be done at the time of mating:

• Hip dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is a bone disease, congenital, hereditary, degenerative and multifactorial, that is to say, it can be produced by multiple factors. For it to appear there must be a genetic predisposition to which other factors can be added such as poor diet, rapid growth, excessive exercise during growth, growth on slippery ground, obesity, old age and the wear and tear it causes..... Studies are currently underway to determine the genetic predisposition of individuals, however, for the moment the tests are based on the development or not of this disease and not its genetic predisposition.
  Hip dysplasia consists of the malformation of the hip acetabulum and the femoral head, causing the femur and pelvis to not fit together correctly and causing pain and even lameness in the animal.
  
  

• ELBOW DYSPLASIA: Elbow dysplasia consists in the incongruence between the three bones that make up the elbow joint, humerus, ulna and radius, producing collisions and friction that trigger joint alterations causing pain and even lameness to the animal. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a slow-growing animal, so the minimum age for testing is fifteen months, once growth is almost complete. It is also recommended that sedation be used for both hip and elbow x-rays. If the individual is to be used in breeding, these tests are compulsory and must be certified by organisations such as AVEPA, AMVAC, SETOV or RSCE.
  
  

• DEGENERATIVE MYELOPATHY: Degenerative Myelopathy, also known as DM, is a severe neurodegenerative disease that appears between 8 and 14 years of age and affects males and females indifferently. It is caused by degeneration of the axons and melina in the thoracic and sacral part of the spinal cord, preventing the information transmitted by the nerves from reaching its destination in the brain, so there is no associated pain. It occurs suddenly and slowly worsens. It begins as a weakness in the hind legs and a lack of coordination and balance making it difficult for the animal to move. The disease continues to progress until it is unable to walk due to paraplegia. This can occur within six months to a year. If the progression continues without euthanasia of the animal, organ problems such as urinary or respiratory problems will occur, eventually leading to death. The progression can last up to three years from onset to death.
  
  

• Hypophysial dwarfism: Hypophysial dwarfism or also known as DW is a disease caused by the abnormal development of the pituitary gland, so that the hormones secreted by it will be insufficient or non-existent. Among the hormones affected is growth hormone. The thyroid is also affected, with below-normal functioning in terms of performance. Affected dogs, in addition to being small, may suffer from baldness, inflammation, joint dysfunction, slow learning, abnormal behaviour and many other ‘side effects’.
  Most fully affected puppies die during whelping (90%), the rest will not survive the first few days of life as they do not secrete the necessary hormones.
  Those puppies partially affected by DW, secreting the minimum necessary to survive, will do so for a maximum of 4 to 5 years. These dogs can be treated hormonally and can live up to 10 years.
  In order to control them, it is a priority to carry out tests before the individual is crossed. A DNA test makes detection possible. This test can be carried out at any age, even in newborn puppies, by means of blood or saliva.
  
  

• LONG HAIR GENE: We will talk about the Czechoslovakian long haired wolf dog. These are subjects with an ‘anomalous’ coat length in general and abundant tufts of hair in some specific areas (hocks, tips of the ears) which are normally short haired. Long-haired subjects sometimes have morphological and character traits in common in addition to the coat abnormality, such as a ‘foxy’ muzzle as puppies and a particularly docile and tame adult temperament.
  The Czechoslovakian Longhaired Wolfdog is to all intents and purposes an elimination fault according to the standard. This is because the long-haired subjects have a phenotypic typology that uniformly departs from the correct phenotype.
  We have been observing the genetic transmission of this morphological defect for some time and we are well aware that it is a recessive defect, i.e. the subject who has two copies of the mutation (l/l) has the long-haired phenotype, while the one who has only one (L/l) has a normal phenotype like the subjects in whom the mutation is absent (L/L). So it is the mating between carriers (L/l) that gives rise to some long-haired subjects within the litters. Thanks to the ease with which these subjects are recognised, several carriers have long been identified. Especially in the Italian lines, several of the most prolific sires were carriers of this trait, so that more or less close visits to these dogs expose them to risk.
  
  

• CURLY HAIR GENE: This is a mutation in which some subjects have a curly or open coat on some specific areas of the body (withers, neck, rump). Subjects carrying curly hair sometimes show morphological characteristics such as curly hair on the withers.
  We have been observing the genetic transmission of this morphological defect for a long time and we are well aware that it is a recessive defect, i.e. the subject that has two copies of the mutation (C/C) has the curly coat phenotype, while the one that has only one (NC/C) has a normal phenotype like the subjects in which the mutation is absent (NC/NC). So it is the mating between carriers (NC/C) that gives rise to some curly-haired subjects within the litters. Thanks to the ease with which these subjects are recognised, several carriers have long since been identified.
  
  

CONCLUSION

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is one of the most striking and impressive breeds because of its wolf-like appearance, which makes many people fall in love with its appearance and wish to own one, but this dog breed is not suitable for everyone, especially if we do not have knowledge of dog training/ethology or experience with primitive dogs.