If you’ve found your way to this article it may mean that you’re wondering how to breed Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs. We’ve put together information about not only the breed and its history but also what you should know before breeding these dogs. This includes everything from common health issues to what litter size they may have.
Almost everything you need to know about Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs origin, health, and breed is in our article. We’ve also written about how the breed has adapted and changed from its modern form to the dog we know today. The Czechoslovakian Vlack dog breed is described as being loyal, intelligent, and active. The AKC says that they are powerful and devoted to their owners. They have heightened sight, smell, and excellent endurance.
Background of Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a relatively new breed that can only be traced back to about the 1950s. The goal of its breeders was to take traits of German Shepherds and Carpathian wolf. Not much is known about this breed and how it lives with other animals so you may want to be careful if you have other domesticated species in your home. This playful breed bonds well and strongly with its owners and other members of the family.
Origin
The goal of breeding Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs was that they wanted traits from both the German Shepherd and Carpathian wolf. Specifically, they wanted the German Shepherd temperament, pack mentality, and trainability combined with the strength, build, and stamina of the Carpathian wolf. These dogs were originally search-and-rescue dogs as well as tracking, herding, hunting, and drafting dogs among other things in Europe and the United States.
The first litter of these puppies was born in 1958 and resembled the wolf in both behavior and appearance. Compared to most dog breeds they had a superior sense of smell, hearing, and vision. The first litter was difficult to train but with later generations, this was easier.
The Modern Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
This breed was not fully recognized until about 1980 so there have not been many if at all any changes to the breed from its original state. Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs were bred with the intent that they would have all the best traits of the German Shepherd and Carpathian Wolf. We can see that this breed standard and ideology holds true in the current Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs we see.
Today you can find this breed herding, doing agility, and being working dogs in the United States and Europe. Unlike their predecessors which were border patrol dogs. They are a great companion for families who enjoy being active and spending lots of time outdoors. First-time owners should not consider this breed due to their high energy and the difficulty that may come with training them.
Related Breeds and Variations
Appearance
Unlike other German Shepherd crossovers, this breed does not take on many of the physical attributes of the German Shepherd but instead, they look mostly like wolves. They do have a similar face to German Shepherds with strong jaws, a thick skull, and pointed ears. Their other physical attributes are what makes them look like wolves. They tend to have sable coats and typically have a grey or brown coloring.
Size and Weight
This breed grows up until they are about a year old. Females of this breed grow to be 24-26 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 44-90 lbs. The males grow to be 26-28 inches and weigh anywhere from 57-90 lbs.
These dogs are large and very athletic with high energy levels. They need to be taken out and exercised regularly in order to make sure they are not only healthy but that they don’t become destructive out of boredom. The goal for the breed was originally to have a large “soldier-like” physique.
Colors
Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs come in variations of both medium and dense coats. Before buying or breeding one you should make sure that the climate you live in is suitable for a dog of their breed. For example, if you live in an area with a hot climate such as Florida or one of the southern states, a dog with a thick coat may not be suitable for your family as the heat can cause them discomfort and potentially be harmful to their health.
Their coats not only come in a variety of thicknesses but colors as well. These dogs come in solid and mixed varieties of grey, silver, and black. Their coats are no doubt beautiful and add to the wolf-like appearance of the breed.
Distinct Features
As we’ve mentioned before, this breed strongly resembles its other parent breed, the Carpathian Wolf. They share similar coats and build types as well as other physical traits that are notable when looking at the breed. Some of these traits include their pointed ears and long muscular snout.
On top of these facial traits, another notable aspect of this breed is its tail. This breed has a long tail that is almost as long as its body, much like most wolf breeds.
Personality
When breeding Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs it is important to know the usual traits they possess. This breed has traits such as being active, loving, loyal, and calm when with their owners. They bond well and hard with their families. They may not do well around strangers if socialization is not a priority while they are puppies. There is not much to know about this breed and how it lives alongside other animals. It may not do well in a home with other dogs or young children. The instincts of their parent wolf are very strong in this dog which may make them unsuitable for home living.
They can require professional training and due to the newness of the breed, they still have many uncertain behaviors. For this reason, you should not keep this breed if you do not plan on being firm with its training and exercise regime. They should not be in homes with owners without experience and those who are not ready to keep a firm hand with their dog.
Common Health Issues for Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs
Like most mixed dog breeds, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog has some health issues that come from their breeding. They are, however, a very sturdy breed. The goal of this breed was to create a dog that was free of its parent breeds problems.
They however have a few issues of their own such as dietary problems and orthopedic ones. In this section, we’ll discuss and break down some of the most common problems you’ll see with this breed.
Dietary Problems and Malnutrition
One of the most notable conditions that create difficulty with this breed is its dietary problems and malnutrition. They have a problem with most modern dog foods which again points to their wolf heritage. If this dog is not provided with the proper nutrients then it can lead to other major health problems.
Owners of this breed should make sure that their dog has a high meat and protein diet. Your dog should have a diet that is akin to that of its wolf ancestors in order to keep up with its needs.
Orthopaedic Health Problems
Another problem that this breed may face is orthopedic health problems. These problems are often traceable in large dog breeds. So this may not come as a surprise to many dog owners. Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs also especially suffer from this type of ailment due to it being a military dog.
They commonly suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia much like many other large dog breeds. Hip and elbow dysplasia is a condition that comes from domestication and inbreeding of dog breeds. It is an issue of defective joints and can result in arthritis and joint pain for the breed.
Breeding Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs
So, now that you know more about the breed, what should you know when breeding the Czechoslovakian Vlcak? In this section, we’ll cover the costs, litter size, and what the breeds pregnancy is like.
Before breeding this dog you should make sure you have a good level of knowledge about breeding dogs. You should also be knowledgeable about how to raise a litter of puppies. You should also be aware of the costs and time it is going to take to make sure that the puppies are healthy and well looked after.
Litter Size
Similar to the average dog litter size, this dog breed will have a litter of about 6 or 7 puppies on average. Most Czech Wolfdogs are born in the winter due to the dog breeds natural instinct.
You can expect large dog breeds to have an average litter size of about six puppies. This is different from some smaller breeds such as the Jack Russel Terrier. It is not uncommon for the Jack Russel Terrier to have up to 10 puppies per litter despite their reported average being anywhere from 6-8.
Pregnancy
Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs are most commonly only in heat once a year. This breed being in heat more than once per year is a rare case. They begin to experience a heat cycle anywhere from thirteen to fifteen months. Their birth is natural and there is no need for special preparations unlike other dog breeds such as Pugs or Boston Terriers who cannot give birth to their puppies without medical aid.
When breeding dogs you should make sure to have a suitable area for a whelping box and other necessities for both the mother and her puppies to be comfortable in during and a few weeks after birth Be aware of possible dystocia as well.
Cost
Czechoslovakian wolfdogs cost about the same as other dog breeds to breed and raise. In total the average litter will cost you around 1500 per year. This is then however made back with the puppies costing anywhere from 1000-1800 each.
The approximate cost for a litter of dogs is as follows;
- Vet care for the puppies and bitch is going to cost you, on average, about $500
- Proper food and treats for the dogs are going to cost you approximately $280
- Other costs such as supplies for the whelping box and other things are going to put you out about another $250
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog – FAQ
Answers to common questions about the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog breed.
The answer to this question is really up for debate. This breed is about the closest you can get to owning a wolf in both temperament and appearance. They can be good with children but have the potential to be extremely aggressive towards other pets.
As we mentioned earlier, this dog breed is more modern compared to others, and therefore not much is known about it. Due to this, not much information can be given as to whether this dog is a good family dog or not. They can potentially make good pets but you should be sure to keep up with your dog’s exercise and diet in order to make sure they don’t become bored or upset.
Czechoslovakian wolfdogs are, after all, a wolfdog. This means that in the United States they are banned in over 40 states. Not only is it illegal to breed this dog but it is also illegal to own them as a pet. This does not just apply to Czechoslovakian wolfdogs, this applies to all wolfdog crossbreeds. There are other laws and regulations in place on wolfdog breeds in other states. You should make sure to look into your place of living laws and regulations of different breeds before considering owning or breeding any.
This breed is not heavy on barking but much like its wolf relatives can be prone to howling. If you live in an apartment or small space with close neighbors, not only should you avoid this breed for its high energy and exercise requirements but for the disruption they may cause with their howling.
Although we have mentioned it several times throughout this article, it is important to remind you that they are very closely related to wolves. This means that they share wild and undomesticated DNA. They were bred and used for their aggressive nature. This means that they can get very dangerous if not trained and kept with a firm hand. They can also become dangerous if they are upset, angry, or simply if you get on their bad side.
Not much is known about owning this breed in the home setting as they have only been kept as such for about 50 years. You should always make sure to do your research about owning a breed before considering buying it as you may make an uneducated decision that you could regret in the future.
This breed is less trainable than other German Shepherd crosses. You may find incredible difficulty when trying to train this breed due to their wild nature. Professional training is a requirement for this dog breed.
Currently, the best-trained dogs of this breed are those that were bred and raised for military work. This is what the breed was originally for so it comes as no surprise that these are the best behaved of the bunch. This is not to say it is impossible to train the breed alone but it may come with extreme difficulty and danger if the dog does not obey you and becomes upset in some way.
All in all, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog should not be owned by someone who is not prepared to get their dog professionally trained. It should also not be kept in a house with other small animals or dogs. the ideal home and family for this dog is a large one with lots of space to run and a family that is active and ready to take their dog out for lots of physical activity. Keep in mind, if you are planning to breed this dog it may not be legal to keep or breed wolfdogs where you live so make sure to research laws and regulations for different breeds in your state or country.
One comment on “How To Breed Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs”
Interesting article. I came across it after searching for information on breeding this extraordinary race, as mine have mated this week.
A few things I would like to add to your article:
– They do NOT necessarily have to be trained professionally, if you are willing to learn and be your own worst critic. However, since this article is written for the masses, I concur with your advice.
– I have two rehomed wolfdogs, one of which is an actual hybrid, and they are very delicate around the cats I had in the home. This is because they are very focused on what’s important to me and therefore they’ve adapted and became my cats’ best friends. This required a lot of patience and training, however. But it is very possible. With smaller dogs, I don’t know. My dogs aren’t big fans of most dogs in my neighborhood.
– I live in a fairly small home, definitely small by American standards, but they get a lot of exercise as I walk them anywhere between 4 and 10 times per day, 2 of which will be long walks.
– Somewhere in the article you mentioned people should inform themselves on what type of dog they want to get before they acquire it. I sincerely, deeply concur with this statement but I feel you should emphasize that wolfdogs should NEVER have to be rehomed. A wolfdog is a pack animal more than any other dogbreed and it’s severely traumatizing for them to move from their first pack (mother) to a new owner and then being dumped because they’re too much work. They will have severe issues adapting to their new owner, as they will have trust issues I can’t even begin to describe. They will also have very intense fear of abandonment and can only be left alone at home after years of training. For example: if I have to go grocery shopping, I have to bring the dog with me, take it out to the front of the store and leave it there, where it will howl, whinge and cry as soon as they can’t see me anymore. If I leave them at home, they will jump and claw and howl their way out of the house and tend to destroy things in the process. With my oldest dog, this isn’t a problem anymore, but it took me nearly 3(!) years to reach that point. It’s heartbreaking to see them in such pain and more than once have people called the police for it.