Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
Also known as: Vlčák, Český vlčák, Czech Wolfdog, Czechoslovakian Vlcak
In 1955 the Czechoslovak army began an experiment crossing German Shepherds with Carpathian wolves, hoping for a dog with a wolf's endurance and a shepherd's obedience, and got instead an animal that turned out remarkably independent and hard to manage. The build is lean and muscular, the coat straight and double, wolf gray, and the gait reads more like a wolf's trot than a shepherd's. The breed carries an unusually strong territorial streak and often communicates by howling rather than standard barking. Training needs to start consistent from the first weeks, or the dog tends to take charge of the household fairly quickly. It needs serious daily exercise, since energy is never in short supply. It stays close to its own family but keeps its natural distrust of strangers. Life expectancy runs 12 to 14 years.
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog: how old in human years?
- 60–65 cmHeight
- 20–26 kgWeight
- 12–14 yrsLife expectancy
- FCI group
- Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
- FCI section
- Section 1: Sheepdogs
- FCI
- 332
- Country of origin
- Czech Republic / Slovakia
-
Energy level
5/5 -
Trainability
3/5 -
Family friendly
3/5 -
Grooming need
2/5
At a glance
- Height
-
Males not specified
Females not specified
- Weight
-
Males not specified
Females not specified
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 yrs
- Coat
- straight double coat, wolf-like (medium-length)
Temperament & Family Life
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.
- Family friendly 3/5
- Good with children 2/5
- Good with other dogs 2/5
- Friendly with strangers 1/5
- Intelligence 5/5
- Trainability 3/5
Exercise, Energy & Space
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog's energy and exercise needs are high.
- Energy level 5/5
- Exercise need 5/5
- Apartment friendly 1/5
- Prey drive 5/5
- Hunting instinct 4/5
Guarding & Alertness
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.
- Guarding instinct 3/5
- Watchfulness 4/5
- Barking level 2/5
Grooming & Care
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog's grooming needs are low.
- Shedding 3/5
- Drooling 1/5
- Grooming need 2/5
Living with the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
Six in the morning, fog on a forest track, and your dog stops dead, lifts its nose and stares a long while into a distance where you see nothing at all. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog was created by crossing working German Shepherds with wolves, and there is more wolf in it than the looks: stamina, alertness and a very strong prey drive. It needs a great deal of exercise every day, long hikes, running, nose work, and an owner who enjoys all that too.
It is highly intelligent but learns only when it sees the point: dull repetition bores it quickly, and harshness only breeds stubbornness. Training has to be consistent, patient and start on day one, and socialising it with people, dogs and city noise matters even more. A flat does not suit it; a house with a high, sturdy fence is better, because a wolfdog can both dig and jump.
With its own people it can be deeply attached, but with strangers it is reserved and wary, and it does not always get on with other dogs or small animals. It is not the best match for young children, and it dislikes being left alone for long. This is a dog for an experienced owner who wants not a pet on the sofa but a partner for every trail.
Grooming and coat
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog's coat, a straight, medium-length double coat like a wolf's, is built to see out a winter outdoors, and for most of the year it looks after itself. It needs no frequent baths or clipping; a weekly brush down to the undercoat clears dead hair and lets you check the skin. When the seasons turn, though, the undercoat comes out in earnest, and daily brushing is worth it then, or tufts will turn up everywhere from the rug to your coats.
After a long walk in the woods, check the pads, between the toes and through the coat for ticks and burrs. Once a week, look at the upright ears and the eyes, and trim the nails if they do not wear down on their own. All of this is far easier with a wolfdog that learned it as a puppy, calmly and with a treat.
How to do it:
By age:
Health and possible conditions
We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.