Quick Facts
Origin: Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic)
Height: 10”-13”
Weight: 14-24 lbs
Color: Gray with or without any of these markings: white markings, cream furnishings, silver furnishings, tan furnishings, yellow furnishings
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Reserved, calm, playful
Overview
If you are looking for a chill dog then Cesky (chess-KEE) Terrier is for you. Calmness has been specifically bred into these pups. While these dogs are not prevalent worldwide, in the Czech Republic they are seen as hometown treasures.
These eye-catching pups with their wavy hair cascading between the eyes, are easy distinguishable and truly unforgettable. Suspicious of strangers and caring of loved ones, Cesky is the perfect addition to any family. The only catch being, can you find one? There are only about 600 of these adorable pooches in the US.
Also known as Bohemian terriers, these intelligent pups are easy to train. If you are delinquent or feeble with maintaining pack order, they are just as likely to find mischief.
Celebrity Owners
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Fun Facts
- Worldwide these pups are not very popular, but in the Czech Republic they are homeland sweethearts. They are honored in Czech artwork, television, postage stamps and movies!
Health
Ceskys are generally quite healthy. Although unlikely, here are some health issues to be aware of include:
- Patellar luxation: Luxating simply means out of place or dislocated. Patella is a kneecap. A Luxating patella is a kneecap that chronically moves out of its normal position.
- Progressive retinal atrophy: Atrophy is a wearing or wasting away of a body part. In this case, it is the retina in the eye, which eventually leads to blindness.
- Cataracts: A dog develops a cataract when the lens in its eye clouds. The clouding is caused by changes in the water balance or proteins in the lens.
- Cerebellar abiotrophy: This degeneration in the back of your brain can lead to balance loss, and difficulty with speech and eyesight.
- Cardiac issues: There’s a myriad of causes of heart disease in dogs. Age, health and nutrition all play a vital role. With 95% of heart diseases coming in small dog breeds who are 5 years or older, thinking about preventative care and coverage is smart to do.
- Scottie cramps: This neurological disorder can lead to temporary paralysis in the limbs. Typically, an episode can last about 10 minutes.
- Primary Lens Luxation (PLL): Here, the tiny fibers that hold the lens suspended in the eye begin to degrade. Eventually, the lens can fall out of place.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
Grooming
Ceskys need weekly brushing with a comb or pin brush. Although these pups won’t shed, you will still need to remove dead hair by clipping or hand stripping every 6-8 weeks.
Be sure to keep your pup’s eyes clean to avoid infection. Keep hair in the ear canal cut short and clear of debris. As with all dogs, keep your pup’s nails clipped and brush their teeth several times a week.
Exercise
Terriers will be terriers. Bred for generations to seek out prey, will keep your pup on alert for a chase. Always leash your Cesky when on walks. When playing your pup should be in a secure fenced in area.
About 45 minutes minimum of exercise per day will keep your pup happy. Walks, hikes, light jogging, and playing in the backyard are a good place to start.
Nutrition
On average a Cesky will eat around 2 cups of food per day. Your pup’s specific needs will vary depending on age and activity level. At any stage in life, it is best to feed your dog with premium food, balances and rich in proteins and nutrients.
Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other animals is key. Ceskys are known as lesser stubborn terriers and therefore easier to train. Your pup will respond best to positive reinforcement training.
Be mindful to discourage chasing prey from the beginning, especially if you have other smaller animals in the house. These pups are eager to please and love to learn new tricks. Ceskys can begin their training as early as 8 weeks old.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pups life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
The Good
Good with well-behaved children
Calm attitude
The "Ruff"
Desire to hunt prey
Hard to find outside of the Czech Republic