Breeds / Small
Cesky Terrier puppies
A calm, sociable terrier from the Czech lands, more biddable and less scrappy than most of the group but still keen to hunt when a scent turns up.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin Czech Republic
- Adult weight 6.4 to 10.9 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 14 to 24 lb
- Adult height 25 to 33 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Medium wavy and silky
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
About the Cesky Terrier
The Cesky Terrier was made in Czechoslovakia in the 1940s by a geneticist who crossed Sealyham and Scottish Terriers, wanting a narrower dog that could work Bohemian forests in a pack and take direction from a handler. The result is a small, long and low terrier of 6.4 to 10.9 kg standing 25 to 33 cm, with a soft wavy grey coat, drop ears and a beard. It is noticeably calmer and more biddable than most terriers, though the drive is still there under the manners.
Exercise is moderate: daily walks and play, with a lead or a fence at all times because a scent will win. The coat is clipped rather than hand stripped, so a groomer every few weeks plus brushing between visits, and ear hair needs removing to prevent infections. It suits families, including those with children, given normal supervision and socialisation. The usual mistake is assuming low shedding means low maintenance, then finding the coat matted.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Cesky Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation
- Progressive retinal atrophy, detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Cataracts and other inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Cardiac disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
- Scotty cramp, a movement disorder causing brief spasms under excitement, diagnosed clinically once other causes are ruled out
From Cesky Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cesky-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Cesky Terrier puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Cesky Terrier.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 6.4 to 10.9 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other small breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.