Breeds / Large
Czechoslovakian Vlciak puppies
A wolf-derived working breed from central Europe, extremely energetic and closely bonded to their own group, wary of strangers, near silent, and independent enough to make training a negotiation.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Czechoslovakia
- Adult weight 20 to 25.9 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 44 to 57 lb
- Adult height 60 to 65 cm
- Energy level Very high
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Medium
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 12 to 16 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Czechoslovakian Vlciak
The Czechoslovakian Vlciak began as a military experiment in the 1950s, crossing German Shepherd Dogs with Carpathian wolves to produce border patrol dogs with more stamina and better senses, then continued as a breed in their own right. They weigh 20 to 25.9 kg and stands 60 to 65 cm, light framed and high withered, wolf grey with a mask. They are intensely social within their own group, reserved to the point of avoidance with strangers, and they almost never bark, communicating by whine, yelp and posture instead.
Energy is very high and the dog needs hours of activity plus a purpose, and turning them out into a garden alone achieves nothing. The coat cleans itself and needs daily brushing only during the twice yearly shed. Prey drive is serious, so fencing and lead work are not optional. This is a breed for experienced owners with time, and a poor choice for a first dog. Most people buy the wolf look and expect German Shepherd biddability, which is not on offer.
The law in your country
This breed or type is restricted in some places. Check the current rules where you live before you commit to a puppy.
Australia
Dog and wolf crosses cannot be imported into Australia. The Department of Agriculture lists the Czechoslovakian wolfdog or Czechoslovakian Vlcak by name among the domestic and non domestic hybrids that are prohibited under environment law, along with the other named wolfdog breeds, and refers questions to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Source.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Czechoslovakian Vlciak 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 large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. 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 they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
- Degenerative myelopathy (DM), detectable by DNA test
- Pituitary dwarfism, detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
Your Czechoslovakian Vlciak puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Czechoslovakian Vlciak.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20 to 25.9 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 25.9 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the Czechoslovakian Vlciak
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- agriculture.gov.au for the legal status notes
- Health notes from Czechoslovakian Vlciak breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/czechoslovakian-vlciak/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Margo-CzW at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.