Breeds / Large
Czechoslovakian Vlciak puppies
A wolf-derived working breed from central Europe, extremely energetic and closely bonded to its 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
- Typical lifespan 12 to 16 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
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 its own right. It weighs 20 to 25.9 kg and stands 60 to 65 cm, light framed and high withered, wolf grey with a mask. It is intensely social within its own group, reserved to the point of avoidance with strangers, and it almost never barks, communicating by whine, yelp and posture instead.
Energy is very high and the dog needs hours of activity plus a purpose, and turning it 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.
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 it 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 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.
- 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
From Czechoslovakian Vlciak breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/czechoslovakian-vlciak/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
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.
Other large breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.