Cesky Terrier
A calm, soft-coated Czech terrier with short legs and a gentler, quieter streak than most of its terrier relatives.
At a glance
- Size
- Small
- Height at the withers
- Males 27–32 cm · Females 25–30 cm
- Weight
- Males 6–10 kg · Females 6–9 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 45–60 min a day
- Grooming
- Regular trips to a groomer
- Coat
- Silky, Wavy, long
- Colours
- Grey, Blue, Brown
- Bred for
- Terrier work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Czechia
- FCI
- Group 3, no. 246 · Terriers
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 4/5 – High |
| Suits apartment living | 4/5 – High |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 3/5 – Moderate |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a small, sturdy terrier with a calmer temperament
- live in a flat or house with modest outdoor space
- are happy to pay for or learn regular clipping
Think twice if you …
- want a dog that loves every stranger
- don't want to deal with coat care
- keep small pets like rodents at home
Care
Temperament
Cesky Terriers are gentle and devoted with their family and more easygoing than many terriers. They tend to be polite but watchful with strangers and still have enough terrier spirit to chase small animals.
Exercise
A couple of brisk daily walks and some play are usually enough. They enjoy sniffing games, earthdog-style tunnels and relaxed hikes.
Grooming
The soft, wavy coat is clipped on the body and left longer on the beard, eyebrows and legs, usually every six to eight weeks. Brush it two or three times a week to prevent mats; shedding is low.
Training
They respond well to calm, reward-based training and are more cooperative than many terriers, though they can be sensitive and a little stubborn. Early socialisation helps with their natural reserve toward strangers.
Health
The breed is generally sturdy, but Scottie cramp (a movement disorder), primary lens luxation and patellar luxation are known. Ask the breeder for eye and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Eye examination
- Kneecaps (patella)
DNA tests
- PLL
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Cesky Terrier was created in Czechoslovakia in the mid-20th century by the geneticist František Horák, who crossed Scottish and Sealyham Terriers to get a lighter, more cooperative hunting terrier that could work in packs underground. The breed was recognised by the FCI in 1963 and is still the national terrier of the Czech Republic.
At home the Cesky is a steady, affectionate companion that settles well indoors and is usually less excitable than other terriers. It is reserved with strangers and will bark to announce visitors, but it rarely looks for trouble. The silky coat is clipped rather than stripped, so owners should budget for regular grooming.
Did you know?
The Cesky Terrier is one of the few breeds whose creation was planned and documented step by step by a single geneticist, František Horák, starting in 1949.