Canis lupus familiaris
Cesky Terrier
Featured photocesky-terrier.jpgThe Cesky Terrier is a Czech Sealyham × Scottish Terrier cross by František Horák in 1949 — narrow Bohemian fox-and-badger terrier. The Cesky Terrier (Bohemian Terrier) was created in 1949 by Czech geneticist and breeder František Horák, who crossed the Sealyham Terrier with the Scottish Terrier to produce a smaller, narrower, more agile working terrier suited to hunting fox and badger in the dense forests of Bohemia.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Terrier
- Origin country
- Czech Republic (Bohemia)
- Origin period
- Mid-20th century (formalized 1959)
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Grey-Blue, Light Coffee Brown — born black or chocolate and lightening to the adult colour by age 3
- Average lifespan
- 12-15 years
- Recognition
- AKC 2011 · FCI 1963 · UKC 2010 · Group 3 — Terriers (Section 2: Small-sized Terriers)
Origin
The Cesky Terrier (Bohemian Terrier) was created in 1949 by Czech geneticist and breeder František Horák (1909-1996) of Klánovice, near Prague. Horák, an avid hunter, found the standard Sealyham Terrier too broad-chested for the narrow setts of Bohemian fox and badger, so he crossed the Sealyham with the Scottish Terrier to produce a smaller, narrower-bodied, more agile working terrier. The first generation was registered in 1949; Horák refined the breed over fifteen years and the FCI recognized the Cesky Terrier in 1963. The breed is one of the six national breeds of the Czech Republic. The AKC admitted the Cesky Terrier in 2011.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 2011, the United Kennel Club followed in 2010, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 246) in 1963. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 3 — Terriers (Section 2: Small-sized Terriers).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a small, short-legged, slightly-long, well-pigmented dog of moderate substance, with a noble, calm expression — slightly-narrower in the chest than the Sealyham parent breed. The defining feature is the long, silky, slightly-wavy single coat that is born black or chocolate and gradually lightens to the adult colour (grey-blue or light coffee-brown) by age 3 — the unique 'colour clearing' is a breed-defining trait, similar to the Kerry Blue. The traditional show clip leaves a beard, eyebrows, leg furnishings, and a fringe along the underside, with the back and sides clipped short. Males stand 29-32 cm at the withers, females 25-29 cm.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cesky Terrier's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Cesky Terrier in the Terrier Group. The Terrier Group gathers breeds developed to hunt and dispatch vermin or to go to ground after fox and badger; the name derives from the Latin terra ('earth'). The breed's foundation working role was as a Czech Sealyham × Scottish Terrier cross by František Horák in 1949 — narrow Bohemian fox-and-badger terrier.
When was the Cesky Terrier officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 2011; the United Kennel Club followed in 2010; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 246) in 1963.
What is the average lifespan of a Cesky Terrier?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Cesky Terrier's average lifespan in the 12-15 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
