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Cesky Terrier History
" Brewster"
The Cesky Terrier – A History The Cesky Terrier breed is a cross between the Sealyham Terrier and the Scottish Terrier and was founded by Frantisek Horak (1909-1996) in the Czech Republic. This relatively new breed is also known as a Bohemian Terrier or Czech Terrier and was only developed in the last century. Horak was keen hunter and he became well known for his Scottish and Sealyham Terriers, which he used in hunting near his home. Horak’s kennel was named ‘Lovu Zdar’ which means ‘Successful Hunter’, this is true with both his Scotties and Sealyhams and then later this can be seen with the Cesky.
It was not until after the Second World War in 1949 that the first combination of a Scottish Terrier dog, Donka Lovu Zdar and Sealyham Terrier bitch, Buganier Urquelle produced the first Cesky terrier. He was named Adam Lovu Zdar and was born on 25th December 1949. During this breeding, Horak kept detailed records of blood lines and in the years that followed, he worked to set the characteristics he was looking for. It is from this that an accurate account for the breed’s history can be seen. Unfortunately, this Cesky was shot by a careless hunter in 1950 causing a setback. Horak repeated his breeding, however, this time he used the Scottish Terrier, Scotch Rose with Buganier Urquelle, producing six puppies, which was the beginning of the Cesky Terrier. As the Cesky was bred to hunt mammals such as fox, rabbit, duck, pheasants and wild boar, Horak aimed to breed for a narrower chest and moderately sized head with slightly longer legs that was suited to digging and endurance. Additional characteristics Horak bred for were softer coats and an aggressive temperament to hunting but a dog that could be easily handled. The dark colour of the Scottish and the drop ear of the Sealyham were also taken into consideration – as was a grooming style that was easy to maintain. The Cesky is never hand stripped like many terriers, but is groomed with clippers. This made the coat much easier to groom for those Ceskys kept as a pet or shown in the ring. Also Horak did not want the burden of tail docking, leaving the breed undocked, unlike with the parent breeds. In 1956 after ten years of the original litter, the breed was presented to the public, with his aim being accomplished and in 1959, the breed was recognised by the Czechoslovakian Kennel Club. The FCI registered Cesky terriers in 1963 with the breed gaining increasingly popularity, particularly with hunters. Horak decided that the breed needed some new blood, and with permission from the FCI, a Sealyham was bred back into the breed twice in 1984 and later in 1985. Over the years the Cesky has gained many friends and fanciers both in their home country and abroad. In its homeland, the Cesky Terrier is a much beloved national treasure and has been featured on postage stamps, artwork, and literature, on TV and in movies. They can also be seen on several specially painted buses. The breed was becoming popular in several Scandinavian countries, even though there was a ban on exporting the breed for a number of years. Increasingly spreading across Europe and other parts of the world, the Cesky can be seen in England, the United States, Canada and Australia. Not only did Horak’s terriers gain success as hunters, but also in the show ring, where he first exhibited a Cesky in 1959 and in 1963, he had gained FCI recognition for the breed. The first Cesky to gain the Championship status was Horak’s Javor Lovu Zdar in 1964.
Jane Hyman Riverina, NSW, Australia Email : [email protected] |
