Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
Also known as: Czechoslovakian Vlciak
Breed at a glance
- Origin
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- Weight
- Males
- Height
- Males
- Coat
- straight and close
- Colour
- yellowish-grey to silver-grey with a light mask
- Other names
- Czechoslovakian Vlciak
intro
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog ( Czech : československý vlčák , Slovak : československý vlčiak , German : Tschechoslowakischer Wolfhund ) is a breed of wolfdog that began as an experiment conducted in Czechoslovakia in 1955 by colonel Karel Hartl together with cynologist Heiri Machat. The breed was known as Czech Wolfdog ( Czech : český vlčák , Slovak : český vlčiak ) until 1982. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] It was officially recognized as a national breed in Czechoslovakia in 1982, [ citation needed ] and was definitively accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1999.
History
In 1955, Karel Hartl began to consider crossing a Carpathian grey wolf with a German Shepherd as a scientific experiment in the military kennels in Czechoslovakia. The first hybrids of a female wolf named Brita and a male sable German Shepherd named Cézar z Březového háje were born on 26 May 1958 in Libějovice , Czechoslovakia (modern-day Czech Republic ). [ 4 ] The Ceskoslovenský Vlciak was definitely accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1999, listed in its Sheepdogs and Cattledogs group of breeds. [ 5 ] In 2012, the breed numbered 168 bitches and 170 dogs officially registered in the Czech Republic. [ 6 ] In 2015, a DNA study of the breed compared to German Shepherds and Carpathian wolves found only two maternal mitochondrial DNA haplotypes and two paternal Y DNA haplotypes within the breed. Both mDNA haplotypes and one yDNA haplotype originated with German Shepherd Dogs and were the result of back-crossing. The other yDNA haplotype was unique to the breed. All four haplotypes were distinct from those of the parental populations. The results indicate limited introgression of lupine alleles (genetic expressions) within a higher proportion of the canine genome, which is consistent with the backcrossing used in the breed. [ 6 ] The American Kennel Club published a breed standard in 2024. [ 7 ]
Notability
In 2026, a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog named Nazgul made international news when he escaped from his kennel and ran onto the 2026 Winter Olympics cross-country course during the women's cross-country skiing team sprint qualification. [ 10 ] [ 11 ]
Characteristics
Minimum height at the withers is 65 cm for dogs and 60 cm for females, and minimum body weights are 26 kg and 20 kg respectively. [ 8 ] : 6 The coat is straight, close-fitting, and very thick in the winter months of the year, but thinner in summer. [ 8 ] : 5 The coat colour varies from silver-grey to yellow-grey, always with a light mask and light hair on the chest and under the neck; it may also be dark grey, still with a light mask. [ 8 ] : 5