Bohemian Shepherd

Did You Know?

• A Bohemian shepherd silhouette is used for the Czech scout organization Junák's badges.
• The largest statue of a dog is a Bohemian shepherd statue near the village of Újezd in the Plzeň Region, measuring almost four meters in height and eight meters in length.
• The breed is generally healthy with few hereditary diseases, partly due to strict guidelines from the 1990s Czech breed club.

History

The Bohemian shepherd is a herding dog and guard dog indigenous to the Chod region of southwest Bohemia, around Domažlice. Chronicles from the reign of Břetislav I mention that the Chods were accompanied by an especially faithful dog. During the reign of King Ottokar II (1253-1278), the Kingdom of Bohemia recruited the Chods from ethnic enclaves in the western Carpathian Mountains near the borders of today's Slovakia, Poland, and southwestern Ukraine, relocating them to patrol the border between Bohemia and Bavaria. It is not known whether the same dog accompanied the Chods during relocation or if the breed developed soon afterward; period drawings show a small, long-haired shepherd dog with prick ears. The breed became indispensable for border patrols, herding, and tracking game. The association continued after the agreement was voided in 1695. J.A. Gabriel in 1864 described the local people as “Psohlavci” (Dog-heads), their pennon featuring a Bohemian sheepdog silhouette. Alois Jirásek's 1884 novel Psohlavci used the dog as a flag symbol. Jindřich Šimon Baar wrote of “Chod dogs” in 1923 as balanced and tenacious for guarding and rounding up cattle. A 1948 proposal for FCI recognition was set aside due to disagreements on a breed standard.

Description

The Bohemian Shepherd is a medium-sized, rectangular dog standing 48–55 cm at the withers and weighing 15–25 kg. It has long, thick fur with a rich undercoat, and the desired color is black with tan. The body is compact and well proportioned, with high-set, small, pointed, erect ears and a long, elegant neckline. Its gait is fluid, light, and unhurried. The breed is lively, quick, and biddable, relating well to children and other pets. It has a keen sense of smell, making it proficient in search and rescue or as a companion for handicapped people, and it serves as an outstanding watch dog. Its temperament is stable, calm, and friendly.