Activities For Cesky Terriers

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Activities For Cesky Terriers

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Introduction

The Cesky Terrier is a small but determined earth dog with a generally cooperative nature. These dogs were developed by geneticist and sportsman Frantisek Horak in Czechoslovakia, using a cross of Scottish and Sealyham Terriers, possibly with a few Dandy Dinmont Terriers or Wire-Haired Dachshund dogs as well. They are determined and effective at pest control on a farm but tend to be calmer and more tractable than many other terrier breeds. While most terriers are solitary hunters, the Cesky is also very capable as a pack hunter as well.

Barn Hunt

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Sunny Day

Moderate

Normal

15 - 60 min

Items needed

Barn

Safely caged rats

Activity description

Barn hunt is a relatively new way to allow dogs such as the Cesky Terrier an outlet for their strong desire to track and hunt vermin. Specially socialized rats, usually someone's pet, are placed in safety tubes and hidden in and around a hay bale maze, usually located in a barn. The Cesky was actually developed for larger prey, such as fox, rabbit, and even boar, but they tend to perform quite well at tracking the rodents as well. The dogs are not allowed to harm the rats in any way but they do end up getting to use their considerable tracking skills in an environment that is very similar to the one that many terriers were developed for.

Step

Locate a barn hunt club

This new sport has been quickly gaining in popularity, but it does take a large amount of space, hay bales, and rats that are socialized to handle the situation without fear. Unfortunately, these are not always available to the average pet parent, and most participants will need to locate a club or group that specializes in this sport. A list of clubs that are recognized by the Barn Hunt Association is located right on their main website, or you can contact local dog sports facilities in our area for local recommendations.

Step

Introduce the rodent

While the rat that will be your dog's target is very used to dogs sniffing at their safety tubes, this may be a new experience for your Cesky Terrier. While this isn't the natural prey of this particular terrier, it generally doesn't take them long to figure out exactly who they are searching for once they have been introduced.

Step

Watch and compete

Barn Hunt has become quite popular across the United States in the last few years, and there are several competitions available for all levels of competitors. Official Barn Hunt Association competitions are available in states from Alaska to Pennsylvania for you to either view as a spectator or compete. Dogs who are not competing are also generally welcome at Barn Hunt competitions as long as they stand at least ten feet from the actual action.

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Search for Supper

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Any Day

Cheap

Easy

15 - 45 min

Items needed

Food

Bowl

Treat dispensing toys (optional)

Activity description

Cesky Terriers, like many other terriers, have a tendency to overeat, leading to obesity. Encouraging your dog to search for their supper provides a safe and inexpensive opportunity for your dog to use their natural tracking skills, as well as helping to ensure that they get a little exercise before supper. As this is an activity that is done at home, it works well for people who are typically busy as well as for those who are unable to get out of their house often. People who work long hours may choose to set up a search before they leave for work to help prevent anxiety, but should remember that the dog will need a walk within just a few hours.

Step

Getting started

Initially, some dogs are a little confused as to why their dinner is not in its usual place, and for many dogs, it is easier to start the process by hiding their normal bowl with their normal food in it. The hiding place should be easy to spot at first too, and it may be easiest to start off in the same room that the food is normally located in.

Step

Distance

Once your canine companion has begun to expect a hidden meal, it is time to increase the challenge. If you have been hiding the food in the same room as they were previously eating, you can now start moving it a room or two away. Hiding places can be more challenging as well, utilizing open boxes, closets, or under beds. Just remember that the hiding places should never be anywhere that is off limits to your dog, such as on kitchen counters or in grocery bags, as this can set a bad precedent.

Step

Make them move

Once your dog is easily finding their supper each night, you can improve the game once again, using either multiple bowls and hiding places or placing the kibble in toys designed to hold treats. Hiding the food in multiple areas ensures that your dog gets a little bit of physical exercise, and also helps to prevent overeating as they have time to digest their food somewhat as they are searching.

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Therapy Dog

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Any Day

Moderate

Hard

30 - 90 min

Items needed

Leash

Certification

Activity description

Therapy dogs are different from either service or emotional support animals in that they don’t focus on just one specific person. Instead, they make visits to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, or even sites where tragedy has occurred, in order to provide unconditional love and comfort to many people in one area. In order to make these visits, therapy dogs need to be calm and comfortable in many different environments and situations, making this a difficult job for many breeds of terrier. Cesky Terriers tend to be less active and quieter than other terrier breeds, which makes them more eligible for this type of work.

Step

Socialize

It is particularly important for dogs that work as therapy animals and comfort dogs to be calm and collected in as many situations as possible. While they frequently spend time in facilities such as schools and nursing homes, some therapy dogs visit the scenes of tragedies as well. They were present and helped people heal at Sandy Hook in 2012, at the Boston Marathon in 2013, and at the Pulse in Orlando, FL in 2016.

Step

Training

It is essential that dogs employed as therapy dogs have exemplary manners, and certification is needed to prove that they have those manners. In order to begin classes to train as a therapy dog, your canine companion first needs to earn an AKC Good Citizen Award that indicates that they are able to dependably exhibit good manners when dealing with people of all sorts.

Step

Once your dog has completed their AKC requirements, they will attend therapy dog training, at which point they are generally evaluated once again. Once they have passed their evaluation, they can register with one of several National Therapy Dog organizations across the United States. These organizations will be able to help you navigate the process as well, assisting you with support, information, and even helping you to find the appropriate insurances, then guiding you to the locations where you and your pup are most needed.

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More Fun Ideas...

Earthdog Trials

Cesky Terriers are impressive trackers with a strong drive to seek out prey that goes to ground, making them excellent candidates to compete in Earthdog trials.

Rally Obedience

Rally Obedience, also known as Rally O, may be a better alternative for certain Cesky Terriers than agility training. This dog sport requires your dog to learn and follow certain advanced commands but doesn’t have any jumping or weaving motions which may eventually cause damage to dogs with longer backs, leading to arthritis and slipped disks.

Conclusion

The Cesky Terrier is a well-developed but rare breed of Terrier that excels at both pest control and at cooperative hunting with other Cesky Terriers. These little dogs from Czechoslovakia are typically more cooperative than other terrier breeds, making them easy and enjoyable to train but they still retain the high prey drive of the Scottish and Sealyham Terriers and do well at activities involving searching and tracking.