Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

44-90 lbs
24-26"
Czech Republic
Slovak Wolfdog, Czech Wolfdog, Ceskoslovensky Vlcak, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

You may be thinking that this breed looks like a wolf — and there’s a good reason why there are so many similarities. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog — or Czechoslovakian Vlcak — as the name would suggest, is actually half wolf. 

This primitive breed needs strong leadership so they aren’t suitable for first time pet parents. For an experienced owner, however, they’ll thrive as a working dog and will benefit from spending time doing outdoor activities such as hiking. 

In this guide to the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, you’ll discover:

  • The reason they look like a wolf is because they are half Carpathian wolf 
  • This wolf hybrid was bred as an experiment and initially used for border patrol 
  • Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs have high energy and needs that will require an experienced and active owner 
  • They’re incredibly loyal to the owner but wary of strangers, children and animals 

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog breed overview

Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs, which resemble a wolf in everything from their body shape to coat color, were bred to patrol the border in Czechoslovakia. 

Today, this breed, which is known as Ceskoslovensky Vlcak in Slovakia and Ceskoslovensky Vlack in Czech Republic, still has a strong hunting instinct. Although they’re incredibly loyal to their owners, they can be suspicious of new people and other animals. 

As this breed is half wolf, you may be asking the question: are Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs legal in the US? Well, there is some controversy surrounding them as they can be considered dangerous. But, it depends where you live. The breeding and private ownership of wolf hybrids is banned in 40 states. Other states have regulations including permits being required for ownership. 

However, before you check the regulations, you should know that even if you can own a Czech Wolfdog, they’re quite rare in the USA and therefore a pretty expensive breed. According to the Czechoslovakian Vlcak Club of America, where you’ll find a list of reputable breeders and any dogs waiting for adoption, there were only 200 in the country in 2018. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog price can be anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000. 

This wolf hybrid is a robust breed with a long life expectancy, living up to 16 years. 

If you’re about to get a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog then you’ll want to know they’re covered for any unexpected health issues. Check out the best pet insurance plans — it’s quick and easy to browse and compare top providers.


purpose Purpose
Military work
history Date of Origin
1955
ancestry Ancestry
German Shepherd, Carpathian Wolf

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Health

Sketch of Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
Average Size
Male Czechoslovakian Wolfdog size stats
Height: 26-28 inches Weight: 57-90 lbs
Female Czechoslovakian Wolfdog size stats
Height: 24-26 inches Weight: 44-90 lbs

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Breed History

This breed was created in the 1950s as an experiment when Karel Hartl decided to cross a German Shepherd dog with a Carpathian wolf. This was done using four Carpathian wolves named Sarik, Brita, Argo and Lejdy, and 40 German Shepherd dogs.

The main goal of this experiment was to combine the qualities of the wolf and dog into one breed. They wanted to create a border guard dog with the endurance, resistance to adverse conditions, scent, sight and hearing of the wolf. The result was the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog — a solid dog that’s quick to learn and has even quicker reactions. 

They worked as border patrol in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s and in 1982, they became the country’s national breed. Today, they’re still often working dogs with jobs such as search and rescue

They were recorded by the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service in 2001 and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2011. 

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Breed Appearance

This impressive and unique looking dog has both the build and the coat of a wolf. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog size is a medium to large breed with a height up to 28 inches and weight up to 90 pounds. Their body is a similar length to their height. 

This wolf hybrid has a straight and strong spine while the back is short and slightly sloped.  The chest is large and flat leading to the belly which is drawn in. The tail is bushy and set high above the muscular legs of this agile and athletic breed. 

Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs have a thick neck. Their ears, which stand upright, are short and triangular shaped, their eyes are amber and sit above teeth and jaws that are strong and scissor shaped. 

Their fur is thick and straight. They have a double coat — in summer the undercoat is thin and short while in winter it becomes very thick and long. The coat can be yellow-gray or silver-gray and has a light mask and a black muzzle. 

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Breed Maintenance

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a fairly low-maintenance dog. They rarely need a bath as their weather-resistant coat will clean itself and they have very little body odor. Although they shed all year round, this will be much heavier twice a year. They’ll need frequent brushing, especially during the winter when their coat is thicker. 

Although brushing will help, you should be prepared for a layer of fur to cover your home and therefore these dogs are not hypoallergenic. 

Their strong nails grow fast and so will need to be trimmed regularly. You should also check and clean their ears as well as brushing their teeth.


Czechoslovakian Wolfdog health risks

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is significantly healthier than other dog breeds and incredibly robust. But, of course, they can be prone to some health conditions. The ones you need to be particularly aware of are:

Although the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a healthy and robust breed, they’re still prone to some health issues. Make sure you are prepared for this by browsing and comparing top pet insurance providers to find the best option for you and your dog. 


Elbow Dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia typically affects large breed puppies that grow quickly. This condition is essentially arthritis of the elbow and will usually affect both elbows. Symptoms, which may not develop until adulthood, include the dog appearing stiff when getting up, swollen joints and limping after exercise. The treatment will depend on the severity but it’s likely that they will require corrective surgery. 


Hip Dysplasia 

Hip dysplasia is when the ball and socket rubs and grinds rather than gliding smoothly because it hasn’t formed properly in the hip joint. This can be in one or both hips and can occur from as early as 16 weeks or may be something they get when they are older. Large breeds are most likely to be affected as are working breeds due to the strenuous activity. This will restrict movement and be very painful. Treatment may include diet and weight management, oral supplements, physiotherapy and surgery.


Lens Luxation 

Lens Luxation is when zonules, that usually hold the eye lens in place, are broken. This causes the lens, which is usually between the colored part of the eye and the back of the eye, to fall out of place. This can result in anterior luxation if it falls to the front of the eye or posterior luxation, if it falls to the back of the eye. 

Symptoms will be more obvious if it’s anterior and will include a change to the way the eye looks, inflammation of the eye or keeping the eye shut. The causes can be primary — this means it’s hereditary and both eyes will be affected. It could be secondary — in this case only one eye tends to be affected and it can be due to eye trauma or glaucoma, for example.

Treatment will depend on the cause and where the lens is situated. There is a chance your dog could lose their vision or may have to have the eye removed. 

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency occurs when your dog is lacking the enzymes they need to break down food and absorb it. As a result, the food will pass through them without being digested. No matter how much they eat, they aren’t getting any nourishment from it.

Symptoms you may notice are weight loss despite eating, loud rumbling noises from their stomach as well as frequent bowel movements and gas. This is most common in large breed dogs such as the German Shepherd and the most common cause is inflammation of the pancreas. 

Sadly, there’s no cure but it can be treated. This is likely to include supplements of pancreatic enzymes. You’ll add this to their food and it’ll help to break it down so they can benefit from the nutrients.


Similar breeds to the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

If a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog isn’t quite the right breed of dog for you but you’d like a similar breed, then you might like to consider: 



Whether you choose a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog or decide a similar breed would be a better option, you need to make sure you’re looking after your dog’s health. 

Sign up to a wellness plan which covers your pup’s annual shots and boosters, then compare the best pet insurance plans so you are covered for any unexpected health issues.



Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Temperament

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog temperament can be very playful. They tend to be devoted to their owner and become incredibly loyal to them. 

However, while they won't attack without a purpose, they were, of course, bred to patrol the border. So, this loyalty, plus the fact they can be suspicious of strangers and are alert, makes them great guard dogs. Although, you may be surprised to hear that they’re actually quite quiet dogs and do not usually bark. 

They’re also independent and can work well in a pack without a human leader. This means they can be temperamental and become dominant if their owner fails to show proper leadership. 

If not shown proper authority, they can become aggressive. As well as being suspicious of strangers, they can be untrustworthy of other animals and children. Therefore, they may not be a good match for families with children or other pets.

That said, they can behave well and become affectionate around children if introduced correctly. Like all dogs, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog will require proper socialization as a puppy to become calm and friendly companions.

You need to approach how you train this dog differently to other breeds; although they’re very intelligent and hard working, they’re also incredibly independent and can be dominant. They can also lose motivation and get bored very easily, especially if forced to perform the same exercise repetitively.

They are, of course, easier to train than a wolf but training may take longer than with most other dog breeds. They need to see a purpose for the task and will benefit from positive reinforcement.

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Activity Requirements


This powerful breed has a lot of energy and can endure strenuous exercise — they were built for stamina and endurance, after all. This means they’ll need a significant amount of daily exercise and will benefit from active pet parents that they can join on hikes or runs. 

They also love water, so swimming is another great activity for them. Alongside this they require mental stimulation and enjoy having a job to do. They’ll thrive as a working dog or in competitive dog sports. They have very strong senses and are good at tracking and following trails. 

They do have a strong prey drive for smaller animals so letting them run free in fenced areas and keeping them on their leash outside of this, would be advised. When walking, it’s important that you’re leading and the dog walks beside or behind you to teach them that you’re the leader. 

The Czech Wolfdog will benefit from a big home and large backyard that they can run and play in. While they can adapt — as they’re very versatile and can endure any weather — they are best suited to cold climates. 


Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Owner Experiences

Duke
2 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
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We had some hard times we have a shorter fence so he decided to jump it. We put a very mild electric fence line above the fence to see if it would help pursuade him not to jump it when no one was looking. He got tried to jump one time got a little jolt and has never tried again. Mind you I have had it unplugged ever since than it's up but has no power. And when I say mild I mean mild I am the wierdo that touches the fence to see how bad it bites because if it hurts me I definitely won't use it for him.if it just buzzes me and and I'm like oh I shouldn't do that then I think it's the same response for him just a reminder. But as I said it has been unplugged ever since. He also loves to open gates with his nose lol so now every gate we have had a carabineer in it for insurance. Over all wonderful dog playful and loving. Wouldn't trade him for the world
2 years, 7 months ago
Thor
8 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
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Run
Play
Hike
Fetch
He is an amazing dog very very stubborn. He will challenge for alpha but he knows his place in the pack. He has started to guard me in my sleep and is slowly learning he must earn food. The food aggression is the toughest hurdle because all food he wants to be his food. Other than that he listens well on or off leash and is very elegant. He's gentle with children and cats because we encouraged this from the beginning. He hates being in his kennel if we are home. He must be right by you at all times. What an amazing breed
2 years, 9 months ago
Whisky
10 Months
4 People
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Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
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Pastimes
Mushing
Walking in the woods
He's still young but I'm trying to train him to mush for bikejoring
5 years, 7 months ago
Khaleesi
18 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
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Can be naturally shy so environmentals are a must so this shyness doesn't override other qualities of the dog. Strong leadership is needed with rules, boundries and limitations in place aswell as structure. Its very important you advocate for these dogs when it comes to being stroked or other rude dogs as with all dogs they react on impulse. Our dog is balanced trained and we have seen a major improvement in overall behaviour. Our dog works around sheep and small animals aswell as living with children. Structure is important part of the dogs life.
5 years, 2 months ago
shadow
2 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
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4 years, 11 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
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