The chodsky, chodsky pes or bohemian shepherd, is a dog with a long story to tell. It is said that this breed has existed for more than 8 centuries, admired for its great abilities to defend herds and territories. It is also one of the predecessor breeds of one of the best known dog breeds in the world. Guess what it could be?
The Chodsky is a dog that is characterized by its fidelity, its affability and its great passion for its family. He is very protective, which makes him suspicious of strangers, but don't let a few warning barks fool you, the Chodsky just needs time, as soon as he gains confidence he is the most loving dog in the world. Do you want to know him a little better? From our site we want to offer you the possibility of knowing all the characteristics of the chodsky, a unique breed.
Origin of the Bohemian Sheepdog
The Chodsky, in his native Chodský pes, is also called the Bohemian shepherd and is a native of the Chodsko region, south-west of Bohemia, in what is now the Czech Republic. There, since it emerged many centuries ago, as there is evidence of its existence in the thirteenth century, it has been guarding land and homes, from the richest to the humblest. The Bohemian shepherd also took care of the herds of the region, protecting them from possible predators. All this made even the monarchs John I of Bohemia and Rudolf II recognize the value of this dog, allowing citizens to keep it in order to protect the borders of Bohemia.
Given the antiquity of this breed and its phylogenetic origins, it is considered one of the predecessors of the well-known German Shepherd The breed was recognized officially internationally in 1985, its standard being drafted by the FCI (International Cinological Federation) in 2019[1] Yes, despite being such an ancient breed, its standard has only been introduced very recently.
Chodsky Features
The Chodsky is a medium-sized sheepdog, weighing between 19 and 27 kilograms in males and 17 to 24 in females. The height at the withers is between 52 and 55 centimeters for them and 49 to 52 centimeters for them.
The body of the bohemian shepherds is rectangular, rather elongated, but with harmonic and elegant forms. Compact in appearance, the chodsky has a regal posture due to its high withers, its long neck, its curved tail and the very balanced proportions of each of its body parts. The head is of a size proportional to that of the body, it has a flat forehead, with a narrowing at the stop, which is somewhat pronounced, and tapers slightly at the tip of the snout until it reaches a medium-sized nose that is always black. She has medium-sized, almond-shaped eyes with an oblique angle, a deep brown color and an expressive gaze full of vitality.
Another of the most representative characteristics of the chodsky is the coat. The Bohemian shepherd's coat is lustrous, silky and long (about 5-12 centimeters), of a high density and rough to the touch. It is smooth, or at most with very slight undulations. It has a bilayer structure, so it has a very dense undercoat of hair that is softer than the outer coat. The length of the hair is not homogeneous, since it has fringes at the base of the ears, longer hair in regions such as the back, the neck or the hocks.
Bohemian Sheepdog Colors
The color accepted by the official chodsky standard is the one found between the shades of black and lead black, with tan spots. It is considered that the more marks it has and the more vibrant the color of these, the better. These marks usually appear above the eyes, on the edge of the ears, on the cheeks, the sides of the muzzle and throat, as well as under the tail, feet and thighs and hocks.
The Bohemian Sheepdog Puppy
When they are born, the Chodsky have identical fur to each other, but as they grow they show their adult fur, with their markings well defined and the length according to each area of the body. This does not happen until they are approximately 6 months old.
The chodsky is a smart dog, very alert and curious, it shows his intelligence being just a puppy. He is not usually too mischievous or noisy, as long as he is given a timely basic education.
chodsky character
The Chodsky is a fairly energetic dog, very active, but also very docile and obedientand nothing nervous. He is always on the alert, so he is an excellent watchdog, fiercely guarding what he considers his, whether it be something material or emotional, like his family. This makes him suspicious of strangers, so if he has not been socialized since he was a puppy, it is very difficult to get him used to contact with strangers, although not impossible. Likewise, that protective character can make him develop protection of resources if he does not receive an adequate education, something that is not recommended.
On the contrary, he is full of love for his family, he gets along well both with other animals and with small children, with whom he is very careful and attentive. Here he closely resembles the ideals of nanny dogs, doing his job with will and tenacity
Care for chodsky
Caring for a chodsky is no more complicated than caring for any other breed or mongrel dog. Like everyone else, you need a series of basic care. Among the most notable are the nutritional ones, since it is necessary to provide him with a quality foodadjusted to his energy needs. Keeping him hydrated is also vital, so make sure he always has access to fresh water.
Being such an active dog, the Bohemian Shepherd needs daily exercise While it doesn't need to be extremely intense, it does requires that it be at least moderate in intensity. Very light activities do not allow you to release all the energy you accumulate. Likewise, it is essential to offer him adequate environmental enrichment, with a variety of toys that keep him stimulated both mentally and physically.
Another of the chodsky's concerns is the maintenance of its coat. His coat needs quite a bit of attention due to its density and length. It requires regular brushings, at least 3-4 times a week under normal conditions and once a day during the moulting season. The baths must be restricted to the occasions when they are really necessary, so it is not recommended that they be frequently. It is also good to do nail trimmings and eye and ear checks, cleaning them properly to keep them clean and free of infections.
Bohemian Sheepdog Education
Chodsky dogs have a great facility for learning, as they are attentive and very docile, always ready to acquire new knowledge. They are very hardworking dogs, with a great disposition to activity, this makes it very easy to apply positive reinforcement techniques, based on rewards, whether they are prizes or caresses, words… In this way, as with all animals, what works best is patience and perseverance, being firm but not severe, always avoiding punishment and any kind of humiliation towards the animal.
On the other hand, as we have already mentioned, the Chodsky needs special attention in terms of socialization, and it is highly advisable that this be carried out continuously during its development, starting at a very early age. If you have doubts about how to start, we leave you this article on How to socialize a puppy correctly.
chodsky he alth
The most common conditions in dogs of the Chodsky breed are those related to their morphology, such as hip dysplasia, which It greatly affects medium and large breeds. For a better prevention and a better diagnosis, it is recommended to carry out veterinary check-ups that include radiological tests, which allow evaluating the state of the hip joint. Taking preventive measures or starting treatment early improves the long-term prognosis.
Another of the problems that most torments the Chodskys is their tendency to suffer ear infectionsThe most common is usually otitis. That is why it is so important to clean your ears on a regular basis, because the cleaner they are, the less accumulation of germs and dirt there will be in your ear canals and the less likely you are to develop any infection.
Problems related to eye he alth are also outlined, such as progressive retinal atrophy, as well as the risk of suffering a gastric torsion But in general, most specimens of the Bohemian Shepherd breed are in good he alth, requiring regular check-ups, vaccinations and deworming, but without there is more complication.
Where to adopt a chodsky or bohemian sheepdog?
If you want to adopt a bohemian shepherd we will highlight some important aspects. In addition to the fact that, as with any type of adoption, the needs and requirements of each animal must be taken into account, in the case of the bohemian shepherd it is interesting to take some data into account. One of the main challenges when adopting a Chodsky is that it is often confused with long-haired German Shepherds. Therefore, if you do not have an expert eye, it is difficult to distinguish between the two breeds. Well, in addition, it should be noted that the German Shepherd is one of the most popular breeds on the entire planet, so it is more likely to find a specimen of this breed in shelters and kennels than to find a Chodsky. Likewise, it is essential to keep in mind that it is a very active dog that needs to exercise daily. Likewise, it is necessary to be constant with the care of your coat to avoid accumulation of dirt and tangles.
If it is clear that what you want to adopt is a chodsky, it is recommended to go to nearby associations, shelters and protectors, which They can inform the interested party about the necessary procedures to carry out any adoption, as well as show the animals that are looking for a home. Because we must also highlight the advantages of adopting a mongrel dog, which is always an option to seriously assess.