Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Bohemian Shepherd is a national breed of the Czech Republic, with a history dating back to the 9th–10th centuries, when these dogs were used for guarding, herding, and serving in castles and settlements in Bohemia. It is believed that the breed took shape during the era of Great Moravia and is considered one of the oldest European shepherd breeds. For a long time, the dogs were preserved in isolated regions, and official restoration began only in the 1980s in Czechoslovakia, when enthusiasts started reviving the breed based on the remaining populations. The Bohemian Shepherd is valued for its working abilities, strong health, balanced temperament, and cultural significance as a historic heritage of the region.
General Appearance
The Bohemian Shepherd is a harmoniously built, medium-sized dog with long, dense coat that creates a distinctive silhouette. The format is slightly elongated, the body is strong but not heavy, and the movement is free and confident. The head is noble with a gentle expression, ears are erect, and the tail hangs down when at rest. Musculature is well-developed, bone structure is strong yet dry. The appearance combines strength and elegance, highlighting the breed’s working origins. The dog should give the impression of being active, enduring, and attentive, capable of long-lasting work and close cooperation with its handler. Excessive heaviness or lightness is undesirable.
Important Proportions
The format is slightly rectangular: body length exceeds height at withers by about 8–10%. The chest is deep with well-sprung ribs that are not barrel-shaped. The head is proportionate to the body: the length of the skull and muzzle is approximately equal. Neck length is roughly equal to the head. The topline is straight, the loin short and strong. The tail reaches the hock. The ratio of height to length should ensure agility, endurance, and stability. Deviations—such as overly square or overly elongated formats—impact functionality. Balance and harmony are key evaluation criteria.
Behavior and Temperament
The Bohemian Shepherd has a stable, reliable, and well-balanced temperament. It is attentive, receptive, easy to train, and naturally protective, but not unnecessarily aggressive. Strongly attached to its family, it is good with children and highly sociable. In work, it shows initiative, courage, and perseverance, combining herding abilities with guarding instincts. Suitable for dog sports, search and rescue, service work, and family life. Serious faults include shyness, hysteria, uncontrolled aggression, and fearfulness in response to external stimuli.
Head
The head is proportional, dry, wedge-shaped, with smooth lines and a well-defined stop. The skull is slightly domed, of medium width. The muzzle is long, strong, with a straight nasal bridge. Lips are tight and dry. The jaws are well-developed, with a scissor bite and full dentition. Nose pigment is black. The head should reflect intelligence, openness, and alertness. Faults include heaviness, excessive massiveness, shallow stop, or a short or pointed muzzle.
Foreface
The muzzle is straight, wedge-shaped, tapering evenly toward the nose but not pointed. The length of the muzzle is approximately equal to the skull. The nose bridge is straight, nose leather black. Lips are tight, well-pigmented. The lower jaw is strong but not coarse. Cheeks are moderately developed and not prominent. Full dentition is desirable. Pigmentation of the eyelids, lips, and nose should be as dark as possible. The foreface should be expressive, functional, and consistent with working type. Disqualifying faults include loose lips, depigmentation, coarseness, or extreme narrowing.
Eyes
Eyes are medium-sized, oval, slightly oblique, giving the dog an attentive, intelligent, and friendly expression. The color is dark brown; lighter shades are acceptable but pale yellow or light eyes are faulty. Eyelids are dry, tight, fully pigmented. Eye expression should reflect calmness, confidence, and sociability. Faults include protruding, round, very small, poorly pigmented, or overly light eyes, as well as signs of fear or aggression in the gaze. Correct eyes are important to the breed's expression.
Ears
Ears are erect, high-set, triangular with slightly rounded tips. They point forward and must not be too narrow or wide apart. The cartilage is firm, and the ears are moderately mobile. Incorrect carriage, soft or semi-pricked ears are severe faults. The size should correspond to the head; ears that are too large or too small spoil the expression. Ears are key to the breed type and emphasize alertness and working character.
Neck
The neck is of medium length, dry, muscular, and well set, flowing smoothly into the withers. The skin is tight, without dewlap. The neck must be strong enough to support the head while maintaining elegance and flexibility. Too short a neck makes the dog look coarse; too long disrupts balance. The neck should demonstrate both strength and flexibility, highlighting the breed’s working nature.
Body
The body is strong, slightly elongated, with well-developed musculature and a solid build. The chest is deep and fairly broad, with moderately arched ribs giving sufficient volume. The back is straight and strong. The loin is short and muscular, the croup slightly sloping, long and wide, ensuring powerful drive and stability. The belly is moderately tucked. The body must appear balanced, avoiding heaviness or looseness. Faults include narrow chest, weak back, soft topline, roach back, or incorrect proportions.
Tail
The tail is of medium length, reaching at least to the hock. In repose it hangs down with a slight curve; in motion it is carried higher but not over the back. The tail should be well covered in hair, harmoniously extending the topline, and helping balance movement. Faults include short, overly high-set, curled, kinked or weak tails. Proper tail carriage completes the silhouette and reflects breed type.
Forequarters
Forelimbs are straight, parallel, with strong but dry bones. Shoulders are long and well laid back, fitting closely to the chest. Upper arms are muscular with well-defined angulation at the shoulder joint. Elbows point backward and lie close to the body but not pressed in. Pasterns are elastic, slightly sloping. Feet are oval and tight, with strong pads. Faults include outturned elbows, straight shoulders, weak pasterns, or splayed feet. Forequarters must ensure stability, flexibility, and a functional stride.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are strong and muscular, providing powerful drive and stability. Thighs are long and broad; stifles and hocks are well angulated but not exaggerated. Hocks are low-set, and viewed from behind, the legs are parallel. Angulation is moderate and functional, ensuring elastic stride and smooth transition to trot. Feet are compact and oval. Faults include straight angles, cow-hocked or barrel-shaped stance, weak muscles, narrow croup, or poor posture. Correct hindquarters are essential to working type.
Gait and Movement
The gait is light, natural, springy, and efficient. The dog should move freely, maintaining a stable topline, with good extension in front and strong drive from the rear. The trot is typically extended and economical, reflecting the breed’s working purpose. Faults include short stride, crossing steps, stiffness, paddling, or lack of confidence. Proper movement confirms the functional soundness of the dog.
Coat
The coat is long, dense, and rich, with a well-developed undercoat providing weather protection. The outer coat is straight or slightly wavy, never curly or too soft. Feathering is present on the tail, ears, hindquarters, and neck. The undercoat changes seasonally but should always be sufficient. Faults include excessively short coat, lack of undercoat, harsh or curly texture, or overly soft and downy coat. The coat should combine beauty with functional purpose.
Permissible Colors
The primary color is black with tan or mahogany markings of varying intensity. The markings should be well-defined, found on the muzzle, chest, legs, under the tail, and above the eyes. Slight lightening with age is acceptable, but the color should remain rich. White markings are undesirable, but a small white spot on the chest is tolerated. Faults include solid black, gray, fawn, diluted or unevenly distributed tan, or depigmentation. The color should enhance breed expression and reflect its working nature.
Size
Height at withers: males approximately 60–65 cm, females 55–60 cm. Weight is generally 20–30 kg but should match the dog’s build and type. The Bohemian Shepherd should appear strong, but not heavy, while maintaining agility. Excessive mass, overly heavy bones, or lack of substance are undesirable. Size outside the standard is not a fault in itself, but when combined with poor proportions or type, it becomes a fault. Size must be evaluated together with movement, bone, and overall build.
Faults
Faults include any deviation from the standard that does not require disqualification but negatively affects appearance or function. These may include weak pigmentation, light eyes, coarse or overly short coat, insufficient undercoat, narrow chest, soft topline, weak angulation, poor musculature, overly elongated or square format. Behavioral faults include nervousness, shyness, instability, or excessive excitability. Faults should be evaluated by their degree and impact on functionality and type.
Disqualifying Faults
Disqualifying faults include aggression without cause, extreme shyness, panic, or lack of working stability. Total or near-total depigmentation of nose, lips, or eyelids. Incorrect bite: overshot or undershot jaw, missing incisors or canines. Blue eyes, heterochromia, or pale eyes, albinism, lack of tan, solid black or very light coat. Drooping ears, extremely short or curled tail, structural deformities, severe movement disorders, cryptorchidism, and serious hereditary diseases. Any form of abnormal behavior eliminates the dog from breeding.
Important Notes
Only healthy, mentally stable dogs with a clear breed type are allowed for breeding. The Bohemian Shepherd must retain its working qualities, balance, and strong nervous system. Breeding dogs with genetic defects, anatomical deformities, depigmentation, or evident fear is forbidden. Responsible selection must preserve balance between bone, endurance, behavior, coat, and color. Functionality and health take priority over purely aesthetic traits.
Conclusion
The Bohemian Shepherd is a rare yet valuable working and family breed, preserving historical heritage and versatile utility. It combines working qualities, intelligence, a stable psyche, loyalty to the family, and natural protective instincts. This breed is suitable for herding, sports, guarding, search and rescue work, and as a family companion, provided it receives sufficient activity and human contact. Preserving the breed requires informed breeding, respect for its origins, and maintaining the traits that make the Bohemian Shepherd unique among European shepherds.
