Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is an experimental breed created in the 1950s in Czechoslovakia as part of a military breeding program. It was developed using Carpathian wolves crossed with German Shepherds to combine the trainability of a service dog with the endurance and natural qualities of the wolf. Initially used in the army and border patrol units, the breed later gained popularity among civilian cynologists. In 1982, it was officially recognized as a distinct breed, and later received FCI recognition. Today, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is valued for its intelligence, strength, endurance, and natural instincts, while maintaining social behavior and the ability to work with humans.
General Appearance
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a large, strong, but dry-bodied dog resembling a wolf in appearance. It has a rectangular format, with an elongated, yet harmonious and proportional body. The skeletal structure is strong but not heavy, with dry, functional musculature. The head is wedge-shaped, with an attentive, serious, and lively expression. Movement is light, elastic, energetic, with a characteristic wolf-like trot. The overall appearance must reflect natural strength, stamina, and high working capacity. Excessive heaviness, bulkiness, or a shepherd-type without wolfish characteristics are considered faults. The dog should present as confident, enduring, and alert.
Important Proportions
The format is elongated: body length exceeds height at the withers by approximately 8–10%. Chest depth is about half of the dog’s height. The ratio of muzzle to skull length is roughly 1:1. Limb length should allow for high mobility and an extended stride. The neck should be long enough for natural head carriage. The topline is straight and stable. Balance and correct proportions are key to ensuring endurance and characteristic movement dynamics. Excessively square or short bodies or heavy proportions disrupt breed type. Overall harmony must be maintained, preserving the wolf-like form and functionality.
Behavior and Temperament
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is intelligent, independent, alert, and highly energetic, with pronounced pack behavior. It retains the natural wariness of the wolf, but with proper socialization, it becomes a reliable and devoted companion. The breed requires an experienced owner, confident leadership, regular physical activity, and mental stimulation. It has strong territorial instincts and protective qualities but should not display unprovoked aggression. Faults include timidity, panic behavior, uncontrolled aggression, and lack of socialization. Correct temperament combines stability, endurance, obedience, and natural independence.
Head
The head is wedge-shaped, well-defined, dry, and proportional. The skull is slightly convex but not broad. The stop is slight but evident. The muzzle is strong, with a straight nasal bridge, tapering gradually toward the nose. The nose is large and black. Lips are tight and dry. Jaws are strong, with a scissor bite and large, complete dentition. Expression is serious, lively, with a piercing, alert gaze. Faults include a coarse or short head, round shapes, loose skin, underdeveloped lower jaw, or poor pigmentation.
Foreface
The muzzle is straight, long, and wedge-shaped, but not pointed. The length of the muzzle and skull are approximately equal. The nasal bridge is straight; the nose is black with wide nostrils. Lips are dry, tight, and well-pigmented. The lower jaw is strong but not coarse; cheeks are not prominent. Full pigmentation is essential. The foreface must retain a wolf-like, calm, alert, and vigilant expression. Faults include short or pointed muzzle, weak pigmentation, loose lips, dish face, or coarse lines.
Eyes
Eyes are medium-sized, oval, and set obliquely, giving a characteristic wolf-like expression. Color ranges from amber to yellow; light brown may be accepted, but dark eyes are undesirable. Eyelids are tight, fully pigmented. The gaze should be calm, attentive, and alert, but not aggressive. Disqualifying faults include round, protruding, overly dark or very light eyes, weak eyelid pigmentation, strabismus, or an aggressive expression. Eyes are an essential breed feature, reflecting intelligence, instincts, and the wolf-like character.
Ears
Ears are erect, triangular, thin, set high and symmetrically. Relatively small in size but proportional to the head. Tips are slightly rounded and directed forward when alert. Ears must remain stable during movement. Faults include ears that are too large, wide, low-set, drooping, bent, or with weak cartilage. Ears are a defining feature of the breed, enhancing the wolf-like appearance and must be ideally positioned to contribute to expression and overall type.
Neck
The neck is dry, muscular, medium in length, set high but not vertically. It must be long enough for natural head carriage but not overly extended. Skin fits tightly, without dewlap or wrinkles. The neck transitions smoothly into the withers and allows for flexibility and balance. Faults include short, thick, weak, overly long necks, or loose skin. A correct neck highlights the breed's noble, functional appearance and ensures free movement, especially at the trot.
Body
The body is strong, elongate, but dry and toned, reflecting endurance and physical power. The chest is deep but not broad; ribs are flat to preserve a wolf-like outline. The back is straight and firm, the loin short and muscular. The croup is long, slightly sloping, blending harmoniously with the tail. The abdomen is slightly tucked up. The topline must remain stable in motion and at rest. Faults include barrel chest, soft back, sway back, heaviness, or loose structure. The body must show functionality, lightness, and natural strength—essential traits of a working wolf-type dog.
Tail
The tail is set high; in repose hangs down in a saber-like shape; when in motion, it rises in an arc but must not curl over the back. Tail length reaches the hock or slightly below. The tail is well-coated, in harmony with the body’s coat. Faults include a short tail (without trauma), kinks, docked tail, tail curled over back, or excessive high carriage at rest. The tail is an important balancing feature and should enhance the wolf-like silhouette and express emotional state naturally.
Forequarters
Forelegs are straight, parallel, with developed but dry bone. Shoulder blades are long, sloping, and muscular. The shoulder joint forms an angle that promotes reach and elasticity of movement. Elbows are directed backward, neither turned out nor tight against the body. Pasterns are slightly sloping, strong, and elastic. Feet are oval, compact, with firm pads and arched toes. Faults include splayed feet, weak pasterns, straight shoulders, French front, or turned-out elbows. Forequarters must ensure strength, stability, and natural, efficient movement.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are strong, long, and well-muscled, providing powerful drive and stability. The thighs are long and broad, with moderate but well-defined angulation of the stifle. Hocks are low and firm. Viewed from behind, hind legs are parallel. Feet are oval and compact with well-arched toes. Faults include straight hindquarters, cow hocks, barrel hocks, insufficient angulation, weak muscles, narrow pelvis, or weak joints. Proper hindquarter anatomy is necessary for stamina, power, and true working functionality.
Gait and Movement
The movement of the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog resembles that of a wolf: light, elastic, and energy-efficient. The trot is free, extended, with strong hind drive and smooth reach in the forelegs. The topline must remain stable throughout. Movement must be purposeful, steady, and without unnecessary effort. Faults include short stride, crossing, rolling gait, high stepping, or unsoundness. Correct movement is essential to breed evaluation, demonstrating functionality, endurance, and natural origins. Movement reveals true breed type.
Coat
The coat is straight, dense, and of medium length, with a well-developed undercoat that provides insulation under all weather conditions. Texture is hard but not coarse. In summer, the coat is shorter and less dense; in winter, it develops a full double coat. A wolf-like coat is essential to breed type. Faults include overly soft, silky, wavy, completely harsh coat, lack of undercoat, or excessively shortened coat. The coat must remain natural and unaltered for type. It provides insulation and emphasizes the breed’s natural heritage.
Permissible Colors
The basic color is shades of gray—from yellow-gray to silver-gray—with characteristic “wolf-like” tonal distribution. A light facial mask, darker shading along the back, and lighter coloration on the lower parts of the body are typical. White markings are acceptable only on the toes and chest, but are undesirable. Disqualifying colors include black, brown, red, spotted, merle, or lack of a mask or pigmentation. The color must enhance the natural wolf-like appearance and mirror the tones of the European wolf.
Size
Height at withers: males at least 65 cm, females at least 60 cm. Optimal height is above the minimum. Weight typically ranges from 26 to 38 kg, but evaluation is based on proportion, not mass. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog must appear dry, strong, but not heavy. Excessive massiveness, stockiness, or miniature build are faults. Height below standard is unacceptable. Proper size ensures endurance, power, and breed type, maintaining balance between functionality and wolf-like appearance.
Faults
Faults include any deviation from the standard not requiring disqualification, but reducing breed type: weak pigmentation, round or overly dark eyes, low-set ears, loose body structure, short or broad head, exaggerated raccoon-like mask, weak bone, soft back, insufficient hind drive. Also considered faults are shyness, excessive excitability, and lack of owner contact. Faults must be judged by degree and impact on health, working ability, and breed expression.
Disqualifying Faults
Disqualifying faults include unprovoked aggression, panic-level fear, uncontrolled behavior, or inability to bond with humans. Complete depigmentation of nose, lips, or eyelids, blue or heterochromic eyes, absence of mask, excessively white, spotted, or merle patterns. Incorrect bite, absence of canines or several incisors. Tail deformities, cryptorchidism, pronounced limb defects, or serious movement disorders. Any anatomical or behavioral defect that impairs functionality or compromises wolf-like type fully disqualifies a dog from breeding.
Important Notes
Only physically and mentally sound dogs, preserving working qualities and typical wolf-like characteristics, may be used for breeding. Selection based solely on appearance without regard for behavior, health, or temperament is not acceptable. Special attention must be paid to proper socialization, temperament, absence of aggression or panic fear. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog requires an experienced owner, therefore breeding must be responsible and focused on preserving natural instincts, stable psyche, strong health, and functionality over decorative traits.
Conclusion
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a unique working breed combining intelligence, endurance, strength, and natural wolf-like expression. Bred for service and active work, it thrives when closely engaged with a committed owner. With proper upbringing, it becomes a reliable partner, but it demands experienced leadership, physical activity, and mental stimulation. This breed is not suitable for everyone, but for those who understand its nature, it offers remarkable loyalty and working potential. Preserving breed type, temperament, and health is the fundamental goal of selective breeding.
Если нужно — могу также выполнить официальный перевод на китайский язык (简体中文) или подготовить сокращённые секции по 750–800 символов, как вы обычно запрашиваете для ICCF стандартов.
