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Cesky Terrier Temperament (Reserved, Trainable): All the Terrier with About Half the Work

The Cesky Terrier temperament reserved, cheerful and highly trainable. This may surprise you in that, despite being a Terrier, he doesn’t show as much of the typical Terrier behaviors. Except, of course, for hunting. That’s an instinct that he simply can’t help but indulge if/when the opportunity presents itself.

Photo of Cesky Terrier White On Grass

Cesky Terrier Temperament and Personality

The Cesky Terrier temperament consists of six major personality traits. These traits are:

Cheerful

The Cesky is a well-mannered dog who loves to play.

He’s not prone to more extreme behaviors, like aggression or nervousness. He’s just happy to be alive and by your side.

Quiet

He’s not really a barker, which is good if that kind of thing drives you nuts.

He’s also not an excitable dog. In other words, he doesn’t bark much because he doesn’t find there to be much that could or would excite him enough to bark.

Reserved

The Cesky is typically reserved around strangers, though he is polite.

However, he is not born with politeness as an inherent trait. You must teach it to him by way of early and frequent socialization when he is still a puppy.

Trainable

The Cesky’s intelligence and lower level of stubbornness makes him a joy to train.

Pro tip:

Something you will need to train him out of is being a food thief. Not only is it rude to steal someone’s food when they are not looking, but he may also be more likely to gain weight.

He has a surprisingly long reach for a smaller dog. It is not unheard of for him to stand up and reach something that is closer to the middle of the table than the edge of it.

It is also not unheard of for him to eat things that are not actually food. Keep an eye on this one, for he may end up ingesting something that you will have to take him to the emergency room to remove.

Calm

When you think of a Terrier, you probably think of a nervous, yappy little dog. The Cesky is actually markedly calmer than the majority of his Terrier cousins.

The Cesky’s calmer demeanor makes him a good choice for a household pet, rather than a pet who serves as a workout buddy.

He does, however, have a high energy level. He’s just not quick to snap or jump at every little thing.

He’d much rather use that energy to bound around the yard or chase potential prey (if you’ll let him).

He needs regular exercise so that his higher energy level does not backfire on both him and you and lead to destructive or otherwise unwanted behavior.

Non-aggressive

Typically, the Cesky is not aggressive whatsoever with other people or dogs. He is a more sociable dog than most Terriers.

However, that all changes when animals that are smaller than him cross his path.

If he catches sight of something small, like a squirrel or mouse, he will take off after that thing like it’s the last time he’ll ever get to do it.

A Brief History of the Cesky Terrier Breed

Czech breeder František Horák created Cesky Terrier puppies in 1948 by crossing a Sealyham Terrier with a Scottish Terrier.

Photo of Cesky Terrier Blackish Outdoor On Grass

Horák’s purpose in doing this was to create a Terrier that would be able to hunt in Bohemia’s forests.

Cesky enthusiasts brought the breed to the U.S. in the 1980s. Upon the enthusiasts’ arrival, they almost immediately formed the Cesky Terrier Club of America.

Training the Cesky Terrier

The Cesky is easier to train than other members of the Terrier family. This is because he is less stubborn and more willing to learn.

He still needs you to be firm with him, however, to give him guidance – but not too firm. You don’t want to resort to harsh scolding, or you will lose all of the progress you’ve made with him.

Take a positive attitude and provide him with rewards when he does well. This is the best way to see positive results.

Helpful Dog Training Resource:

The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan a world-class Dog Trainer from New Zealand is worth taking a look at. This online resource has hundreds of fun informative dog training videos that can help you learn the basics and more.

Cesky Terrier Grooming

When grooming the Cesky, you must clip his coat, rather than strip it.

A professional groomer can do this for you. If you buy your dog from a breeder, the breeder can recommend someone; else you can research professional groomers yourself online.

The Cesky's coat traps dirt, rather than sheds it, so he needs regular baths.

In addition to regularly cleaning his ears, the groomer should regularly trim the insides of his ears. This is because he can grow an abundance of hair in his ears and, if not removed, this can lead to an infection.

Exercise

Daily walks and playtime are enough to satisfy the Cesky.

Photo of Cesky Terrier White And Grey Hind Legs Outdoor

You should keep him on a leash when he is outside or, failing that, within a fenced-in enclosure.

The reason for this is because he has a strong prey drive. So, if he catches a whiff of something that smells like prey, he may run off faster than you can stop him.

Cesky Terrier: Staying Healthy

Normally, there is a list of problems that can potentially affect every dog breed. The Cesky Terrier is one of the few lucky ones in that he is generally very healthy.

The only real known condition to affect the Cesky Terrier is Scotty Cramp, and the only thing this affects is the dog's gait. It is hardly serious.

Of course, you should still have the dog checked for common hereditary conditions, like eye, elbow or hip problems.

The Cesky Terrier's life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years.

Helpful Dog Health Resource:

Note: Don't let the many issues above scare you. The best way to approach health problems is to prevent them in the first place. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is a great place to start. Get a copy to keep at home. It will help you prevent the painful health issues that can plague your lovely dog from expressing his winning personality and maximizing his life expectancy.

Finding the Perfect Cesky Terrier

So you've decided that you'd like to add a Cesky Terrier puppy to your family. Congratulations!

You can find a Cesky Terrier for sale either from a breeder or through a rescue or adoption agency.

The price of a Cesky Terrier sale varies, depending on which route you choose to go through.

Cesky Terrier Puppies for Sale

If you're wondering “how much does a Cesky Terrier cost?” the average Cesky Terrier price varies widely. This is due to the breed's rarity.

The price of a Cesky Terrier for sale can be anywhere from $1,200 to $2,000.

The Cesky Terrier cost can be higher or lower, depending on where you buy him from.

Cesky Terrier Rescue and Adoption

A Cesky Terrier adoption from a local rescue or adoption center will always cost less than buying a purebred from a breeder.

Photo of Cesky Terrier Black Outdoor

Adoption is great for those who don't want to have to train a Cesky Terrier puppy. It's also good for those who would rather have a mixed Cesky Terrier dog than a purebred.

Cesky Terrier Breeders

The American Cesky Terrier Fanciers Association is a great webpage to visit if you're in the market for a Cesky Terrier breeder.

The organization prides itself on being able to connect interested potential Cesky owners with ethical and responsible breeders.

This is even more important for the Cesky than other breeds because of how rare the dog is.

Some breeders will only see dollar signs and will try to sell you a lower quality dog at a higher price simply because it is rare. Ensure before purchasing a rarer breed that the dog has received all of his shots on time and has been cleared of health problems.

Conclusion: Why the Cesky Terrier?

The Cesky Terrier temperament makes him a great family dog, as well as an effective hunter.

He’s a pretty calm dog who doesn’t bark at every little thing that moves. He’s not “yappy,” like Terriers tend to be.

He’s also not as difficult to train as many other Terriers can be.

And for a Terrier, he’s not all that stubborn.

His coat requires a level of maintenance that may be better suited to a professional groomer who knows what he’s doing. The groomer should clip and bathe him regularly, as well as regularly trim the extra hair in his ears to prevent infection.

He’s a rarer dog, so be prepared to spend more money to acquire him. Though, you may be able to find one available for adoption at a local rescue or adoption shelter.