About

Breed information

 

Length range  : 79-91 cm

Height range  : 48-56

Weight range : 16-27

Coat : Long|thick|glossy|coarse texture|straight or slightly wavy|woolly or rich undercoat|feathered tail

Life expectancy years : 9-14

Colors: black to gunmetal black with rich tan markings|black with tan markings|possible white chest marking.

Activitity Level : High

Origin: Czech Republic

Similar Breeds : German Shepherd Dog|Belgian Sheepdog|Shiloh Shepherd|Collie

 

History

The breed dates back to medieval Bohemia where the Chodove people used these dogs to guard the Bohemian-Bavarian border and assist with farm and herding work. The population declined after the world wars and was restored in the mid-1980s through a breed standard and breeding program , with a first litter from the restoration program born in 1985 and provisional FCI recognition in 2019.

 

 

characteristics

Temperament

pleasant, alert, stable, strong-nerved, extremely vigilant, loving with family, protective when needed, not generally aggressive

Personality

intelligent, lively, quick, athletic, docile, attentive, pliant, fearless, devoted, friendly, reserved with strangers, eager to please

Needs

daily activity, mental stimulation, working outlets, high-quality diet by life stage, weight monitoring, weekly grooming, fenced yard preferred, early socialization

Social Needs

devoted to people, good with children when taught respectful interaction, usually good with other dogs and pets in the home, reserved with strangers, can become unhappy or depressed if left alone too long

Grooming 

weekly brushing, more frequent brushing during seasonal shedding, regular nail trims, regular ear cleaning, occasional baths, teeth brushing and professional cleanings recommended

Nutrition

high-quality diet for life stage, measure portions to prevent overfeeding, treats should stay limited, maintain healthy weight

 

Exercise

daily walks, hikes, play sessions, agility, dock diving, competitive obedience, rally, scent work, jogging

Training

easy to train, gentle reward-based methods work best, early socialization, obedience training, learns commands and tricks quickly, strong leader guidance may help family structure

 

Breed Standard

A medium-sized sheepdog with a compact , graceful and slightly rectangular outline. The breed should show a proportionate head , erect triangular ears , almond-shaped brown eyes , long thick coat with undercoat and fluid light unhurried movement.

Did you know?

The Bohemian Shepherd is also known as the Chodsky pes or Chodenhund and can work in herding , search and rescue , therapy , service and even dog dancing.

HEALTHCARE

Most Common / iconic illnesses 

Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Degenerative Myelopathy, Idiopathic Epilepsy, Progressive Retinal Atrophy

 

Symptoms

1. bunny-hopping gait / difficulty rising / exercise intolerance and hind-limb lameness may occur

1. front-leg limping / holding the limb away from the body / joint swelling and reluctance to exercise may occur

1. loss of coordination in the hind legs / dragging paws / muscle atrophy and eventual incontinence may occur

1. sudden muscle twitching / stiffening / loss of consciousness / excessive salivation and uncontrolled paddling movements may occur

1. night blindness / gradual daytime vision loss and dilated pupils may occur

Onset of symptoms

 

Hip Dysplasia

1. typically manifests between 6 months and 2 years of age

Probability Of Onset:

1. moderate to high

Elbow Dysplasia

1. often appears between 5 and 10 months during the rapid growth phase

Probability Of Onset:

1. moderate

Degenerative Myelopathy

1. usually presents in senior dogs at 8 years of age or older

Probability Of Onset:

1. breed-specific risk

Idiopathic Epilepsy

1. typically occurs between 1 and 5 years of age

Probability Of Onset:

1. moderate

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

1. can vary widely
2. often is detected in early adulthood or middle age

Probability Of Onset:

1. moderate

Reasons

Hip Dysplasia

1. No specific chemical is identified in the provided material.
2. The illness is linked to genetic predisposition together with environmental factors such as rapid growth and nutrition.
3. The text describes abnormal hip development and joint laxity rather than a lacking chemical.

 

Degenerative Myelopathy

1. Functional myelin support is lacking because a genetic mutation affects the SOD1 gene.
2. The provided material links this to degeneration of the myelin sheath covering spinal cord neurons.
3. This can make the spinal cord more vulnerable to progressive neurologic decline.

 

Hip Dysplasia

1. No specific chemical is identified in the provided material.
2. The illness is linked to genetic predisposition together with environmental factors such as rapid growth and nutrition.
3. The text describes abnormal hip development and joint laxity rather than a lacking chemical.

Degenerative Myelopathy

1. Functional myelin support is lacking because a genetic mutation affects the SOD1 gene.
2. The provided material links this to degeneration of the myelin sheath covering spinal cord neurons.
3. This can make the spinal cord more vulnerable to progressive neurologic decline.

 

Elbow Dysplasia

1. No specific chemical is identified in the provided material.
2. The condition is linked to hereditary developmental defects that cause abnormal bone growth and joint incongruity.
3. The text describes structural elbow abnormalities rather than a missing nutrient or compound.

Idiopathic Epilepsy

1. No specific chemical is identified in the provided material.
2. The disorder is linked to abnormal electrical activity in the brain with no identifiable structural or metabolic cause.
3. The text describes altered neurologic signaling rather than a missing chemical.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

  1. 1. Normal rod and cone function is lacking because of inherited mutations in genes that control retinal health and function.
    2. The provided material links this to gradual degeneration of photoreceptor cells in the retina.
    3. This can make affected dogs vulnerable to progressive vision loss.

Normally Treament Methods

Hip Dysplasia

  1. 1. weight management / physical therapy and NSAID-based care may help
    2. severe cases might require total hip replacement or femoral head ostectomy

 

Elbow Dysplasia

  1. 1. arthroscopic surgery to remove bone fragments may help
    2. pain management and long-term physiotherapy might be used

 

Degenerative Myelopathy

  1. 1. supportive care with mobility aids may help
    2. physical therapy and acupuncture might be used to maintain function

 

Idiopathic Epilepsy

  1. 1. anti-convulsant medication such as phenobarbital or potassium bromide might be used to reduce seizure frequency and duration

 

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

  1. 1. no medical reversal is available
    2. management may focus on home environment safety and support as vision diminishes. Ask professional vets for detailed information.

 

Supplements

Hip Dysplasia

  • 1. glucosamine can,might be helpful for joint support
    2. chondroitin can,might be helpful for cartilage support
    3. omega-3 fatty acids can,might be helpful for inflammation support
    4. green-lipped mussel powder can,might be helpful for joint comfort
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Elbow Dysplasia

  • 1. high-quality fish oils can,might be helpful for joint inflammation support
    2. MSM can,might be helpful for joint support
recommend product

Degenerative Myelopathy

  • 1. B-complex vitamins can,might be helpful for nerve support
    2. vitamin E can,might be helpful for antioxidant nerve support
    3. antioxidants can,might be helpful for cellular support
recommend product

Idiopathic Epilepsy

  • 1. CBD oil can,might be helpful for brain health support under veterinary supervision
recommend product

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

  • 1. vitamins C and E can,might be helpful for antioxidant retinal support
    2. beta-carotene can,might be helpful for eye health support
    3. lutein can,might be helpful for retinal support
recommend product