If you are a hunter who would like a highly skilled, versatile canine partner, check out the Cesky Fousek temperament.
But the Cesky has much more to offer. If you would also like an ideal home companion for the kids, the Cesky just might be your breed.
The Cesky Fousek (pronounced chess-key foe-seck) is an excellent versatile gundog who has a gentle, loving disposition. The Bohemian Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Club of America (BWPGCA) calls this breed a “gundog supreme and family companion.”
The truth? He is all of that and more.
Cesky Fousek Temperament
Intelligent
This breed is very smart. More than one hunter tells the story of a Cesky scoping a landscape as if he is preparing a game plan before the hunt begins.
Loving
The Cesky Fousek temperament is very loving to every member of his family. He is not a one-person dog but will love everyone equally.
Devoted
He forms very strong bonds to his people. The Cesky Fousek temperament is loyal and protective toward all family members.
Eager to Please
He is happy to do whatever he is asked and loves his job. He’s easy to train, both in the field and at home. He does not have a stubborn streak as many intelligent dogs do.
Sensitive
This breed can be sensitive to correction. Because he’s so easy to train and eager to please, he does not need harsh discipline methods.
Gentle
The Cesky Fousek temperament is sweet and kind. He is very good with children and good with strangers if socialized young.
Noble
The Cesky is dignified, self-confident, and reserved by nature. When he gets to know people, though, he is friendly and affectionate.
Social
The Cesky Fousek temperament is very social. This breed will not take kindly to life in a kennel. He needs to be with his family.
If left alone too long, he can suffer from separation anxiety and be destructive.
Stable
The Cesky Fousek temperament is very stable and dependable. Breeders work on this, selecting only dogs who are even-tempered and steady in all situations.
They can be counted on to never be aggressive.
Athletic
This a very agile breed, well suited to its life as a multi-skilled hunting dog.
Playful
The Cesky Fousek is a fun-loving breed. He plays as hard as he works and loves to play with the kids.
Vocal
The Cesky barks and needs to be taught to do it only when necessary.
Versatile
The Cesky Fousek is classified as a versatile hunting dog. In his case, this means that he hunts in water, in the field, and in the woods.
Driven
The Cesky Fousek temperament is driven. He is highly motivated both to hunt and to please his owner.
Hardy
He is a strong dog with plenty of endurance. In the field, you will probably be ready to call it a day before he will.
He is also comfortable living and working in just about any climate.
Cesky Fousek History
The Cesky Fousek originates from the area that is now called Czech Republic and Slovakia.
There is some disagreement about how far this breed dates back to. Some say as early as the 14th century, but the first reliable proof suggests 1883.
He was an aristocrats’ dog.
World War I nearly wiped out the Cesky Fousek breed. Just as they were rebounding, their numbers took another hit with World War II.
In more recent times, the BWPGCA oversees a well-planned breeding program that is working toward restoring the breed. Even so, it is still considered a rare breed.
At this time, breeders affiliated with the BWPGCA will only sell Cesky Fousek puppies to hunters or hunting families.
The Cesky would not be happy living as a companion dog alone. It would be a great disservice to the dog. Hunting is his reason for being.
Cesky Fousek Training
The Cesky Fousek temperament is ideally suited to training, both in the field and at home. He is easygoing, learns quickly, and is very eager to please.
Because of these Cesky Fousek traits, he does not need harsh training methods. He is quite sensitive and responds much better to gentle positive reinforcement techniques.
He does, however, need a firm and consistent trainer. And he should also be well socialized from the beginning to children, other dogs, and strangers.
You may be able to socialize him to a cat if they are brought up together, but his prey drive is very strong. He may or may not be dependable with that.
You will need a large yard and a strong fence to contain this guy. But even then, you’ll need to be careful. He is not above digging under fences.
The Cesky Fousek will escape when possible to follow his natural hunting instincts. He may even run just because he’s bored and looking for excitement.
There’s another training consideration as well. If he doesn’t get enough exercise, you will likely see some negative Cesky Fousek behaviors. In addition to digging, he is a barker and a champion chewer.
Helpful Dog Training Resource:
For help with training your Cesky Fousek dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.
Cesky Fousek Appearance
General Appearance
The Cesky Fousek is a medium-to-large, unique-looking wire-haired dog with a muscular build. He has a rough, shaggy-looking overcoat and a softer, denser undercoat.
His head is long and narrow. He has wide hanging ears that narrow at the tips. His eyes are deep-set and amber or chestnut in color. He has a kind, serious expression.
The Cesky Fousek has a dark brown nose with wide nostrils, and the lips are strong. He has a strong jaw, a long tapered muzzle, and a scissor bite.
He also has a distinctive coarse beard and mustache that give him a distinguished look.
Cesky Fousek Colors
He can be one of several colors: brown with ticking on the chest and lower legs, solid brown, solid roan, or roan with brown patches.
Cesky Fousek Size
This is a medium to large breed. Cesky Fousek is 23½ to 26 inches for males, 22 to 24½ inches for females.
The Cesky Fousek weight for males is between 61 and 75 pounds and 48 to 61 pounds for females.
Cesky Fousek Must-Knows
Cesky Fousek Lifespan
The life expectancy of the Cesky Fousek is 12-15 years.
Other Names
The Cesky Fousek has several other names:
- Bohemian Wire-haired Pointing Griffon.
- Rough-coated Bohemian Pointer.
- Bohemian Cesky Fousek.
- Czech Coarse-haired Pointer.
Cesky Fousek Health Issues
The BWPGCA has been working tirelessly for years to preserve the health of the Cesky. Because of their managed breeding program, only healthy dogs have been bred.
There are also no show lines or pet lines of the breed, so they have not been selected to look a certain way. Breeders are only interested in physical traits as they pertain to hunting abilities.
For these reasons, the Cesky Fousek is a very healthy dog with no major breed-specific conditions.
Conditions that occur rarely in the Cesky can include:
- Alopecia. This is a common condition that can cause hair loss, partial or total.
- Hip dysplasia, a malformation in the joints that can cause lameness. This condition is common to all large-breed dogs, not the Cesky Fousek specifically.
- Bloat, also called torsion. This is pressure on the diaphragm that leads to twisting of the intestines. It is considered a medical emergency. Again, this is a condition that all large breeds have a predisposition to.
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Caring for the Cesky Fousek
Cesky Fousek Grooming
The Cesky sheds an average amount and is easy to groom. He needs bathing only when necessary with a good toweling off.
Be sure to pay particular attention to his feet, particularly after a day of working. His ears need regular checking and cleaning.
Like all dogs, of course, he will need his nails clipped and his teeth brushed regularly.
Cesky Fousek Diet
This breed needs a large-breed high-quality food to prevent too-rapid growth. Growing too quickly can put a strain on a large breed’s musculoskeletal system and result in hip dysplasia.
A hunting Cesky may need a high-performance working breed formula. However, you will need to keep an eye on his weight and exercise. You will want to be sure that he’s not consuming more calories than he’s burning.
Cesky Fousek Exercise
As an eager hunter, the Cesky Fousek is a tireless runner. He needs a lot of vigorous exercise. A short walk once a day will not work for this active, busy breed.
On days they are not hunting (and off-season, of course), they need an alternate exercise routine. They like jogs, biking, and very long walks.
Finding a Cesky Fousek
Buying a Cesky Fousek from a Breeder
At this time, it is nearly impossible to find a Cesky Fousek for sale if you are not a hunter. The BWPGCA is committed to maintaining the Cesky’s hunting heritage and physical attributes.
Their mission is “to produce the best versatile hunting dogs in the world.” They work hard with their managed breeding program to keep them that way.
The rareness of this breed is another reason for the managed breeding. The BWPGCA takes great care to properly manage the genetics of the breed as well as the lovable Cesky Fousek temperament.
If you are a hunter, you can request a puppy on the BWPGCA web site. They keep a list of Cesky Fousek breeders. Expect to be put on a waiting list, as this is still a rare dog.
Conditions of Sale
Managed breeding is critical in this still-rare breed. There are conditions you will have to agree to before a BWPGCA breeder will sell you a Cesky Fousek puppy.
You will be expected to have your dog field tested when it is old enough. The BWPGCA requires every puppy they breed to perform in the Natural Ability and Intermediate Hunting Dog Test. Owners need to commit to this before a pup will be sold to them.
The reason for this testing is to see if your puppy is suitable for breeding. If it is considered a good candidate, you will be required to agree to breed your dog at least once.
This commitment is necessary because the breeding pool is still small for the Cesky Fousek. All available dogs are needed to protect the genetic soundness of the breed.
If your dog is chosen for breeding, the BWPGCA covers all expenses. There are currently four test sites in the country.
At the time of this writing, information about Cesky Fousek price is unreliable. If you are lucky enough to find one, expect the cost to be high because of the rareness of the breed.
Cesky Fousek Rescue/Adoption
The sad truth is that you would be very unlikely to find a Cesky Fousek for adoption or rescue.
As above, they are sold only to hunters, and they’re highly sought after.
At the time of this writing, we were not able to find any other sources for Cesky Fousek rescue or adoption.
Of course, you can always put the word out at local shelters that you’re looking for one. You would need to be very patient, however, and keep in mind that this is a very rare dog.
Other Options to Consider
There are other breeds of pointing griffons that are very similar to the Cesky and may be easier to find.
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (also called Korthal’s Griffon) is one example. He has a different heritage, coming from a Dutch background. He looks very much like the Cesky, though he more commonly has a grayish coat.
Like the Cesky Fousek, he is also a versatile gundog. He even has a similar temperament to the Cesky’s, so he also makes a great family companion.
The AKC recognizes this breed, so it may be easier to find in North America. Its US breed club is the Korthals Griffon Club of America.
There seems to be some confusion about pointer or griffon breeds on the Internet with many similar names. A more general search for pointing griffons might bring up other breeds and options.
Is the Cesky Fousek the Right Breed for You?
If you’ve read this far, there’s a good chance that you are a hunter who has become enamored of the Cesky Fousek temperament. And with good reason.
The Cesky is a remarkable breed that performs brilliantly as a hunter and heartwarmingly as a family companion.
If you are looking for a dog who will be both to your family, the Cesky Fousek temperament may be the perfect fit for you.
Paula is an experienced writer who loves dogs and had many of them through the years. Her family always had large dogs—Border Collies, Labs, and Golden Retrievers. When her beloved Golden died of cancer, she decided to practice what she preached and do some research before choosing her next breed. She now shares this knowledge with thousands of dogtemperament.com readers worldwide.