Breed Standard

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 (Adopted on August 20, 2011 and adapted from the FCI Standard to reflect AKC & UKC measurement units and terminology)
Illustrated presentation of the Czechoslovakian Vlcak Standard

    The first impression of the Czechoslovakian Vlcak is an animal that is of a firm type in structure, above average size, and with a rectangular frame. In body shape, movement, coat texture, color of coat and mask, the Czechoslovakian Vlcak is similar to the wolf. Versatile in its uses, the Czechoslovakian Vlcak, originally bred to work in border patrol, has an appearance of strength and agility.

    Height at the withers for males is at least 25½ inches; for females, at least 23½ inches. Males weigh at least 57 pounds; females at least 44 pounds. The body is longer than tall, with a ratio of 10:9 at the withers. Discrepancy in proportion must be judged as a disqualifying fault.

    Expression: The head is symmetrical, and proportional, and well muscled. Seen from the side and from above, it forms a blunt wedge. The head of the male should be unmistakably masculine, and that of the bitch, unmistakably feminine. The length of the cranial region (skull) is slightly longer than the length of the muzzle with a proportion of 1: 1.5 . A flat forehead is considered a fault. A heavy or light head should be considered a fault.

    Eyes: The eyes are small, slanting, and amber colored. Lids are black, and close fitting. Dark brown, black, or different colored eyes are a fault.

    Ears: Pricked, thin, triangular, short (i.e. not longer than 1/6th of height at withers); the lateral point of the set on of the ears and the outer corner of the eyes are in a direct line. A vertical line from tip of ear would run close along the head. A course ear is a fault; a high or low set of the ear is a disqualifying fault. A dog with cropped or hanging ears must be disqualified. Skull: When seen from the side and from the front, the forehead is slightly arched. There is no marked frontal furrow. The occipital bone is clearly visible.

Stop: Moderate

    Muzzle: The muzzle is clean, not broad, with a straight bridge of nose.

    Nose: The nose is oval-shaped, and black. Lips: The lips are tight fitting with no gap at the corner of mouth. The rims of the lips are black.

    Bite: The bite should be scissor or pincer.

    Teeth: The jaws are strong and symmetrical. Teeth are white and well developed, especially the canines. There should be 42 teeth – 20 upper, 22 lower – according to the usual tooth formation. Regular teeth set. Missing 2 PM1 or both M3 should not be considered a fault. If a dog is missing two PM1 and also one M3, or if a dog is missing two M3 and also one PM1, it should be judged as a fault. Any other missing teeth are a disqualifying fault. An irregular bite is a disqualifying fault.

    An untypical head is a disqualifying fault.

    Neck: The neck is strong and well muscled. When in repose, the neck forms an angle of up to 40 degrees to the horizontal. The neck must be sufficiently long for the nose to touch the ground effortlessly. A neck carried high in repose; or a low position of the neck when standing are both considered faults. A dewlap is a disqualifying fault.

    Topline: The topline is a flowing transition from neck to body, and slopes away slightly. An untypical topline is considered a fault.

    Withers: The withers are well muscled and pronounced. Though pronounced, they must not interrupt the flow of the top line. Unpronounced withers are considered a fault.

    Chest: The chest is symmetrical, well muscled, roomy, pear shaped and narrowing towards the sternum. The depth of chest does not reach to the elbows. The point of the sternum does not extend beyond the shoulder joints.

Underline: The belly is taut and tucked up. The flanks are slightly hollow.

    Back: The back is firm and straight.

    Loins: The loins are short, well muscled, not broad, and slightly slope.

    Croup: The croup is short, well muscled, not broad, and falls away slightly. A long croup is considered a fault. A strong slope in the croup is a disqualifying fault.

    Tail: The tail is set on high, and hangs straight down. When the dog is excited, the tail is generally raised up in sickle shape. A tail that is too long, and/or set on low and/or not carried correctly is a fault. A dog with an untypical set or untypical carriage of the tail must be disqualified. A dog with a docked tail must be disqualified.

    Front legs: The front legs are straight, clean, and close together with slightly turned out feet. Too little or too much angulation in forequarters is considered a fault. Faulty and untypical position of the front legs is a disqualifying fault.

    Shoulders: The shoulder-blade is placed rather far forward, and well muscled. It forms an angle of nearly 65 degrees to the horizontal.

    Upper Arm: The upper arm is strongly muscled, and forms an angle of 120 to 130 degrees to the shoulder-blade.

    Elbow: The elbow is close fitting, turned neither in nor out, well defined, and flexible. The upper arm and forearm form an angle of approximately 150 degrees.

    Forearm: The forearm is long, clean and straight. The length of the forearm and pastern is 55% of the height at the withers.

    Pastern joint: The pastern joint is solid and flexible.

    Pastern: The pastern is long, and forms an angle of at least 75 degrees to the ground. The pastern is lightly springy in movement. A weak pastern is considered a fault.

    Feet: The front feet are large, and turned slightly outwards.

    Toes: The toes are longish and arched.

    Pads: Pads are well defined, elastic, and dark.

    Nails: Nails are strong and dark.

    Hind legs: The hind legs are powerful, and stand parallel. An imaginary vertical line drawn from the point of the ischium, would run midway through the hock joint. Insufficient muscle in the hindquarters is considered a fault. Slack ligaments are a disqualifying fault.

    Upper Thigh: The upper thigh is long and well muscled. The upper thigh forms an angle of 80 degrees to the pelvis. The hip joint is sturdy and flexible. Too little or too much angulation in the hindquarters is considered a fault.

    Stifle: Strong and flexible

    Lower Thigh: Long, clean, well muscled. Forms an angle of about 130 degrees with the metatarsus.

    Hock Joint: The hock joint is clean, solid, and flexible.

    Hocks: The hocks are long and clean. Their position is almost vertical to the ground.

    Dewclaws: Dew claws are not desirable and should be removed.

    Feet: The feet are large.

    Toes: Toes are longish and arched.

    Pads: The pads are dark and well defined.

    Nails: The nails are strong and dark.

    The coat of the Czechoslovakian Vlcak is straight and close. The winter and summer coat differ greatly. In winter an immense undercoat together with the topcoat, forms a thick coat all over the body. It is necessary for the hair to cover the belly, the inside of the upper thigh, the scrotum, the inner part of the ears and the area between the toes. Well coated neck. An open, silky, woolly, or curly coat is undesirable and considered a disqualifying fault.

    The wolfish color of the coat is yellowish-gray to silver-gray with a characteristic light mask. Light hair is also on the underside of the neck and the fore chest. Dark gray with a light mask is permissible. Skin is elastic, tight, without wrinkles, and without pigment. A barely pronounced mask is considered a fault. A dog with colors other than those in the standard must be disqualified.

    The movement of the Czechoslovakian Vlcak is a harmonious, light footed, ground covering trot in which the limbs skim over the ground as closely as possible. The head and neck incline to the horizontal. The walk is a pace. Short wavy movement is considered a fault.

    The Czechoslovakian Vlcak is confident, lively, active, tough, obedient with quick reactions, suspicious, fearless and courageous. The Czechoslovakian Vlcak shows tremendous loyalty towards his master. The Czechoslovakian Vlcak is resistant to weather conditions, and possesses the capability of great endurance. An aggressive or overly shy dog must be disqualified.

    Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

– Aggressive or overly shy.

– Discrepancy in proportions.

– Faults in deportment and temperament.

– Untypical head.

– Missing teeth (beside 2 PM1 and M3). Irregular bite.

– Untypical shape and position of eye.

– Untypical set on and shape of ears.

– Dewlap.

– Strong slope in croup.

– Untypical ribcage.

– Tail untypical in set on and carriage.

– Faulty and untypical position of front legs.

– Stand -off and untypical coat.

– Colors other than those in the standard.

– Slack ligaments.

– Untypical movement.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B.: Male dogs must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.