Overview
The Chodský pes, or Bohemian Shepherd, is an old herding and guarding breed from the Chodsko region on the Czech border with Bavaria. It nearly vanished in the twentieth century and was revived in the 1980s. Picture a smaller, lighter German Shepherd with a long, dense coat, prick ears and a kinder face.
Temperamentally it is friendly, people-oriented and eager to work with you, with less of the suspicion that marks some of the bigger shepherd breeds. It is still uncommon in Britain, but the ones here tend to be in agility, obedience or family homes where their trainability shines.
Exercise and walking needs
About ninety minutes a day, with physical and mental work mixed, keeps a Bohemian Shepherd happy. They have the stamina of a herding breed and enjoy a long walk with training in it, a game of fetch or some scent work.
They are not frantic dogs, and an under-exercised one tends to get clingy and vocal rather than destructive. Even so, a quick lap of the block will not do.
On the walk
- Recall: Usually good. The breed likes to stay close to its person and responds well to training. Reward check-ins and the recall tends to look after itself.
- Other dogs: Mostly friendly and playful, though some have a herding dog's habit of circling and nudging. Watch for that with dogs that dislike being managed.
- Pulling: Mild. Most walk nicely on a harness or collar after an initial burst of excitement.
- Weather: The thick coat shrugs off cold and wet but holds heat. Carry water in summer and slow down in the middle of the day.
Tips for professional walkers
- Build training into the walk: a few sits, a recall or a heel pattern every few minutes keeps the mind busy.
- Brush burrs and seeds out of the feathering after walks through long grass.
- Give the dog something to carry, like a ball or a dummy; it settles the herding instinct.
- Expect some barking at new things. A calm response works better than correction.
What to ask the owner
- Does the dog do any sport or training, and are there cues it already knows that you should use?
- How does it behave around livestock and cyclists, where herding instinct can show up?
- Any hip or elbow concerns, which can affect any medium-to-large working breed?