“Dog-heads” was the name author J. A. Gabriel gave the inhabitants of the Chod region in western Bohemia in 1864. The nickname came from their flag, showing the silhouette of a herding dog with longer neck hair. The FCI standard tells this story, then soberly adds that it does not prove the ancestry of today’s Bohemian Shepherd Dog (Chodský pes).
| FCI | Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs), Section 1 Sheepdogs, Standard No. 364 Chodský pes (Bohemian Shepherd Dog), with working trial, provisionally recognised |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Czech Republic |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males 52 to 55 cm, females 49 to 52 cm; males below 50 or above 57 cm and females below 47 or above 54 cm disqualified |
| Weight | Males 19 to 27 kg, females 17 to 24 kg |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | long, thick, rather coarse and glossy, 5 to 12 cm, straight or slightly wavy, with a dense, shorter, softer undercoat; hairy ear leathers with tufts |
| Colours in the standard | black to gunmetal black with rich tan markings on ears, above eyes, on cheeks, throat, chest, legs and beneath the tail; no other colour permitted |
A dog from the Chod region
In works about the Chod region published in 1923 and 1924, writer Jindřich Šimon Baar described even-tempered dogs with great stamina from the Bohemian Forest, calling them Chodsky. They herded and protected livestock and gathered cattle. According to the standard, these writings demonstrate only that an established sheepdog type existed in Czech territory.
What provisional recognition means
On 29 April 2019, the FCI provisionally added the Bohemian Shepherd Dog to its nomenclature, on the same day as the Prague Ratter (Pražský krysařík). Until definitive recognition, such a dog cannot earn a certificate towards the International Beauty Champion title (CACIB) at shows. According to the FCI, it can still become a World or Section Winner, and its pedigree must carry the FCI logo.
Trainable, watchful and steady-nerved
The standard describes a lively dog with quick but not impetuous reactions. It is trainable, easy to teach, attentive, responsive and willing, as well as modest and undemanding, and a loving family member. It is also described as fearless, steady-nerved and exceptionally watchful, with an excellent sense of smell.
A working dog wants work
The FCI lists it with a working trial, and the standard calls it a versatile working dog. Its nose suits tracking and mantrailing, while its willingness to cooperate suits obedience, agility and search-and-rescue work. A few daily walks without tasks are too little, though it also needs to learn to settle indoors.
Long hair, little effort?
The standard describes a weatherproof, glossy coat, 5 to 12 centimetres long depending on the body area. Weekly thorough brushing is usually enough, paying special attention to ears, neck and hind-leg feathering. During shedding, the undercoat loosens heavily and needs removing more often. The standard prohibits tail docking.
Health: no studies yet
We found neither a breed-specific health study nor a reliable lifespan figure for the Chodský pes; it is absent from McMillan and colleagues’ British analysis. Ask about the parents’ hip and elbow results, their genetic tests and the litter’s inbreeding coefficient.
Who will be happy with this dog
Active people and families seeking a medium-sized dog with attractive long hair and willing to offer regular mental work. Anyone who likes the German Shepherd but wants something smaller and lighter should meet this Bohemian dog. It is less suitable for people fitting a dog around everything else, with little time for training, or bothered by a watchdog that announces every noise.
Our breed quiz shows whether a working dog from Bohemia fits your daily life; our book provides more background: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For puppyhood, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Capture your black-and-tan Chodský pes in our dog portraits from your own photo or as a poster in a wooden frame.
Further reading
- German Shepherd: why so many end up in shelters
- The first 30 days with a puppy: a plan for weeks 1 to 4
- Leaving your dog alone: learning without drama (step by step)
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 364 Chodský pes (Böhmischer Schäferhund) (fci.be, German version dated 11.06.2019, English original dated 07.05.2019); FCI breed page No. 364 and list of provisionally recognised breeds (fci.be); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024.
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