Page 308 - ShowSight - September 2019

The Cesky Terrier BY BOB AND LINDA COMER continued Cesky color comes from the genetic variabilities in breeding a Scottish Terrier to a Sealyham Terrier—Greys to Platinum to Coffee to Brown.
Proportionality in the distribution of body mass, whether the Cesky is 13 or 22 pounds is also important, as is gait, i.e. the manner in which the Cesky carries that mass. There is a certain drive and reach a well-proportioned Cesky has. Consider a low center of gravity in an NFL running back. Like a ball player a hunting Cesky must make sharp turns, explode with speed and energy when giving chase or move lat- erally instantly if prey 10 times its weight comes charging toward it. The gait must be effortless, free of any encumbrances and show endurance. Therefore, the descriptor “a well-muscled, short legged hunting Terri- er is applicable. Even a skeptic cannot imag- ine an overweight, ill-proportioned and out of shape athlete as successful.
Why is the Cesky temperament described as ‘somewhat reserved towards strangers’? It’s a pack friendly hunting dog.
Its creator, Frantisek Horak, became disen- chanted hunting with Scotties. He believed, rightly or wrongly, that Scotties spent more time attacking one another than pursuing their quarry. To offset this self-aggressive pack mentality, Horak spent years looking for the right Terrier (the Sealyham) to breed with his still beloved Scotties. Hence, Ces- keys typically do not spar at home and are not to be sparred in the show ring. Own- ers of multiple Ceskeys will tell you they thrive in an environment of “the more the merrier.” As one owner put it, “They can form a daisy chain of butt sniffers and no one minds.”
Outside the pack this same non-aggres- sive, reserved character trait responds to a kinder, gentler judge’s hand. Cesky han- dlers complain about judges wearing hats, approaching the dog from behind or over the dog’s shoulder, making sudden gestures
or movements or exhibiting any aggressive behavior. Lest a judge believe them coward- ly, wild pig or boar hunters can dispel that rumor. A Cesky will make up its own mind about what it considers a threat.
Color does vary and is part of the Stan- dard. Born black or chocolate brown the Cesky can become any shade of grey from charcoal to platinum. They can also be light coffee color. The overall color of any individual Cesky must be uniform. The Standard is very specific about deviations in color; brindling is also addressed. It is worth noting that the variations in color were gen- erated by the genetic variabilities of breed- ing a Scotty and a Sealy.
The term “designer dog” has been used to describe the breed, and they are... like the Labrador Retrievers, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Doberman Pinschers and Border Collies. Like the vast majority of
“Color does vary and is part of the Standard.
BORN BLACK OR CHOCOLATE BROWN THE CESKY CAN BECOME ANY SHADE OF GREY FROM CHARCOAL TO PLATINUM. THEY CAN ALSO BE LIGHT COFFEE COLOR.
The overall color of any individual Cesky must be uniform.”
306 • ShowSight Magazine, SepteMber 2019