Wolfdogs - The very name makes us dream about a very special animal, one which is close to the origins of the primeval relationship between man and beast. An animal, which while tame, still retains many of the characteristics of its wild counterpart.

Bearing the special nature of the wolfdog in mind, it is normal that different breeders should strive to maintain or obtain features that they consider to be close to those found in wild animals. In the last decade breeding of the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (CSW) has expanded well beyond the countries of origin of the breed, and with this expansion come divergent ideas of what particular characteristics of the CSW need to be emphasized and in which particular manner it should be done.

I had the pleasure of recently attending the Dutch Club Show for Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs at Hoenderloo (the Netherlands - 2 October 2005) judged by Dr. Gilbert Schaffner, and I was impressed by the nature of the dogs on the show. It is clear that many (though not all) Dutch breeders have adopted a very interesting approach to this breed, selecting dogs that are lighter and have an overall slimmer build and with longer, slimmer legs.

Looking at them it struck me just how very similar they were to some wild animals, I will let you judge for yourself however, here are just some examples:

Here you can see a Dutch dog. Note the sleek head and the long running legs.
Here you can see a wild animal – notice the morphological similarities, in particular the shape of the head and the long legs, with the articulated well below the body.

Naturally, in spite of the similarities, there are still some differences, as can be seen by the colour and texture of the coat - however bear in mind that an animal's fur is strongly dependent on the environment it lives in. You should not expect the same kind and quality of fur in an animal that lives in wild conditions as on a domesticated one.

This shows that some Dutch breeders have managed to produce animals which are genuinely close to their wild counterparts - what is more it seems to be the opinion of the judges that these are the animals which should be selected for, as the animals presenting the morphological characteristics similar to that depicted above were given excellent marks in this particular competition.

So as a whole we can say that these Dutch breeders have accomplished something very noteworthy - they have managed to create lines of dogs that bear a remarkable resemblance to Canis Aureus - The Golden Jackal.

Noteworthy as this achievement may be - and I am certain that even some of the scientists which are interested in canine morphology may be interested in this phenomenon - I still prefer Czechoslovakian wolfdogs to be as Czechoslovakian wolfdogs were intended to be in the first place, that is, wolf-like as opposed to jackal-like.

No doubt however that other lines rise over time - there are obviously diverging interpretations of the standard which have allowed the evolution of other lines. It is of course essential that the race evolves - we all see slightly different things in our dogs - but it is also important that we are aware of the divergences, and that we understand the standard and more importantly the breed - in a more uniform form fashion. It seems painfully obvious that more contact and exchange of knowledge is needed between the breeders in the countries of origin and those who have started breeding programs (which can sometimes be very extensive) in other countries.

This would seem to be essential if Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs are to maintain coherence as a race - and it would seem that one of the defining features of the CSW is its similarity to Canis Lupus Lupus. If such things are not watched carefully there is a risk of losing other traits which define the CSW - for instance as regards to its character: Lively, active, tough, obedient with quick reactions, fearless and courageous. Shows tremendous loyalty towards his master. As defined by the standard.

Of course not all dogs bred in the Netherlands are of this jackal-like morphology, simply that some very successful breeders and some judges are favouring this kind of animal. Clearly not all Dutch dogs will be like this, and not all CSW with jackal-like morphology will be found only in the Netherlands .

The CSW is clearly a living and changing breed - but it is important for breeders to remember always the characteristics of the breed - and in particular its physical resemblance to the wolf and its character of a working dog for these define the breed.