Český Fousek

The Český Fousek is an ideal hunting dog. It can easily adapt to life in a spacious house as well as in a small apartment. It is undemanding and needs attention from its owner. At work, the Český Fousek shows himself as a hardy and brave hunter. The individuality of the breed is considered an extraordinary ability to work “under the gun confidently”.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The emergence of the Český Fousek breed dates back to the times of the Roman Empire. That was when the popularity of underhanded water hunting with four-legged helpers was at its peak. The very first standard and official description of the Český Fousek was received back in 1882. The breed was incredibly valued by experienced hunters in Czechoslovakia and was revered by the nobility.

After World War I, closer to 1920, very few purebreds of the Český Fousek. The breed was literally on the verge of extinction. In 1924 the Czech cynologist Frantisek Goska was inspired by the idea of restoring the population of the Český Fousek. The first club of fans of the breed was founded in those years. His work was long and painstaking. He wanted to recreate a true representative of the breed. The official recognition and standard of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale Czech Fousek was received only in 1963.

Appearance

The appearance of the Český Fousek is directly related to its name. “Fous” means “mustache” in Czech. Their elegant beard and mustache give the funny appearance of representatives of the breed. The Český Fousek is a typical representative of the legal hunting dog. The format of the Český Fousek is rectangular. The body is quite compact. The head is elongated. The muzzle is slightly longer than the forehead. The transition from forehead to muzzle is moderate.

The eyes are almond-shaped, usually dark brown to dark amber. The ears are floppy, set high, tapered, and rounded toward the end. The ears are set high and tightly on the cheekbones. The neck is dry and strong. The chest and shoulders, when viewed from the front of the dog, form a lyroid shape. The abdomen is taut. The limbs are well-muscled and quite long. The tail is kept at the level of the back.

Coarse, medium-length, two-layered coat with a thick and soft undercoat. The undercoat is 1.5 cm long, and the coat is 3-7 cm long. All shades of brown are acceptable. Coffee spots of irregular shape may be present.

Character

The Český Fousek is an ideal hunting dog. It can easily adapt to life in a spacious house as well as in a small apartment. It is undemanding and needs attention from its owner. At work, the Český Fousek shows himself as a hardy and brave hunter. The individuality of the breed is considered an extraordinary ability to work “under the gun confidently”.

Good at hunting waterfowl, as well as a hare, foxes, and even wild boar. It is worth noting the fact that the work can show anger. But this applies only to the prey, with no aggression towards the owner. Also, Český Fousek has a good guarding instinct, will be able to scare away intruders and protect your home.

The attitude of children in the Český Fousek is calm and patient enough. What cannot be said about other animals, here early socialization will be needed. It is especially true for cats. Český Fousek is used to “chase” them. The same applies to small domestic animals – he may take them for prey.

Care

The main feature of the care of the Český Fousek is trimming. It is a special procedure that consists of the removal of excess hair and dead coats. Due to its double-layered hair, the Český Fousek foxtail needs to be trimmed every four months. It is also necessary to comb out the hair with a brush; it will be enough to do it several times a week.

The Český Fousek’s molt is most often seasonal and occurs in the summer. Pay attention to the pet’s ears as well. Here you need more care because moisture and dirt can accumulate in them. Clean the ears three times a week. Otherwise, care is minimal: bathe as needed, trim its claws monthly.

Training

Owners of the Český Fousek note its good memory and aptitude for training. Like all legal dogs, the Český Fousek has developed the skill of opportunism (bringing game). All commands related to “serve and fetch” will be performed perfectly quickly. Český Fousek can be stubborn in some cases, so you will need to be a little more persistent in response. Raising a pet should be based on trust and mutual respect. Otherwise, you will get an unmanageable dog with a broken psyche.

Common Diseases

The health of the Český Fousek hound is strong, with no particular susceptibility to hereditary diseases. There is a risk of such minor diseases:

• urolithiasis;
• otitis media;
• obesity.

Nutrition

The sturdy body of the Český Fousek needs a balanced diet. The breed is prone to gaining excess weight and will never refuse a tidbit from the owner’s table. Therefore, you should keep an eye on the Český Fousek’s food intake. For feeding, choose low-fat meat or dry food for medium-sized breeds.