Czechoslovakian Wolfdog vs Borador - Breed Comparison

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a mix between a German Shepherd and a Carpathian wolf. In fact the Czechoslovakian Vlcak is another name for the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and Vlcak is the Czech name for a German Shepard dog.

When you translate the name, it means Czechoslovakian German Shepherd. There was a biological experiment that began in 1955 and these experimental breedings went on for a decade, so that in 1965 a plan was created for the breeding of this new breed.

It was in 1982 that the Czechoslovakian Vlcak was recognized as a national breed in the former Czechoslovakian Republic and recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006.

This attractive, intelligent looking dog won the title of ‘World Champion’ at the World Dog Show in 1990 and in 1999, the breed met all criteria of the World Canine Organization, earning full recognition of the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog breed.

Hybrid breeds have become popular in the last decade or so. The Borador, hailing from Northern America, is one of these popular crossbreeds between two very popular dog breeds - the Border Collie and the Labrador Retriever. Between the two dog breeds, you get extraordinary intelligence, energy and a wonderful temperament.

You first started hearing about this dog breed in the early 21st century. However each of the two breeds brought together to produce the Borador have got reasonable lengthy histories.

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog looks like a true German Shepherd/Wolf mix with his erect ears, bushy tail and straight, muscular legs.

The eyes of the dog are slanted and brown. He stands at about 65cm in height and weighs up to 26kg. The thick coat of the dog is greyish in color but other colors come in as well such as white, cream, black, silver and yellow - all wolf colors. In fact the density of the coat as well as the color changes according to the seasons.

The coat is particularly thick in the Winter, thinning out in the Summer. The coat color may be yellow-gray or silver-gray.

Temperament:

Having a pet which has some wild animal mix can be risky and dangerous. Adding wild animal DNA means that you can get some of the behavior of the wild animal added in and this can be asking for trouble.

When the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog turns on a person, he will be blamed and put down, whereas it is the stupidity of the human to breed such dogs and bring them into their homes in the first place. You need to be careful with children in the home, especially if they don’t know how to treat a dog with respect.

Nonetheless the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is able to develop a deep relationship with his owner. He is a dog who, when training and socialized, can gets on well with his human family as well as with other pets in the family.

He has got other excellent characteristics such as being fearless and courageous. He is intelligent and learns easily.

His Looks

The Borador is a medium to large sized working dog which is well well-proportioned and muscular. His size can’t be carved in stone, but generally he will be in size from 40 – 57cm and weight in the region of 18 and 26 kg. His coat can vary significantly, leaning more towards one particular breed than the other. So the coat can be short and smooth or long and wavy or straight.

The Borador essentially has medium-sized ears which are floppy and the tail is medium-length. Sometimes the Borador will have the black and white coat of the Border Collie or he could have a brownish/beige colour from a golden Labrador.

He’s an Amicable Breed

When your energetic Borador is trained and socialized, he becomes a great family member and he gets on well with children and other pets.You’ll find that he often has the sweet, amicable temperament of the Labrador while having the sharp, alert intellect of the Border Collie.

Most Boradors are also good watchdogs and will bark at strangers, but because they are so amicable, from barking, they can quickly become a stranger’s friend.

The beautiful Czechoslavakian Wolfdog resembles a wolf and in many of these dogs, their characteristics are wolf-like too. The dog is confident and independent, but it also able to form good relationships with his human family.

Many people thrill at the idea of having a pet which has a wild side to him, but there is a price to pay for having such a pet in your home. Their wild side can suddenly come to the fore, with dangerous consequences.

There are so many dog breeds to choose from that surely it isn’t necessary to start tampering with animals from the wild?

The Borador is an intelligent dog that can be trained. He is a sociable dog and is friendly to all members of his human family, willing to extend a paw of friendship to strangers as well.

The Borador is also a friend of children and other pets. This combination of breeds is very energetic and you can’t just leave him for days on end in the backyard. He will need exercise and walks as well as ball games. When you become involved in his games, you tighten the bond between you and this is what this social, outgoing dog loves.

The Borador is going to make a wonderful pet because he is a mix of two very popular dog breeds. Give him all he deserves as a member of your family and you’ll have the perfect friend and companion for life.

Your Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a healthy dog who with good health care, can reach the age of 12 to 15 years. However, it is good to be forewarned about some dog sicknesses that your dog might get and which could be detrimental to your dog’s quality of life.

Hip Dysplasia:

This disease comes about when the ball and socket joint at the hip doesn’t form properly. The bones rub and chafe when the dog moves and the condition just gets worse as time goes on. Your dog can actually end up with arthritis, and worse, become lame.

Degenerative Myelopathy:

This is a progressive deterioration of the spinal cord which causes lameness in your pet’s hind legs. It is incurable and can be the end of your pet. The exact cause of this tragic illness is unknown.

You won’t find serious health problems with your Boradors, as he is a robust breed. Nonetheless, there are some ailments that as a dog owner, you need to be aware of for your Borador.

Skin ailments – you don’t want to see your dog scratching or licking continuously so you want to be aware of things like parasites and allergies. Skin diseases can be debilitating for a dog and can even require lifelong treatments. Yes, corticosteroids can help with itchy rashes, but the best move is to try and avoid skin ailments by ensuring a nutritious diet rich in minerals and vitamins and which includes some raw meat.

Always be checking your pet for skin problems such as ringworm, caused by a fungus and found on your dog and which appear as scaly patches and hair loss.

Hip Dysplasia – an inherited problem with the hip joints. No-one can predict when hip dysplasia settles in, but it can be as early as 4 months of age.Your dog shows signs of stiffness and may not be his energetic self. Some dog owners want to see certificates first that the parents of puppies have been hip-cleared before they buy a puppy.

Exercise:

Vlcaks have been specifically bred for stamina and if you neglect to exercise him, he’ll become bored and frustrated and possibly destructive and aggressive. He must be trained and he must be constantly provided with lots of exercise and activities.

Training and Socialization:

Because of the wolf side of this dog, Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs have a high prey drive, so he will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to get along with your other pets in the home.

Grooming

The Borador may have inherited the moderate shedder characteristics of the Border Collie or the more intense shedding of the Labrador Retriever. He will require a good brush at least twice a week to ensure you remove loose hairs so as to keep his coat shiny and healthy. Check your dogs ears too for yeast infections.

Feeding

Puppies and young Boradors are full of energy and they will require a diet that has an excellent protein content. If you’re unsure about how to feed your Borador, speak to your vet as some dogs need more calories depending on their level of activity.

Certainly if your dog has allergies, you may have to look for a special diet but otherwise a top brand commercial dog food can be a good choice if you include some home prepared food such as rice, vegetables and meat. It is important to give your dog some raw meat every now and then as well. Always have a bowl of cool, fresh water available for your pet 24/7.