Český fousek (Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon)
Temperament:
The Český fousek - also known as the Bohemian Roughbeard or Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon - is a Czech hunting dog. It is a versatile hunting dog and is used as a pointing dog in the water as well as in the forest and field. It is one of the oldest existing rough-coated pointing dogs. The breed is similar to the Griffon and the German Stichelhaar. The Český fousek was crossed into both breeds.
Characteristics
The Český fousek is a very intelligent breed. It likes to swim, runs a lot and is predatory. The latter means that these dogs have a pronounced hunting instinct and particularly enjoy hunting animals such as badgers, foxes and lynxes. He is a very concentrated, thorough and experienced hunter.
This dog needs plenty of exercise and regular challenges to balance its temperament. If a four-legged friend of this breed is well trained, it uses its hunting instincts. It fits in well with its family and is loyal to them. The Český fousek wants to please its owner and is very obedient. It is therefore easy to train if the handler knows how to train a hunting dog properly.
The Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon needs a lot of exercise and is definitely not a dog for a city apartment. He needs several hours of physical exercise every day and also regular activity for his intelligent mind. Ideally, of course, this should involve the typical tasks of a hunting dog.
The coat of the Český fousek consists of three different types of hair. The shortest is the dense, soft undercoat, which is approx. 1.5 cm long. It protects the dog from wetness in bad weather. In summer it falls out almost completely, which leads to increased hair growth. Above the undercoat lies the approx. 3-4 cm long, coarse topcoat. Particularly hard, straight awns approx. 5-7 cm long grow on the chest, back and shoulders. There are long, soft hairs on the lips and lower jaw, which form the beard typical of the breed.
The breed is available in dark brown with and without brown markings, brown with mottled markings on the forechest and lower limbs and all brown. With a height at the withers of 58 to 66 cm, the Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon is medium to large in size. Females reach a height at the withers of 58 to 62 cm, males 60 to 66 cm. The FCI breed standard stipulates a weight of 22 to 28 kg for females and 28 to 34 kg for males.
Coat care:
Shedding:
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The right food
As a hunting dog, the Český fousek is a very active dog with correspondingly high energy requirements. Typical allergies are not known in this robust breed. For this reason, it is easy to decide for yourself what you want to feed your Český fousek. A mixture of dry and wet food is generally very popular. Of course, treats and chew sticks are also a must from time to time.
It is important that the amount of food is spread over at least two meals a day. Rest after eating is also important to avoid a dangerous stomach torsion.
Under no circumstances should the food contain sugar, chemical additives or fillers. The ingredients should be of high quality and balanced.
Health & Care
The Český fousek is a working dog, which is why it was deliberately bred to be very robust and easy to care for. Despite its unproblematic coat, it must be regularly checked for ticks and fleas.
Especially in summer, when he loses a lot of fur, it can also be useful to brush him to remove loose hair. If necessary, claws should also be trimmed. Routine visits to the vet for check-ups and vaccinations should not be missed for any four-legged friend. There are no known breed-specific diseases.
As a hunting dog, it is essential for the Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon to spend several hours a day in the great outdoors. In addition, this breed needs regular mental exercise, which is best achieved through typical hunting dog tasks. In this way, the intelligent and hunting-loving dog can live out its instincts to the full, which is always part of species-appropriate dog ownership.
Suitable accessories
A simple brush is sufficient for grooming the Český fousek. Claw clippers are of course a must. Of course, this breed also needs the standard equipment for dogs. This includes a collar, a sturdy lead and bowls for eating and drinking. A suitable place to sleep in the house is also a must.
As a very active dog, the Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon should ideally live in a house with a large, fenced-in garden. A large transport box in the car is also recommended to make trips to the vet or into the forest safer. As the Český fousek is usually used for hunting, the extensive equipment required for this should of course not be missing.
Origin & History
The Český fousek originates from the Czech Republic and is still one of the most popular hunting dog breeds there today. The first mention of a close ancestor of the breed probably dates back to 1348, when a dog was described under the name canis boehmicus (Bohemian hunting dog), which is very similar to the Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, this intelligent hunting dog was very popular throughout Central Europe. In 1886, the Association for the Promotion of the Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon was founded in the Czech town of Písek. At that time, the breed was given its current name "Český fousek". Until the First World War, it was one of the most popular hunting dog breeds in the former CSSR. In the mid-1920s, the Český fousek was on the verge of extinction, as other hunting dog breeds became more popular after the First World War.
However, dedicated lovers of the Český fousek saved the breed by crossing it with Griffons and rough-haired Pointers. This is how the modern Český fousek was created in the following years. It is not known how much the breed has lost of its original appearance as a result. Since 1958, no more foreign breeds have been crossed and breeding has since been restricted to dogs belonging to the breed. The Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon has only been recognized by the FCI since 1963.
