English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Cesky Fousek - Breed Comparison

They English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) is closely related to the Manchester Terrier and the Old English Black and Tan Terrier. The English Toy Terrier was developed to entertain humans in the rat pit due to its speed and agility. This is a sport that was very popular in English cities during Victorian times. Terriers went into the pits with a large number of rats and the winner would be the dog that killed a certain number of rats the fastest. The watchers would take bets on their favorite dog.

The English Toy Terrier was developed to be smaller than the Manchester Terrier, because smaller dogs were desired for the pit. In 1848 a small 2.5 kg black and tan terrier took less than an hour to kill 300 rats. When the Kennel Club was formed the sport of rat killing was outlawed. Because it was such a good looking dog, the black and tan was soon excelling in the show ring. To begin with there was one breed of Black and Tan Terriers and two weight classes. In 1920, the two were divided into separate breeds – the Manchester Terrier and the Black and Tan Terrier. It wasn’t until 1962 that the name changed to the English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan).In 1959, the declining numbers of Manchester Terriers caused the AKC to combine them again into one breed with two kinds: Toy and Standard.

Today the English Toy Terrier is one of the most vulnerable of the native breeds and efforts are in place to increase the gene pool and popularity of the dog. The UKC has also re-registered the English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) in the stud book if it is a certified Toy. The breed is not AKC recognized.

The Cesky Fousek is also known as the Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon and he hails from the Czech Republic. The name ‘Fousek’ is referring to the dogs facial hair.

With World War 1, the dog all but disappeared, but with careful breeding, its numbers have built up. Today the dog is a popular hunting breed in its home country. In 1957 and 1958, Czechoslovakia joined the Federation Cynologique Internationale, and this is when a new breed standard was written and approved. In 1964, the dog breed was recognized by the FCI and by the United Kennel Club in 1996.

The Cesky Fousek has even been represented on postage stamps issued in the country in 1965, and again in 1973. Today, the breed is as popular as ever in the Czech Republic as well as other countries where there are breeding programs.

The English Toy Terrier is a small compact breed that resembles the Miniature Pinscher and the Manchester Terrier. The English Toy Terrier has a narrow but long head with a black nose, wedge muzzle and dark, almond shaped eyes. The ears are flame shaped and the chest is deep and narrow. He has thick legs and a tapered tail. The breed is of course black and tan – with the tan on the face, chest and legs.

The Cesky Fousek is a medium sized dog with both the male and the female standing between 58 – 66cm and weighing 22–28kg. The dog has a fairly distinctive appearance, looking quite a bit like a German Wire-haired Pointer, but he has the mustache and beard which the Pointer doesn’t have.

The tail of this dog is carried horizontally and is generally docked to 3/5 of its natural length to give the dog a distinctive look. These days, with regulations around docking, the tail is left long. The ears are floppy and rounded at the tips and the eyes are brown.

The dog’s coat is short to medium length and fairly coarse with colors being dark roan or brown with ticked markings.

Temperament:

The Cesky Fousek is an energetic, eager-to-please dog and he just loves playing with the children in the home. He is an intelligent dog who is loyal, social and protective and you’ll find that he is easy to train. In fact, with socialization and training, he becomes obedient and amicable around adults, children and other pets.

The English Toy Terrier is a stubborn, strong willed little dog. It has a fearless disposition and its alertness make it a great candidate for a guard dog despite its size. They will chase small animals due to their innate prey drive. They are affectionate and loyal and need to be with people. They love to be cuddled and petted, but usually choose one person that they become very close to. He is more than a lap dog. He can be playful, or he can be a small working dog.

The Cesky Fousek is a fun loving, good natured dog who is always up for a game. This is why he isn’t a dog that will fit into an apartment or shoe-box size garden.

Socialize and train him and he becomes a wonderful family pet, good around children and other pets. He loves human companionship and isn’t a dog to be left outside to run around on his own.

The Cesky Fousek is easy to train, and when he is treated properly and made to feel an important member of the family, he provides you with his unconditional love and friendship.

Health Problems

Like many Toy dogs, the English Toy Terrier is susceptible to:

Patellar Luxation

Dislocated kneecap – many small breeds are susceptible to this.

Deafness

There has been a congenital line of deafness in the English Toy Terrier since it was developed with a cross from the English White Terrier. Unfortunately, some still breed these deaf dogs and continue to pass on the condition.

Glaucoma

More painful than in the human eye, pressure builds up behind the eye ball. Dogs build up more pressure than humans and this can lead to blindness.

The average lifespan of this dog breed is about 12 to 15 years, and even though he is a robust breed, some common health issues do exist.

Certainly if you’re considering breeding for your Cesky Fousek, you’ll want to have him tested for dysplasia, eye problems and Von Willebrands Disease.

Von Willebrands Disease is an inherited bleeding disorder, caused by a deficiency in the amount of a specific protein needed to help platelets.Often the dog doesn’t show outward evidence of having the disease while other dogs might even hemorrhage from the nose or elsewhere.

Feeding

As a high energy small dog feed a high quality dry food that is designed specifically for small dogs. Feed about ¼ of a cup of food split into 2 meals.

Health issues

In addition to the health issues mentioned above:

Von Willebrand’s Disease – VWD

This is an inherited blood disease in which a lack of protein has a negative effect of the platelets. This causes them not to form clots and so the dog has a bleeding issue.

Legg-Perthe-Calve’s Disease

Degeneration of the femur ball joint due to a blood deficiency issue. This can lead to arthritis.

Lens Luxation

Affects the lens by blocking the drainage from the eye creating a glaucoma like pressure.

Skin Issues

The English Toy Terrier can develop skin issues so watch him closely.

Exercise and games

The English Toy Terrier can be very energetic but that doesn’t actually mean she needs a ton of exercise. Because she is small she does not need as much as you might think. A half hour walk once a day is enough or just letting her run in your fenced yard.

He is an intelligent little dog who needs mental stimulation as much if not more than the solution. Play games like catch, hide and seek, frisbee, and performing tricks.

Grooming:

The coat of the Cesky Fousek is easy to maintain and you’ll want to brush him at least twice a week with a firm bristle brush to get through the coarse hair and rid him of loose hairs.

Ear infections are common in dogs, but dogs with floppy ears are more susceptible to ear infections than dogs with erect ears. The infection often starts in the external ear canal and occurs when excess bacteria grows in the ear canal and it becomes inflamed.

Always take your pet to the veterinarian at the first sign of an ear infection. You’ll notice your pet shaking his head and the ear may well be red and inflamed. Your vet will discuss the proper treatment and suggest ways to prevent recurrence. The vet may also recommend an ear cleaning solution as well.

Exercise:

This dog breed needs plenty of exercise and he’ll love his daily walks with you. Put him on a leash and allow him to run with you when you go cycling or jogging.

Diet:

This is a very active dog used to hunting and he’ll require good quality protein. Speak to your vet about how many calories your dog will need each day, more so if you have a puppy and are unsure in terms of his growth.

He is a medium-to-large breed so you’ll want a food that caters for his size, his age and his energy. Include portions of rice, vegetable and meat into his kibble from time to time for variety, and never forget to include some raw meat into his diet.

Fresh, cool water is of critical importance and should be available night and day.