Cesky Fousek North America is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Colorado.
Download Colorado Certification here.
The mission of the Český Fousek North America (CFNA) breed club is to protect (foster) promote and increase the rare versatile hunting dog breed, Český Fousek, according to the Fédération cynologique internationale (FCI) accepted breed standard. This will be accomplished through health screenings, temperament, and field performance evaluations and controlled breedings based on sound, scientific principles.
2020 Board of Directors Meeting Recording
Click on the link above to access a YouTube recording of the 2023 BOD Meeting at the Rocky Mountain Spring Test, Jerome, Idaho, March 24, 2023
“Cesky Fousek” is a Czech name. Here’s how they pronounce it in the Czech Republic:
The Cesky Fousek is one of several breeds categorized by FCI as “griffons”. There are several branches of the family, but we think that the Cesky Fousek is the best breed for the person who wants both an enthusiastic, versatile hunting dog and a great family companion. The Fousek is a cooperative dog that hunts for you and with you. Whether pursuing grouse in the thickets of New England, pheasants in the Dakotas or chukars in the coulees of the Snake River, the Cesky Fousek loves to hunt point and retrieve for you. Is waterfowl your game? The Cesky Fousek has the affinity for water and determination to track down and retrieve ducks, whether you are prowling a creek bottom, laying out in the field or ambushing from a coastal marsh blind. And if blood tracking deer or finding shed antlers is your game, the esky Fousek is happy to do it with you. But hunting season is short, and the modern owner also wants a dog that loves kids and hanging out with the family. The Cesky Fousek wants to be your buddy, and he won’t take the leg off the mailman.
What’s In a Name? “Cesky Fousek”
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale classification system identifies where our dogs fits into the over-all griffon scheme of things. It also makes clear that Bohemian Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and Cesky Fousek are simply English and Czech language labels for the same dog and not to be confused with the Korthals variety.
In its homeland, the breed is known as the Cesky Fousek, so many organizations have simply adopted that name. However, FCI recognizes different names in different languages: in addition to Cesky Fousek:
- English BOHEMIAN WIRE-HAIRED POINTING GRIFFON
- Français BARBU TCHEQUE
- Deutsch BÖHMISCH RAUHBART
- Español GRIFÓN DE MUESTRA BOHEMIO DE PELO DURO
Here is the FCI system, classification system
Group 7 are the POINTING BREEDS.
Section 1: Continental Pointing Dogs
1.3 Griffon type
- CZECH REPUBLIC—CESKÝ FOUSEK (245) (BOHEMIAN WIRE-HAIRED POINTING GRIFFON)
- FRANCE—GRIFFON A POIL DUR KORTHALS (107) (WIRE-HAIRED POINTING GRIFFON KORTHALS)
- ITALY—SPINONE ITALIANO (165) (SPINONE)
http://www.fci.be/en/Presentation-of-our-organisation-4.html
Transition from Korthals Griffon to Bohemian Griffon
How our club came to embrace the Cesky Fousek as the ideal hunting/companion is an interesting story in itself. We began as the breed club for the Korthals Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. After seeing griffons in Europe post WWII, General Rogers imported several dogs and chartered the WPGCA in 1951. Since that time, the club has held tests to evaluate litters, selected sires and dams that had proven themselves in field tests, required OFA evaluation of all litters, and from 1965 to 1985- imported Griffons from various European countries. Some improvements were noted, however, problems such as soft and curly coats, lack of bird desire, and unstable temperament persisted. Most of these problems was attributed to the small gene pool of dogs is the USA. Finally, the Board of Directors (BOD) of the WPGCA decided to resort to what had always been acceptable in European breed clubs – infusing blood from similar breeds. After considering several breeds, Senior Judge Joe Nadaker contacted Dr. Jaromir Dostal who was the breed warden for the Cesky Fousek Club) in the Czech Republic.
What began as an intended modest infusion of Cesky Fousek into Wirehaired Pointing Griffon stock quickly transformed into a breeding population that was 75% or more Cesky Fousek due to the lack of access to quality Wirehaired Pointing Griffon stock. The club adopted the Cesky Fousek breed standard in 1995 and by 2014 officially abandoned the notion of improving the wirehaired pointing griffon and devote itself to the Cesky Fousek. The organization name was initially changed to the Bohemian Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Club of America. Effective 2020, the club name changed to Cesky Fousek North America, reflecting the more common moniker for the breed. More than simply a change in label, the name signifies our commitment to a revised mission: building a solid breeding foundation for the Cesky Fousek in North America.
The world-wide Cesky Fousek population is small, and our goal is to assure that this breed, that our club came to embrace through serendipity, becomes established in North America as the healthy, temperamentally-sound companion and hunter that made it the national breed of the Czech Republic. Rather than leave the breed’s fate up to the chance importation of a few dogs here and there by individuals, we seek to collaborate with Klub chovatelu českých fousků, and to use managed breeding practices to insure that North America will have sound dogs and a genetically rich breeding population that will be a resource for the world-wide Cesky Fousek population. Here’s what makes the CFNA special:
The Breeding Program–Breeding decisions are in the hands of the club’s breeding committee rather than allowing individual dog owners to make decisions about which dogs are of breeding quality and which stud dogs should be bred with which females. The breeding committee uses information from our field tests, health data and breed registry to make breeding decisions. The program also provides technical assistance and financial support to the individual owners whose dogs are selected for breeding and with placement of puppies.
Progeny Testing—Our intent is for every puppy resulting from a club-approved breeding to be evaluated in our progeny testing program. This requires a Natural Ability Test before age 16 months and an Intermediate Hunting Dog Test before age 36 months. Assessment of coat and conformation are part of this process. We also insist on a PennHIP evaluation (measures hip dysplasia potential) of all dogs with breeding potential. Test results are published in the Gun Dog Supreme for everyone to see.
Judge Training—We train member volunteers as judges to evaluate versatile gun dogs. CFNA holds an annual seminar on judging related topics based on a current need. All prospective judges must meet strict standards to become eligible.
Within our site, you’ll find complete information on each regional chapter, answers to common questions about the breed and our organization, and a variety of resources for enjoying life with a Cesky Fousek. Of course there’s a gallery chock full of griffon photos. So whether you just want to peruse some pictures, find out about upcoming club events, or carefully research the decision on your next hunting dog, we hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for here.