Is this kennel still operating,and what about the quality of the dogs they produce today? Do anyone have any numbers of how succesfull their breedingprogramm was, how many dogs become servicedogs of all the dogs they breed?

Stig,
This is what I found when I was looking for that answer some time ago; can't verify the validity of the info (it is after all posted on the internet... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ) but you can find some info HERE

"POHRANICNI STRAZE
The Kennel Z Pohranicni straze (Z PS) was founded in the year 1955 for the only purpose of production and training of the dogs that would be solely used for the protection of Czechoslovakian People's Republic's, since 1968 Czechoslovakian Socialist Republic's borders. The most of the dogs were acquired from the territory of former East Germany and also there were dogs form Czechoslovakia used for breeding, the ones that excelled in their character qualities.

The stud dogs, females and puppies were taken care after by military service conscripts. The dogs had been trained at the Kennels for about 12 months and afterwards relocated to Border Patrol training facilities in their quarters (nowadays they're located in Czech police training facilities).

The breeding program, established in 1956, has been under the direction of Mr.Jiri Novotny since 1981, who is also the director of training. The breeding program has been since the foundation focused mainly on strengthening the good power of bones, dark pigmentation, strong nerves and willingness to work in tracking, obedience and defense work.

While the kennel name remains "Z Pohranicni straze", it is now under the Pohranicni Policie (Border Police)."

If this is not correct and there is verifiable info contrary to this, I would like to know also...

Yes,I have read that before, but I remember reading somewhere that the kennel doesn´t exist anymore, at least not with the same quality as before, but maybe this isn´t true?
But it would be intressting to know how sucessfull the breedingprogramm were at it´s best days.

You can call Jiri Novotny directly, or e-mail him to ask. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

He ran the program and has always been very gracious with answering questions when I've asked.

http://jinopo.cz/contact.htm

Stig,

The breeder I purchased my GSD from has gotten a few of her dogs from there, and my GSD is from that line and is great.

Stig,

According to Jiri, the kennel z PS still does exist. However, the quality of the dogs being produced there and the direction the breeding program has gone since his retirement a few years ago is no where near what is once was, supposedly.

When I asked Jiri how he felt about this, he said that it does not bother him as much any more because he kept most of the good bloodlines when he left and he realizes now that he can continue to breed the "old" type of dogs that z PS was known for with the stock/bloodlines in his own personal kennels (Jipo me / Jirkova dvora.)

As VC mentioned, Jiri is very gratious (and patient!) in answering any questions you may have if you call/e-mail him.

He said he will do this until he dies. That should be a long time, since I don't think he can be more than 50-55 years old (if that) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Stig-all the info here is correct. The governement buys now alot of dogs from 3 private kennels in Czech Republic as the z PS program is not the same anymore. Jiri owns one of the above mentioned kennels and his father I beleive owns another. I purchased from Jiri one of the what he calls the last "real dogs" bred at z PS before the change over and she is from the last "V" litter and she'll be 4 in May. During their prime z PS had about 80 females and 35 stud dogs in service. All the stud dogs worked at an outpost on the border. All the dogs in the breeding program had to be able work on the border and do the job if not they were gone. When it came to breeding..same deal...if the production wasn't up to snuff for doing the real work..they dogs were sold out of the program.

Hi all,

I asked jiri, 50% of the puppies born ended up at service when he run the breedingprogramm.

The PS kennels are still going, but from what I understand they have changed the name of the kennel. There has been alot of changes with the kennels since Jiri left and there has been lot's of rumours about what happened and what didn't happen.
The kennels are not as open to the public as they used to be under Jiri.

Derek wrote :
"The governement buys now alot of dogs from 3 private kennels in Czech Republic as the z PS program is not the same anymore. Jiri owns one of the above mentioned kennels and his father I beleive owns another."

The PS kennels do not just buy dogs from three outside kennels. They buy from whoever has dogs they like. In the old days they may have bought dogs from Jipo-me, Jirkova dvora and B. zamku more than others but this is no longer the case. Jiri now runs the Jirkova dvora kennel as I understand his father passed away.

Stig, if your really interested in learning about Czech dogs you have in Sweden one of the most knowledgeable people with these dogs. He was the first person to go to Czech from Sweden and over the last 10 years he has been over there more than 20 times. He is personal friends with some of the best working GSD people over there.
He has had litters from Congo Vikar, Norbo Ben-Ju, Gero z BZ, Tom PS, Quint Daskonu, Damien Plavno, Blek Egidius etc, etc.
People talk about Tom PS, he has spent many days and weeks around the dog in Czech. He considers the handler/owner of Tom to be one of his good friends. He has hours of video footage of Czech dogs working such as Tom, Art Lipin, Gero, Chuligan, Norbo and numerous dogs working in the Police kennels. He has breed books, magazines and hip production cd's from Czech/Slovakia.
As well as that he is one of the most honest/reliable people I have met in the dog world.
Have a look at his website http://www.workingdogs.nu
You will find very few people outside of Czech with his knowledge of these dogs.

Chris-I was just repeating info I got from Jiri about the 3 privately owned kennels. I did not however know about Jiri's father passing, although I understood that Jiri had a close relationship with the other two kennels and he was involved at least partially in healping select breeding stock and matings. Has the z PS kennel changed its name to something "Policia" or the like? Isn't it true the "dog program" is no longer a Border Patrol Operation but is now run by the national Police? I was wondering and I have never asked Jiri this but are GSD's still a large part of the Czech Border Patrol or has their significance been reduced over the last few years as borders have become more open? Derek