AKA: French Mastiff, Bordeaux Bulldog

Description: The Dogue de Bordeaux is a mastiff breed that is short, stocky, and muscular. Its head is a distinctive feature, with an undershot and powerful jaw, and a distinguishable black or red mask around and under the nose, lips, and eye rims. The nostrils are very open and the upper lips hang thickly down over the lower jaw. The ears naturally hang down. There is a dewlap on the neck. The thick skin is loose. The front legs are straight and the tail is straight, curving when the dog is excited.

Dynamics: The Dogue de Bordeaux has a calm and gentle personality, although originally it was considered ferocious. It is a brave and loyal companion, and is patient and devoted to its family. It is gentle with children and other family members. It makes a wonderful watchdog and guard dog.

The Dogue de Bordeaux can be aggressive with other dogs. It has to be socialized and trained firmly from an early age. Male Dogue de Bordeaux generally does not tolerate other male dogs.

Breed Group: Mastiff

Weight: 120-145 pounds (54.4-65.2kg)

Height: 23-30 inches (58-75cm)

Color: The Dogue de Bordeaux comes in shades of fawn to mahogany. The black or red mask on the face is always present. White markings on the toes and chest are acceptable.

Country of Origin: The Dogue de Bordeaux comes from France, where it has been a dog of many services throughout history, from being a war dog to becoming a cattle driver and bodyguard.

Activities: The Dogue de Bordeaux needs a lot of exercise as it has a huge amount of energy within. This breed has served man throughout history as a war dog, flock guardian, dog fighter, cattle driver, watch dog, and guard dog.

Grooming: The Dogue de Bordeaux’s coat does not need that much attention. An occasional combing and brushing is enough.

Other Info: The Dogue de Bordeaux has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. It is generally a healthy breed, although litters are small and birth is difficult because of the puppies’ large heads. The Dogue de Bordeaux will be fine living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised.

AKA: Karakachan

Description: The Bulgarian Shepherd Dog is a compact and well-constructed dog with a well-balanced body. It has a broad and massive head which slightly narrows at the muzzle. The nose is black, the eyes deeply placed and dark brown in color. The ears are slightly set high. The jaws form a scissors bite.

The Bulgarian Shepherd Dog’s body consists of a strong neck with folds of skin, a broad chest, and a strong, straight back. The tail is carried curved or ring-shaped over the back. The legs are powerful, straight and parallel to each other. The coat is of medium length to long. Short hair covers the face and front of the legs but a fluffy layer of hair covers the rest of the body.

Dynamics: The Bulgarian Shepherd Dog is an easy, alert, and careful working dog. It has an independent mind, and is mildly aggressive, although this aggressiveness increases when it is threatened. It is very reserved towards strangers, and gets along well with children (at worst it is tolerant with children). Strangers aside, it is devoted and loyal to its family and the people it grew up with.

The Bulgarian Shepherd Dog is a true working dog, and not the usual family pet. It has a well-developed sense of smell, hearing, and sight. It can easily adapt to any environment and quickly react to any situation. It is a guard dog by heart, bred to protect and defend pets, the farm, and its family. When socialized since puppyhood with the farm animals and pets, the Bulgarian Shepherd Dog will not be a threat to them.

Breed Group: Flock Guardian

Weight: males 99-125 lbs (45-57 kg), females 88-114 lbs (40-52 kg)

Height: males 26-30 inches (65-75 cm), females 25-28 inches (63-72 cm)

Color: The Bulgarian Shepherd Dog can come in any color, although usually its coat is white with big black spots.

Country of Origin: The Bulgarian Shepherd Dog came from Central Asia, from the Afghanistan and Iran area, where migrations of the Bulgarians started. It can be said that the breed originated in Bulgaria.

Activities: The Bulgarian Shepherd Dog is a moderately active dog, very calm and cautious in guarding and working. It only needs to do its job, and is a very serious breed.

Grooming: The Bulgarian Shepherd Dog only needs to be brushed every 2-3 days. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Bulgarian Shepherd Dog has a life expectancy of 12-14 years. It is a generally healthy breed and there is no disease specifically threatening to it.

AKA: Ciobanesc Romanesc de Bucovina, Ciobanesc de Bucovina, Romanian Bukovina Sheepdog, Bukovina Wolfdog, Bukovinac, Bukovina Sheepdog

Description: The Bucovina Sheepdog is a strong and rustic dog, with a massive head and wide skull. It has a well developed muzzle, with a black nose. It has thick lips and jaws that form a scissors bite. Its eyes are chestnut colored or lighter, almond-shaped, small and slanting. The ears are set high, hanging very close to the cheeks.

The body of the Bucovina Sheepdog is muscular, with a bulky neck and wide chest. The tail is bushy, held low when the dog is relaxed but held high when the dog is alert. The hair is short on the head and front of the legs, but it abundant on the rest of the body.

Dynamics: The Bucovina Sheepdog is a well-balanced and gentle dog. It is calm, devoted, and is excellent with children. It loves to play and will do its best with a lot of space. It makes an excellent watch dog because it does not trust strangers and can be very combative when necessary. This breed also has a very powerful and loud bark.

Breed Group: Flock Guardian

Weight: in accordance with size

Height: males 27-30 inches (68-78 cm), females 25-28 inches (64-72 cm)

Color: The Bucovina Sheepdog usually has a white coat with sand-charcoal, black, or brindled patches. Black or other color drops on the legs is fine. There are also dogs that have solid or uniform colors, mostly pure white or black.

Country of Origin: The Bucovina Sheepdog was bred in the Carpathic region of Bucovina (hence the name), North-East of Romania.

Activities: The Bucovina Sheepdog is calm, yet it has bountiful energy and loves to play a lot. It should be exercised often, taken outdoors because it likes to hav e a lot of space to move around. It was bred to be herd guardians, keeping watch over sheep and cattle against thieves or preying animals. Today, it is being used as a guard go and family companion.

AKA: Castro Laboreiro Livestock Guarding Dog, Castro Laboreiro Dog,Portuguese Cattle Dog
Description: The Cão de Castro Laboreiro breed. Their name was taken from a small village which means “Village of Laborers”, since they came from the very northern tip of Portuguese. They have a weather-resistant dense coat that is slightly rough to touch and they come in a variety of colors.

Temperament: This breed is very fearless flock guard, their bark is very threatening because they are very strong and brave always ready to guard and protect flocks,herds..They are an intelligent breed and very dominant that is why they sometimes tend to be aggressive with people that they are not familiar with. They are loyal to their owners that is why they don’t just follow anybody’s commands. They need a dominant experienced owner to handle and control them in the right way. Moreover, they could also be trusted with children in their family and could be the best protector too. They are very suspicious to strangers.

Activity: They are usually guarding flocks,herds..and they needed a lot of exercise preferably daily walks.

Breed Group: Flock Guardian
Color: black, chestnut and mahogany.
Height: 20-24 inches (51-60cm.)
Weight: 50-75 pounds (45-75 kg.)
Country Of Origin: Euro-Asia.

Dynamics: They are a guard dogs and very alert especially with strangers, very intelligent breed but needs an experienced handler to know how to control them very well since they do not require harsh trainings.

AKA: Estrela Mountain Dog, Serra da estrela Mountain Dog
Description: The Cao da Serra da Estrela may be considered as one of the oldest beeds of the Iberian Peninsula. This breed has two types of coat. The Short coat which is thick, dense and a portion of rough but not harsh and that its feathering is proportion. Another type is Long coat with thick and a portion of rough but not hard outer coat, it is flat and not curly also dense and has a lighter color compared to its outer coat. With hair on its head is short and diminishing in length from the ears to the tip and on its neck and chest the hair is thick especially in males. And from their thighs, through its tail is very much feathered and has smooth hair on their front legs. Feet are oval with thick and hard pads tightly closed toes with dark black nails. They have muscular thighs and loin with short back and chest broad and deep. Also, they have long broad head and muzzle moderately tapered and has large black nose with well opened nostrils. Has a well developed jaws, black tightly closed lips. Their eyes are deep,oval shaped,medium in size that expresses a calm and intelligent look. Ears are triangular in shape, small with rounded tips and had strong teeth in scissor bite.

Temperament: They are a very alert breed with a calm expression. But they could also impose a threatening look to strangers thus he could be a good protector to his owner. They are the breed to fight wolves to protect the sheep. But they are also very loyal to their master ad very trainable, an intelligent breed.

Activity: They are not recommended for apartment life because they are born to protect the sheep pf their master that is why they are very alert and always walk to watch over and be the protector.

Breed Group: Flock Guardian
Color: The only admitted colors are : fawn, wolfgray and yellow, either self-colored or with white markings.
Height: Height: Male: 25 ½ – 28 ½ inches (65-72 cm.) Female: 24 ½ – 27 inches (62-68 cm.)
Weight: Males: 40-50kg Females: 30-40kg
Country Of Origin: North of Portugal

Dynamics: When outside their territory, the Estrela Mountain Dog is calm yet very alert always. An Intelligent dog easy to train and obedient to their masters.