AKA: Greek Sheepdog, Greek Shepherd

Description: The Hellenikos Poimenikos is a dog breed of medium to large size. It has a solid body and massive head, exuding superior physical strength and power. The muzzle and cheeks are wide and deep, with the jaws forming either a scissors or plain bite. The ears should not be cropped. The eyes are almond-shaped and the eyelids are tight.

The chest is broad and deep. The coat is thick, it body covered with slightly long rough-looking hair. The tail is thick at the base. Some tails are long, some are short. Some have no tail. The breed is generally characterized by its heavy bone structure, good muscle, and thick coat.

Dynamics: The Hellenikos Poimenikos is a working dog that requires great patience. It is proud and hardworking as a sheep and goat guard. It works better in pairs, moving at the sides of the flock and looking out for wolves and other predators. It is a loyal, independent, and brave dog, with a strong protective instinct for the animals and territory. It can adapt to any rough condition. It is naturally observant and wary, and it will only heed to its owner or shepherd.

The Hellenikos Poimenikos has a serious temperament. It does not tolerate violent behavior and can be dominant when the owner does not have strong leadership over it. It is wary of strangers and cautious in getting along with others. It is aggressive towards other animals. It has a loud and powerful bark that is given as a warning to back off its territory. To avoid excessive aggressiveness, proper socialization is required. The Hellenikos Poimenikos can also be trained to be trustworthy.

Breed Group: Flock Guardian

Weight: males 84-110 pounds (38-50 kg), females 70-92 pounds (32-42 kg)

Height: males 25-29 inches (65-75 cm), females 23-26 inches (60-68 cm)

Color: The coat colors of the Hellenikos Poimenikos include black, grayish-brown, and white.

Country of Origin: The Hellenikos Poimenikos originates in Greece.

Activities: The Hellenikos Poimenikos is an energetic and serious dog breed that needs to work to keep itself busy. Boredom will only cause it to develop destructive behavior and excessive barking.

Grooming: Brushing and combing at least once a week is enough. Remove dead hairs. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Hellenikos Poimenikos has a life expectancy of 12 years. It is a generally healthy breed. This breed is not meant for the city life. It is a natural flock guardian, and is best on an open field guarding the flock from wild predators.

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: Chodsky Pes, Chodenhund, Czech Sheepdog, Bohemian Herder

Description: The Bohemian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog with long thick fur and rich undercoat. Its body is longer than it is tall, and has a great build. It is compact and well-proportioned. Its ears stand erect and pointed, highly set on its head. This breed has a fluid gait, light and patient.

Dynamics: The Bohemian Shepherd is a patient yet active dog. It is not aggressive and can be easily trained. It has a patient temperament and gets along well with children and other dogs and pets. It is not prone to any unstable behavior. It is friendly and devoted to its family and children but is reserved with strangers.

The Bohemian Shepherd makes a great watch dog and companion dog. It has an excellent nose, is agile and is very obedient. It also excels as a guide dog and is excellent in working alongside handicapped people.

Breed Group: not recognized by any kennel club

Weight: 35-55 lbs (16-25 kg)

Height: 19-22 inches (48-56 cm)

Color: The Bohemian Shepherd’s coat color is black and tan.

Country of Origin: The Bohemian Shepherd originates in the Czech Republic. It has been known to exist there since the 1300s and has been professionally bred since the 1500s.

Grooming: The Bohemian Shepherd is easy to groom despite its long hair. Occasional brushing is enough. Like any other shepherd dog, it udnergoes normal shedding in the summer.

Activities: The Bohemian Shepherd is very active, hardworking, and loves a great challenge. This breed is used for herding, search and rescue, service-training, agility, and sledding. It is also an excellent watch and guard dog, as well as a patient companion dog.

Other Info: The Bohemian Shepherd can live indoors and outdoors. What is important is that it can connect with the people it is with since this breed is people-oriented.

AKA: Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Shepherd, Chien de Berger Beige

Description: The most popular the four Belgian shepherd dogs, the Groenendael is a muscular black dog with a body that is squarely proportioned. It has a coat that is moderately long, especially a little full at the neck, underside, legs, and tail. The face and lower legs have short hair. The Groenendael has a dense undercoat.

The Groenendael has almond-shaped brown eyes, a black nose, and triangular ears that stand erect. The muzzle is long and the chest is deep, reaching into the elbow. The front legs are straight and parallel to each other. Dewclaws may be removed from the front legs but it is imperatively removed from the back legs. The feet is cat-like and round. The skull is flat and the teeth is in a scissors or level bite.

Dynamics: The Belgian Shepherd Groenendael is a serious, smart, and obedient dog. It has strong protective and territorial instincts, which makes it a very good shepherd and guard dog. It can be shy or sensitive, and needs extensive socialization from puppyhood. The training should be patient and not harsh for the Groenendael has a tendency to be uncooperative if it feels heated upon.

Due to its protective instincts and loyalty, the Groenendael can become an excellent police and guard dog. But it can also be a very good pet. It is a loving companion and it is good with children if socialized with them.

The Groenendael is best when it has something to do. If left alone, it will find some ways to entertain itself. It has a lot of energy inside it and can be dominant at times. Extra care should be taken when introducing it with other dogs and non-canine pets. The breed tends to be dominant over them unless properly socialized.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: males 65-75 lbs (29-34 kg), females 60-70 lbs (27-32 kg)

Height: males 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), females 22-24 inches (55-61 cm)

Color: The Groenendael’s coat is black. Some may posses a little white on the chest, chin or toes.

Country of Origin: The Groenendael, or the Belgian Shepherd, got its name from a village in Belgium. It was bred by Nicholas Rose, by pairing a Petite and a Picard d’Uccle.

Activities: This working dog needs a lot of exercise and is used to an active outdoor life. It is also best for them to be free from a leash and kennel and in a safe area.

Grooming: Grooming the Groenendael requires daily combing and brushing because of its heavy outer coat and dense undercoat. Take special care when they are shedding. Clip hair to form the ruff and legs, toes, and outer ears. The Groenendael sheds twice a year with additional shedding throughout.

Other Info: The Groenendael has a life expectancy of 13-14 years. It hardly has any major health problems but it is prone to epilepsy,skin allergies,eye problems, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. It also has a tendency to be either excessively shy or excessively aggressive, and this is generally not a good thing for a Groenendael. Be careful not to overfeed this breed because it can become lazy and obese.

This breed will be okay in an apartment but it has to be sufficiently exercise and taken outdoors from time to time. It will sometimes want to sleep outdoors, though generally it wants to be with his family.

Presently, the Groenendael is being used in herding, as a watch and guard dog, in drug detection, search and rescue, and as a family companion.