Romanian Bukovina Shepherd Dog

The Romanian Bukovina Shepherd Dog (Romanian: Ciobănesc de Bucovina, French: Chien de berger roumanin de Bucovine) is a native breed that was developed in the Carpathian region, specifically, in the North-East of Romania, in Bukovina province. It is also known as Bukovina Wolfdog, Bukovinac, dulău (meaning sheepdog) or capău. It was for centuries the best partner and companion for the Romanian shepherds in the Carpathian Mountains. Their original use was to guard and protect the herds against predators (wild animals or thieves). The Bukovina 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 have 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.


FCI-Standard (Excerpt)
Romanian Shepherd Dog of Bukovina

ORIGIN: Romania
UTILIZATION: shepherd dog for sheep and cattle herds, excellent guard dog.
CLASIFICATION F.C.I.: Grou II: Pinscher-Schnauzer, Molossoize, Swiss Cattle Dog and other breeds. Section 2.2 – Molossoize, mountain type.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The Shepherd Dog of Bucovina was selected from a natural breed of the Carpathian Mountains, in Bucovina, exactly in the North-East of Romania. This breed has been the subject of a special attention as far as selection and improvement is concerned, which led to the present type. In this region, dogs of this breed are used successfully as dogs to guard sheep flocks, cattle herds, and for properties. This dog is mostly known as "DULAU" or "CAPAU". The first standard was drafted in 1982 and revised in 2001 by the Romanian Cynological Association. The present standard, dated on 29.03.2002, was drafted and revised according to the F.C.I. model established in Jerusalem.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: large dog, towering, audacious and proud. Sexual dimorphism well emphasized.
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT: Calm, stable, very faithful and devoted to the owner, loves children. Wary of strangers. Excellent herd dog, very brave and efficiently fighter with possible animal prey (bear, wolf, lynx). He owns a very strong barking. When strangers, man or animal, approache its territory, he strongly barks, of a low tonality, which can be heard over very long distance. At nighttime, he patrols around the property or herds.
GAIT/MOVEMENT: equable and swing, powerful and effortless; seen from the front and back, legs move in straight line. Medium amplitude trot is preferred. Crossed or high moves should be penalized.
SKIN: thick, tight, dark-grey colored
HAIR: short on the head and anterior side of the limbs. On the body, the hair is abundant, harsh texture, from 6 to 9 cm long. Undercoat is shorter and denser, lighter colored. On the neck, hair is longer and crest shaped; on the posterior side of the legs, hair forms moderate size fringes. Tail is brushy, with a longer and thicker hair, well furnished.
COLOR:
• Classic colour : Well-defined spots of wolf-grey or black colour appear against a white background colour. On the limbs, spackles in black or other colours should be allowed.
• Uniform colours (without markings) white or black are allowed, but should not be followed.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height: male: 68-78 cm, ideal hight 71-75 cm; female: 64-72 cm, ideal hight 66-68 cm
Weight: in proportion to the size.

Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog

The shepherding was a main occupation since ancient times and up to the present, and the Romanian shepherds, in different areas, created different types of shepherd dogs, more or less spread in the country. The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog (Romanian: Ciobănesc Mioritic, French: Chien de berger roumain Mioritic) is an excellent watch dog for herds, farms, homes. He is a brave dog, but his attack is not "mad". He attacks his enemy by harassment, looking for the weak point - the result of centuries of fighting bears. Here we must mention that neither the Mioritic, and nor other dog breed in the world, can "attack the bear with equal chances" when speaking of a grown up, healthy bear of 200-300 kilos, not about a cub or an old and powerless individual. At a sheepfold the dogs are not supposed to kill anything or anybody, they are supposed to be vigilant, perceiving and brave to tackle with the predators, which they have to chase away as far as possible and make them give up ever again attack "their sheep". The name "Mioritic" came from "Mioriţa", a ballad about three shepherds considered to be representative for the Romanian people.


FCI-Standard N° 349 / 13.07.2005 / GB (Excerpt)
Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog

ORIGIN : Romania.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 06.07.2005.
UTILIZATION : Excellent herding dog, incorruptible guardian and marvellous companion.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs).
Section 1 Sheepdogs.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog was selected from a natural breed of the Carpathian mountains, the principle reason being utility. This breed has many fanciers in Romania because of its vigorous appearance. The standard was drafted by the Romanian Cynological Association in 1981. The Technical Commission of the R.C.A. adapted and revised the Standard on 29.03.2002 to conform to the F.C.I model established in Jerusalem.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : A large dog but never heavy; vigorous and spectacular. The coat is long and well furnished on the head, all of the body and the limbs. Males are taller and stronger than females.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : A calm and stable dog. A good herd dog, very courageous and efficient fighter against possible animals prey (bear, wolf, lynx). Wary of strangers. He likes children.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Harmonious, free, well coordinated, powerful and effortless. The trot is preferred. The gallop is sustained and balanced.
SKIN : Thick, tight fitting and well pigmented.
HAIR : The coat is abundant and the head and body, harsh texture, straight and minimum length of 10 cm. The undercoat is more dense and supple and of a lighter colour. On the limbs the coat is shorter. The tail is well furnished.
COLOUR :
Piebald : The ground colour must be white with well defined black or grey markings.
Solid colours : Solid white or solid grey.
SIZE AND WEIGHT :
Male : minimum 70 cm - ideal height 75 cm.
Female : minimum 65 cm - ideal height 70 cm.
Weight : In proportion to the size.

Romanian Carpathian Shepherd Dog

The Carpathian Shepherd Dog (Romanian: Ciobănesc Carpatin, French: Chien de berger roumain des Carpathes), is stout, solid, strong and due to its inward nature and temper is similar to a wolf.


Its eyes and attitude, in moments of fury, have something in common with those of a wild beast. But this can be explained because of its way of living, far away from the human society and always fighting with its enemies, the wild animals. Only the shepherd knew its docility, felt its blind devotion and courage. A tireless guardian and protector of the heard, it always show gratitude to its master. A tight connection has been established between master and his servant, a kind of relation that exists between those who live together, on the same fields, sharing both sufferance and happiness and facing the same dangers. The Carpathian Dog can love you for your kind words and affection shown to it but can also, full of anger, attack the enemy, who knows its courage and many times stands aside from its rage.


FCI-Standard N° 350 / 13.07.2005 (Excerpt)
Carpathian Shepherd Dog

ORIGIN : Romania.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 06.07.2005.
UTILIZATION : Herding dog used by Romanian shepherds in the Carpathian mountains for centuries to defend the herds while, at the same time, being an excellent guard dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs).
Section 1 Sheepdogs.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The Romanian Carpathian Shepherd Dog was selected from an endemic breed present in the Carpatho-Danubian area. For centuries the principle criteria for selection has been utilization, this dog having conserved its character intact to the present day. The first standard was written in 1934 by the National Institute of Zootechny. This standard was modified and updated in 1982, 1999 and 2001 by the Romanian Cynological Association. The Technical Committee of the R.C.A. adapted the standard on 30.03.2002 to conform to the model proposed by the F.C.I.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Relatively large-sized dog, agile, never heavy, the general appearance being that of a vigorous dog. The body is rectangular, the croup is broad, slightly sloping, the chest is large and deep, the shoulder long and slightly sloping. Sexual dimorphism is well defined, the males should be taller and stronger than the females.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : A natural guardian and courageous, he distinguishes himself by his instinctive and unconditional attachment to the herd and his master. He is a dignified, calm and stable dog.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Free, long-reaching movement. Vigorous and sustained trot. In action, the limbs are parallel.
SKIN : Ash grey pigmentation. The nose, the eye rims and the lips should be black. Ash grey or black preferred for the nails.
HAIR : The coat is harsh, dense and straight. The undercoat is dense and soft. With the exception of the head and the front part of the limbs where the coat is short and flat, the coat, of moderate length, is abundant all over the body. On the neck, the back of the limbs and the tail, the coat is longer - profuse coat on these parts being typical.
COLOR : Pale fawn overlaid with black (wolf-grey) of different tones, often lighter on lateral parts and darker on the upper part of the body. Pale fawn overlaid with black (wolf-grey) with white marks preferably non predominant.
SIZE AND WEIGHT :
Height at withers :
Male : Ideally 65 - 73 cm at the withers.
Female : Ideally 59 - 67 cm at the withers.
However the overall impression is always more important.
Weight : In harmony with the size, giving the impression of a powerful but not heavy dog.