|
|
.Hellenikos Poimenikos
Puppies for Sale
Hellenikos Poimenikos
(Greek Sheepdog) (Greek Shepherd)
At a Dog Show at the Olympic Stadium of Athens 2000.
|
Find a Hellenikos Poimenikos Breeder
Place an Ad |
|
Rescue a Hellenikos Poimenikos
List Your Rescue |
|
Pronunciation |
- |
|
Description |
The
Greek Sheepdog is a medium to large size dog, with solid body and great physical
strength that is capable of escorting the flock and fight with the enemy
maintaining the physical superiority. Its head is massive with muzzle-skull. The
skull is normally curved, with obvious hyper eyebrow arches and
wide nearly as far as its length. The muzzle and cheeks are wide and
deep.
It has a scissors or plane bite and are covered by fat and slightly loose lips. Their
skin is thick and is covered by dense fur. Cropping the ears is not permitted
and dogs without ears cannot be shown. The brown eyes are of average size,
egg-shaped, placed symmetrical in parallel lines of the oblong axon of the
skull, far enough the one from the other. From the oblique side of the head
their position is a little under the muzzle level as it is imaginary extended
towards the skull. More dark tints are preferred. The eyelids must be tight
without revealing their mucus membrane. It has a serious penetrating, calm look
about him. The chest
must be wide and deep up to the height of the elbows. The thorax consists of arched ribs with medium curvature, that are extended
backwards enough and let enough space for the heart and the lungs.
The tail is thick at
the base. Some have long tails while others have short or no tails. The double
coat is dense and abundant. Coat colors include black,
grayish-brown and white.
The breed has never been bred for clolr, bur rather for a heavy skeleton,
good muscle, and a dense, semi-long to long coat.
|
|
Temperament |
This
flock guardian dog is NOT a breed for the average pet owner. Proud, and hard-working, it is a natural sheep and goat guard, but never gathers or directs them.
Working in pairs the dogs prefer to move at the sides of the flock, guarding
against wolves and other predators. An Independent, brave, decisive, loyal, working
dog, with a high sense of duty and strong protective instinct towards the animals
and its environment. Naturally wary, loyal only to the flock leader- shepherd. The
Greek Sheepdog's
dog can be characterized as the Big Mountain shepherd’s dog of Greese. The
Greek Sheepdog
is a flock guardian dog used to guard livestock. This breed had to be strong,
to be able to persecute during the fight with the enemy as well as to be able to
adapt rough conditions. It does not tolerate violent behavior. It is
extremely dominant and requires an owner with very strong leadership; one who
understands its flock guardian ways. When placed in a pack situation, this breed
will seek to be top dog by intense fights.
Suspicious but tactful in the presence of strangers, he doesn’t make friends
easily. They may appear calm, but are ready to protect at all costs at
anytime. When
protecting his flock he moves along the border, selecting places from where
he will be able to see a wide area. He’s aggressive towards the wild animals
and able to drive them back with his deep bark. If his deep bark does not drive
them away he will pursue the intruder and attack. Early socialization is vital
if the dog is to be a trustworthy companion. He can be trained and has a
tendency to judge a situation before taking any action. This breed is best
trained by an experienced handler who understands how to earn the dogs respect.
The objective in training this
dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates
under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. Because a dog communicates his displeasure with growling and eventually biting, all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. The humans must be the ones making the decisions, not the dogs. That is the only way your relationship with your dog can be a complete success. This breed should not be pushed to aggressiveness.
The
Greek Sheepdog
walks with a short trot.
During
walking the dog keeps the head low. This breed tends to mature slowly. Females
have many puppies and are good mothers. |
|
Height, Weight |
Height: Males 25-29 inches (65-75 cm.),
Females 23-26 inches (60-68 cm.)
Weight: Males 84-110 pounds (38-50 kg.), Females 70-92 pounds (32-42 kg.) |
|
Health Problems |
Usually in good health. |
|
Living Conditions |
This
breed needs acreage.
It’s a robust dog with good physique and a powerful muscular body. This
breed is capable of moving all day under difficult weather conditions, in
inaccessible areas and with minimum demands for food and facing the wild beasts
that threat the flocks by running after them and fighting them. |
|
Exercise |
Very
energetic and must have various activities to keep him busy. Boredom will lead
to destructive tendencies and excessive barking.
When they are not actively working as a flock guard they need to be taken on a daily
walk, where they are made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, never in front, as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. |
|
Life Expectancy |
About 12 years |
|
Grooming |
- |
|
Origin |
The
area known as the foothills, located in Greece, is heavily populated with sheep.
Centuries ago, migrators from Turkey likely brought their sheepdogs with them as
they traversed the land, and similarities between the Greek Sheepdog and
the Turkish Akbash Dog lead one to believe that such a derivation is probable.
Years of breeding with local and semi-local stock produced the breed. |
Group |
Flock Guardian |
|
Recognition |
KCG, APRI, DRA |
|
KCG = Kennel Club of
Greece
APRI = American Pet Registry
Inc.
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.
|
Alkmini, the Hellenikos Poimenikos (Greek Sheepdog).
Leon, the Hellenikos Poimenikos (Greek Sheepdog).
.
Yperion, the Greek Sheepdog.
Molossian /mountain type.
The Greek Sheepdog is a breed under recovery As you
can
tell by looking at this photo, there are a couple of the different types /
breeds. White-black dog sitting in the front is the mother Kali at 2
½ years old, other dogs from right to left
are a female named Chiona (Snowwhite) and two males named Megas (Big) and
Spithas (Spark).
.
At a Dog Show at the Olympic Stadium of Athens 2000.
.
At a Dog Show at the Olympic Stadium of Athens 2000.
.
At a Dog Show at the Olympic Stadium of Athens 2000.
.
| Thanks to Phil Taormina and Cory
Leed for providing Dog Breed Info with these photos. |
|
|
