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These dogs are very similar in appearance to a
German Shepherd Dog and developed directly from the GSDs
brought to the Soviet Union in the 1920s. After over a quarter
century of selection, especially for animals to withstand the
Russian climate, the breed is distinctly different from the
Shepherd known in the West. Although at first centered in
Byelorussia and the far western provinces of the USSR, the
EESKC has thousands of members all over Russia today. It is
presently the leading breed in the USSR. Often dogs of this
breed have longer soft hair on the ears, neck, limbs and tail.
It is said that their Russian owners spin the cashmerelike
wooly undercoat for use in garments.
They are a tough, aggressive guard dog, a
favorite of the KGB. For Kremlin duty, the KGB insists on
solid blacks. If only one pup of another color is whelped, the
entire litter is destroyed, and the breeding is not repeated.
Private breeders, however, allow more latitude in color.
East-European shepherd is moderately long in format, above medium or large in size. With strong, but not coarse bone and with well developed dry, relief muscles. Sexual dimorphism is well expressed, dogs are larger and heavier than bitches. Head is proportional to body, massive, wedge-shaped. Forehead is slightly rounded. Stop is pronounced, but is not abrupt. The muzzle is equal in the length to the skull.
Lower jaw is well developed. Lips are tight, with good pigmentation. Nose is large, black. Scissors bite, teeth are large, in full complex (none is missing). Eyes are medium, oval, obliquely set, dark, with close fitting, well colored eyelids. Ears are medium in size, pricked, high set. Back is strong, wide and long. Loin is short, wide, well muscled, slightly arched. Croup is wide, long, slightly sloping. Chest is moderate wide. Belly is reasonably tucked up.
Tail is scimitar in form, is reaching hocks in length or slightly longer. Legs are straight and strong, with good angulations. Feet are oval, compact. Coat is medium in length with good developed undercoat. Colors: Saddled (background from gray to fawn, good mask on head), the saddle can be very saturated, so the dog can look close to black and tan. Black. Agouti (gray and red) is permitted but not desired.
Eyes may be brown, amber, blue or odd-eyed. Ears are long and
upright, and the paws are large with long toes, giving a
snowshoe appearance. Owners equate their temperament to that
of a Doberman Pinscher. The handful that are found in other
areas of the world have been smuggled out of East Germany. A
photo accompanying an article by Enid Bergstrom in the
February 1983 issue of Dog World showed them to be a bit
squarer in body and longer in muzzle than most modern German
Shepherds.
The East European Shepherd first made its appearance in the
USSR region of Byelorussia in the 1920's as a descendent of
the German Shepherd. Bred for sturdiness and resilience in the
harsh Russian climate, the East European Shepherd has now made
its mark among breeders in other countries.
The East European Shepherd is a large, stocky breed, weighing
in between 73 and 113 pounds and standing at 24-29 inches. A
relatively short coat of dense fur covers this playful,
intelligent breed, and protects it from cold winter climates.
Known as the favorite dog of the KGB, the East European
Shepherd carries a fierce loyalty and devotion to its master,
along with a tough aggressiveness that can make it an
extremely good watchdog.
Though social and generally mild-mannered, the East European
Shepherd may not be the right family pet for you if there are
small children in the home, unless the Shepherd has been
raised as a puppy within your family, because of its
aggressive manner and tendencies toward playful jumping. As a
large dog, this behavior could be potentially dangerous to
very small children, so care should be taken when selecting
this breed as a pet. Like other Shepherds, the East European
Shepherd requires exercise and plenty of attention from its
owners, and should not be kept indoors for long periods, as it
would become bored and listless, possibly even obese.
A small apartment setting would not be the ideal location for
this breed, as it needs room to wander, and its size could be
burdensome as well as dangerous to treasured objects it could
easily knock over. Also like other Shepherd breeds, the
puppies of the East European Shepherd breed are prone to a lot
of chewing.
A nylon bone is generally the best remedy for this problem,
but care should be taken to ensure that nothing, which could
be harmful to the puppy's stomach lining or digestive system,
could be ingested. Care should also be taken that no objects
of importance to you are lying about, as Shepherd puppies are
prone to chewing whatever they can get their paws on. The East
European Shepherd will live 10 to 14 years on average
depending on the quality of care.
The East European Shepherd carries the general appearance of a
German Shepherd, with a stockier build which is more square.
Their coat of fur, which is fairly short, smooth, and denser
than that the of the German Shepherd, allows it to survive
well in the harsh climates which exist in its native Russia.
The coat colors can be black and tan, black, or sable, but not
brindle or white.
The head is medium and broad between the ears, which are
pointed and the tip turns forward. The eyes are medium in size
and dark in color, usually brown or a dark mix of brown and
amber. The neck is powerful and curves down into a deep chest.
The back is straight and level, ending in a long, saber-shaped
tail which is carried close to the ground. The legs are strong
and muscular and end in paws with well-arched toes. The East
European Shepherd is a wonderful breed for those who seek the
strongest canine qualities in a pet and are willing to be as
playful and active as their dog.
The East European Shepherd should be bathed only when
necessary, as frequent bathing can dry out the skin, the coat
or both. Dry bathing may be a better option for this breed,
and products for doing this can be obtained in most pet
stores. Otherwise, grooming is minimal and can be kept as a
bonding experience between you and your loyal pet.
Obesity can be a problem in this breed if not monitored
closely. This can be avoided by never over-feeding the dog as
it will never turn down food that you give to it, and by
ensuring that your East European Shepherd gets plenty of
exercise. Fish, chicken and pork bones should never be given
to any dog, as they can cause damage to the intestines and the
stomach lining, if ingested.
The only inherent problem in the East European Shepherd is the
possibility of hip dysplasia, which is also common in other
Shepherds. Otherwise, with regular visits to the veterinarian
and proper immunization, the East European Shepherd stands as
a healthy breed and can live a long and happy life.
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