East European Shepherd

East European Shepherd

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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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