The Greek Sheepdog or the Greek Shepherd is a very rare breed from Greece. It was used to protect and guard the sheep. It is believed that they were brought there by the Turkish travelers. It is also related to the great mountain breeds of Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania and Turkey.
The Greek Sheepdog is an imposing dog with a dominant appearance. This is a medium to large-sized dog with a powerful body. Its head is massive and powerful. The arched forehead and the dark, round eyes show another side of this dog the humble and obedient one. The muzzle is elongated and strong and the cheeks are wide. The nose is always black. The ears are floppy, but not very long. Its lips are loose and the neck is thick with a dewlap. The back is slightly arched and the trunk is proportional to the legs. The chest is massive and solid. The legs are muscular and quite long and give the impression of an immense stature. The tail is thick at the base and lovely furnished with fur that looks like the one of a squirrel. It has pretty long, double coat. The outer coat is dense, abundant and it can easily get tangled whereas the other one is soft. The colors of the coat may vary, but the most common ones are black, grayish-brown and white.
The females are smaller than the males. The males are 25 to 29 inches (65 to 75 cm) tall and weigh 84 to 110 pounds (38 to 50 kg), while the ladies are 23 to 25 inches (60-67 cm) tall and weigh 70-92 pounds (32-42 kg).
This dog is a watchful guardian that works very hard to protect the sheep or the goat, but it never gathers or directs them. Its job is only to pay close attention to the surroundings and to detect the enemies. This worker has an immense sense of duty and is always ready to fight and keep the flock safe. Even if it appears very humble and friendly, it is very tactful and carefully analyzes a stranger. It has the ability to judge before taking action. If it is trained from an early stage it becomes very sociable and friendly. However, it has some innate instincts that can make it difficult for the inexperienced owners. It needs a firm and powerful hand to lead it and who knows how to achieve pack leader status.
Greek Sheepdogs need a lot of space because they are active dogs that love to have a direct contact with nature. A farm or a large yard is appropriate for them. Also, make sure you have enough time to offer them the daily exercises otherwise they can become difficult to handle. They are great with older children, especially because they mature very slowly.
The grooming is moderate, but they must be brushed at least once a week because their coat tends to tangle easily. They are healthy in general and they live about 12 years.
All in all, the Greek Sheepdog is a confident dog that needs an owner who is as confident as it and has the possibility of offering it an active life.
