Bucovina Shepherd Dog

The Bucovina Shepherd dog is a rustic and strong dog that was for many centuries considered among the best companions and partners for the shepherds of Romania. They were originally guard dogs used for the herds, to protect them against wild animals and thieves. These dogs show a great deal of kindness to children and are very calm and even tempered making them quite popular as house pets.

In appearance the Bucovina Shepherd dog has a slightly elevated head in comparison to the backline. The head is also considered to be massive in respect to the body of the dog. They have a skull that is wide to a moderate degree with a nicely developed black nose that is also quite wide. The muzzle is also developed well and is about the same in length as the skull. The muzzle is in the shape of a cone that seems truncated. They have strongly pigmented, nicely applied and thick lips. This breed of dog has a nice scissor bit with beautiful healthy and white teeth. Their cheeks are considerable less prominent.

The Bucovina Shepherd has almost almond shaped eyes that are small and slanting. They are seen in a slightly lighter than chestnut or chestnut color but never in the shade of yellow. This type of dog has ears shaped like v’s, with tips that are rounded that fall downward to the cheeks and are set high on the head. The neck is dewlap, strong, long and bulky. Their backs are nice and muscular, supporting their entire frame. Their chests are tall and wide reaching almost the elbow level with nicely arched ribs. The hair is short on the forelegs and head and they have gray and thick skin. They have an abundance of hair on their body with a lower layer of shorter, thicker and lighter colored hair. The hair forms almost a mane on the neck as the hair is long and thick. They have nice and bushy tail that is also fully covered with long strands of hair.

The coat is seen in black with brindle patches or sand colored and charcoal. This breed is also seen in solid colors of either white or black. The solids are not the preferred type for show dogs. The Bucovina Shepherd is a very calm affectionate and loving dog. They were originally bred to protect cattle and hence make stable and trustworthy watch dogs.

They have a balanced nature and are very affectionate towards children. These dogs are even tempered and devoted pets. They are more than happy to patrol outside the house and ensure the family remains safe. They have a ferocious bark that is indicative of on coming danger. They do not trust strangers and are combative in a bad situation. Since these dogs are large they are not suited for life in an apartment. They need lots of space to run around and play with their owners. They require regular exercise with a balanced diet.