Karakachan Dog

The Karakachan Dog originated in Bulgaria and is currently one of the oldest species of dogs in all of Europe. It is named after the Balkan nomadic tribe which managed to preserve some of the oldest species of dog, horse and sheep by using extremely conservative breeding norms. The Karakachan Dog is also known as the Thracian Mollos and Bulgarian Shepherd Dog. The Karakachan Dog is the direct descendant of the dogs of the Thracians, who were the oldest inhabitants of the Balkan Peninsula, and started developing in the third millennium B.C.

The Karakachan dog is built to herd sheep in the mountains of Bulgaria and does a great job of it. It is fierce in its loyalty towards its owner and his herd and is willing to take on other dogs, wolves as well as bears to protect its master, his family and his stock.

The Karakachan Dog is a highly proportionate looking dog. It’s height at the withers is always in direct proportion to its length. The skull of the Karakachan dog is massive, large and broad. The muzzle is also quite massive and wide at the base. It tapers very slowly towards the nose and ends in a flat shape. The nose is also quite broad and majestic, with nostrils that are well pigmented and wide. In the case of lips of the Karakachan dog, they are both thick, and the upper lip falls over the lower lip. The Karakachan dog has extremely powerful jaws with 22 teeth in the lower jaw and 20 in the upper. The eyes of the Karakachan dog are small, but they are deeply set. They are typically dark, but their coloration is usually dependent on that of the coat. The eyes have an extremely intelligent, confident and firm look. The ears of the Karakachan dog are short and fitted close to the skull. They are set very low and are ‘V’ in shape. Their neck is extremely powerful, even though it is rather short.

The body of the Karakachan dog is extremely powerful. The upper body is completely horizontal and straight. The withers are extremely muscular and easily visible. Their back also has great musculature and is very broad and strong. Their tail is not very high set. The tail may be docked at birth. If the tail is allowed to grow, the hair on it tends to be rough as well as long. When the dog is inactive, the tail tends to hang loose, but when the dog is active or alert, the tail is curled over the back.

The coat of the Karakachan dog usually consists of two or three colors. Either they have white spots over dark background or vice versa. Karakachan dogs may be either long haired or short haired. They have a very heavy undercoat to protect them from cold and wet weather. The Karakachan dog seems to have springs in his feet and prefers moving at a trot. It also has an extremely long reach.