Greek Shepherd Dog Breed

These dogs are meant only for experienced owners of this or related Molosser breeds. The Greek Shepherd is a guardian herding dog whose working capability is immense. They prefer a single master to whom they are loyal their entire life. They are not easy to train, and they are meant for rural settings where they can run relatively freely.

Here are some facts about these little known and somewhat rare dogs:

PROS

• Very strong
• Hard-working
• High stamina
• Very intelligent
• Superb guardian
• Calm personality
• Great herding dog
• Will bark a warning
• Extremely protective
• Tolerant of extreme cold
• No known health concerns
• Won't back down from any threat

CONS

• Very rare
• Dog-aggressive
• Extremely dominant
• Difficult to train
• Needs a lot of space
• Will attack if provoked
• Must be socialized early and constantly
• Not good in urban and suburban settings

The Greek Shepherd is a Molosser dog whose size, strength and endurance are highly valued in the Balkans region. They are extremely protective, very dominant and somewhat quick to aggression. These purebred dogs tend to be calm in nature until provoked, whereupon they can become quickly menacing.

The Greek Shepherd dog works best in pairs, and they work well without direct human contact. They are remarkably smart and know how to assess threats so as to not be distracted as well as to conserve energy for actual encounters. Their ability to manage large flocks while keeping the animals from danger keeps the breed sharp.

These dogs are highly dominant, and they are loyal to one person — and that person must be an alpha. Once the hierarchy is established, anything in their master's care become's the dog's responsibility and they will not back down from guarding it. They are always extremely suspicious of strangers and will remain aloof for a long time to new "friends."

These dogs can be very active for long periods of time, but they don't require as much exercise as you may imagine. They are as active as they need to be, whether it's watching the herd or corralling a straggler while fending off a predator at the same time.

The Greek Shepherd is one of those breeds that are remarkably healthy. They are also believed to work long, hard days with little to eat. They have no known genetic issues, but as there are so few of the dogs and they are not generally gathered under a kennel club, it may be difficult to fully understand their health profile. It may be that the most serious problem is work-related injuries

Still, big and giant dogs are prone to specific ailments, and this is a list of the most common issues:

• Bloat
• Arthritis
• Entropion
• Ectropion
• Cherry Eye
• Hip dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Elbow dysplasia
• Wobbler syndrome
• Dilated cardiomyopathy

The Greek Shepherd has a typical lifespan of 13 to 15 years.