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RUMANIAN SHEEPDOG |
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The flock guard
of Rumania was fostered in the Carpathian Mountains of eastern Rumania
and is closely related to the mountain dogs of Hungary, Czechoslovakia
and Poland.
Like his Greek
and Yugoslavian relatives, the Rumanian Sheepdog is noted for his surly
temper. The practice of attaching a log to the collar was also common
with these dogs, as a protection for passersby—and for the dogs themselves.
Not only did this keep him nearby, but it identified him as owned properly.
Dogs without the log and collar were often shot on sight!
Farther south,
near the Balkans, the Rumanian was larger, smoother coated and found in
many dark or even piebald colors. This variety was used for hauling and
carting as well as flock guarding. Most probably, their differences were
due to crosses with mastiff or pariah types found near the coast. In the
higher, isolated elevations the white mountain strains remained pure.
The usual
practice was to dock the last third of the tail. In excitement, the
shortened tail brush was held aloft like a feather duster.
These two
types were described by the cynol-ogist, Clifford Hubbard, in the 1940s,
but information since that time has been scarce, and none of these dogs
have found their way to the Western World. Like so many of these old
working breeds, they remained in use in remote areas. Today, the Rumanian
Kennel Club recognizes the types as two distinct breeds. They are still
used only by shepherds solely as working animals. Cynologists today
worry about the dilution that is occurring in these Rumanian dogs as
the number of purebred specimens dwindles. Rumanian dog lovers hope
others will join them in sufficient numbers to sponsor and promote these
native breeds.
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