Romanian Mioritic Shepherd - Facts and Information

Appearance
This is an athletic and spectacular giant dog breed with average height between 65-75 cm which is 26-30 inches and weight typically between 45-70 kg, which is 100-150 pounds. There are quite big size differences between the males and females.

The body should be slightly longer than tall and the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd has deep chest, long high set tail and very strong legs. Overall, they resemble the Old English Sheepdog quite a lot.

The most distinctive part of the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd is definitely its well furnished shaggy double coat. You can find this breed in three colors, solid white, piebald and solid grey. This dense and thick doublecoat is well suited for harsh mountain climate.


Temperament
As i said in the beginning of the video, this is a great worker, but also amazing family companion. Lets start with their working temperament side. The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd is extraordinary livestock protector, so they just have to be courageous, fearless and wary of strange animals or people. They would try to repel any intruder, it can be a thief, but also a wolf or a bear.

Just like most of the hard working breeds, this is an intelligent breed, that creates strong bond with its family. Which is a reasony why they are well suited for living as family companions. This breed also have very calm and stable temperament, they are never agressive towards its own people.

Because of their strong protective instinct and very big power this is not the best choice for novices or first time owners. They need good early socialization and firm and patient trainer. This is also independent and strong willed breed.

To be happy and healthy, the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd requires daily mental and physical stimulation. This is not totally hyperactive breed, but they are definitely not coach potatoes as well. Daily longer walks or hikes accompanied with some playtime or training sessions is needed.


Interesting fact
The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd has very descriptive name. It is a shepherd from Romania. And the word Mioritic? The word “mioara” in Romanian means “young sheep”.


History
The exact ancestry of the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd is rather unknown, but it is belived that they were developed from various large molossers dogs of the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. As you already know, their main purpose in the past was to be livestock protector, but they were also guarding farms and property.

The first breed standard was written by the Romanian Kennel club in the 1981 and the breed is currently recognized by the FCI and the UKC in the Sheepdog and Herding dog group.


Health and grooming
This is a fairly healthy breed with average lifespan between 12-14 years, which is very good for dog of this size. But just like all the giant dogs, they can suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia and other musculosceletal problems. They can also ocassionally suffer from gastric torsion.

If you want to keep the coat in top condition, than frequent brushing is needed to prevent matting. This is not an extremely heavy shedder, but they do shed, so regular brushing will also minimize the shedding. Just like with all dogs you should regularly check their eyes, ears and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed.