The ideal representative of the East European Shepherd breed or the desired breed type!

We are all not perfect, but all our lives we strive for something better – a dream, an ideal, and we find it.

When choosing a puppy, we also give preference to those dogs that, in our opinion, can give birth to a puppy that will become an ideal dog in future. Experts are also guided by their personal ideal when examining dogs in the rings and choosing the best representative of the breed, as well as breeders who dream of getting their ideal dog, also strive for something, let’s try to find out what.

Therefore, we asked some experts and breeders from Russia, the country of origin of this breed, what is an ideal East European Shepherd Dog, a dog of the desired type, which can be presented as a breed standard.

The question was:

“Please name the dog that, in your opinion, is as close as possible to being called the “ideal representative of the breed”.”

Drozdova Irina Alexandrovna (RKF Expert)

“I still think the closest to an ideal East European Shepherd males are – Boy ow.  Bormatov (pictured) and Uran ow.  Ponomarev.

This breed are late maturing dogs, able to work until old age, maintaining a strong top line, correct productive movements.

The East European Shepherd Dog is a tall, “rectangular” dog. The functionality of the exterior of the Shepherd lies in moderation. The standard states: moderately stretched format, with moderate angulation, with a moderately extended set of hind limbs, it is the structure that is appropriate for a service breed dog. The head is wedge-shaped, without coarseness and dampness, with a flat skull and high-set, pointed ears. The look should be tenacious and confident. The dog should be balanced, have a good temperament, but without too much fuss. For 60 years, these dogs have been bred as defenders, guards which are in close contact with humans. The unique ability of East European Shepherd is to work independently without human support in extreme situations.

Elena Malinina, head of the kennel “Legenda Rus” (Cherepovets), breeder with 20 years of experience

In my opinion, the dog “Legenda Rus Dan” can be called the closest to the ideal dog, because he is of a classic exterior, large (72 -73 cm), head of correct lines and proportions, with dark eyes.

Highly set, very beautifully shaped ears, while a coat is light, he has excellent pigmentation, black nose, black lip liner, black paw pads.

Strong top line, ideal structure of fore and hind limbs, good length and ideal slope of the croup.

Perfectly balanced, has free, sweeping movements, with a strong nervous system and excellent working qualities. He is in the type of his mother Bert Tsarina Ost, one of the best bitches in Cherepovets, he is a prepotent, improver male.

Smirnova Irina Aronovna – judge-expert, head of the kennel “Monsher Virsal”.

If we talk about modern dogs, then in my opinion this is Monsher Virsal Gordost.

This is a young beautiful dog, recently entered the Intermedia age class, of good type, with a very beautiful pedigree head, elegant black-backed color with silvery tan, large, (height 66-67cm) strong boned, without dampness, and not to massive, she has a strong top line, good volume, with a long croup, good limb length with correct angles, beautiful sweeping movements. This is a dog of the preferred breed type.

Gerasimova Galina Alexandrovna – Vice President of the 1st convocation of the Presidium of the National club, member of the breeding commission of the National club

To imagine a dog closest to the ideal, you need to remember a dog named Chayvor-Joy, date of birth – 1983. Today, the living descendant of this male is VIVAT Bagrat Laigun.

Chayvor-Joy is a dog of a strong dry type of constitution, about 72 cm tall at the withers, in my opinion the ideal height for a Shepherd male (70-72 cm).

In the photo we see a tall, strong dog with a strong top with a long fairly wide chest of the correct oval shape, which will provide more space for a large lung capacity, which is important for a working dog. Regarding the structure of the limbs – the angulation of the East European Shepherd should not be exaggerated, desirable are moderately set back hind limbs, in fact, what we see in Chayvor-Joy.

Initially, the East European Shepherd Standard was written in order to to demonstrate a model animal capable of working in all natural and climatic zones of the USSR, the requirements for the exterior were tightened and much attention was paid to the type of constitution (a strong and sturdy dry type of constitution was always preferable), namely, the strength of the addition and dryness of the muscles.

At the moment, due to the coarse type of constitution that flourishes in the breed, dogs become less functional.

After all, functionality is the key!

Ivanova Tatyana Mikhailovna – International expert RKF-FCI, received the title of judge in 1965. A service dog expert – a specialist in working breeds of dogs.

This is my photo, taken in Moscow after the ring, on it is a dog named Lori, date of birth 05/30/1965. At the All-Union Dog Show in 1967, she was exhibited in the middle class, this ring was judged by an expert of the All-Union category Stepanov E., Lori took 1st place. And the same day, after the ring, she died, she was hit by a car…

Arefieva Tatyana Aleksandrovna, expert of RKF-FCI, President of National Club of East European Shepherd in 2005.

Short answer: “About the type I prefer, you can draw a conclusion, having familiarized yourself with the results of the monobreed show, which I judged in Tver on 03.08.2013.”

After reviewing the results, I will present to the readers the Best of Breed of this show – Logerfold Fram.

Lyubov Nikolaevna Tarasova Head of the “Lyutar” kennel.

Our kennel breeds dogs in which we have retained the East European Shepherd type. Type is something that is very easy to lose if you do not pay attention to what and how you breed.  When the kennel began its activity, interbreeding began to be applied to ideal purebred East European Shepherd using the blood of German shepherds. Now these dogs make up the main livestock of the breed in the country. Ideal dogs do not exist, but one must strive for the ideal.
The East European Shepherd Dog is a harmonious, physically developed and beautiful dog, with an intellectual expression of the eyes, balanced and having an adequate nervous system according to the requirements of the breed.

Power, strength, temperament is an indicator of physical and mental health.

Lutar Patriciy – has the main advantages that bring him closer to the ideal of the breed. These are the working qualities of the dog (diplomas of OKD (general obedience)-ZKS(guard dog trials)-1 degree), excellent exterior and, of course, harmony.

Large, pedigree head, dark eye pigment, sturdy ears.  Stretched, “rectangular” format, voluminous and deep chest. The body is of sufficient length, short loin, good angulation of the limbs. Movements are given special importance – a free sweeping trot. And the classic color is black-and-gray.

Of course, I wanted to get more opinions, but at the moment the situation in the breed is ambiguous, and the dogs are very different, especially in the Ukrainian rings, so I can assume that many to whom I addressed my question considered it provocative, so they refrained from answering my questions.

But still, looking at the above dogs, you can get your impression of what the East European Shepherd used to be and what it should be in our days.

Summing up, I would like to say that our favorite breed is now on the way of being recognized, the National Club of the East European Shepherd Dog Breed has written and approved new standard that clearly illustrates one of the cultivated intrabreed types (which is characterized by roughness and dampness of build, allowing white spots not only on the chest but also on the paws), but whether it is desirable and preferable, because many do not agree with it, even the President of the National club Nikolai Sedykh says that the livestock is generally uneven. So let’s take a look at the best!

ZOO BUSINESS JOURNAL
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3

ABOUT DOGS JOURNAL
Link 1
Link 2

Generally considered dogkind’s finest all-purpose worker, the East European Shepherd is a large, agile, muscular dog of noble character and high intelligence. Loyal, confident, courageous, and steady, the East European Shepherd is truly a dog lover’s delight. East European Shepherd Dogs can stand as high as 26 inches at the shoulder and, when viewed in outline, presents a picture of smooth, graceful curves rather than angles. The natural gait is a free-and-easy trot, but they can turn it up a notch or two and reach great speeds. Experts say their defining attribute is character: loyalty, courage, confidence, the ability to learn commands for many tasks, and the willingness to put their life on the line in defense of loved ones. East European Shepherd will be gentle family pets and steadfast guardians, but there’s a ‘certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships.

What To Expect When Caring For a East European Shepherd Dog
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Most East European Shepherd are healthy dogs. A responsible breeder will screen breeding stock for health conditions such as degenerative myelopathy and elbow and hip dysplasia. East European Shepherd Dogs can experience bloat, a sudden and life-threatening swelling of the abdomen, and owners should educate themselves about its symptoms and what to do should bloat occur.

The East European Shepherd Dog has a medium-length, double coat consisting of a dense, harsh, and close-lying outer coat with a softer undercoat. The breed is easy to maintain, usually requiring just a quick brushing every few days or so to help remove loose hairs, but they do shed more profusely once or twice a year. During these periods, more frequent brushing will help control the amount of hair that ends up around the house and on the furniture. The East European Shepherd only needs an occasional bath. It is important to trim or grind his nails every month if they are not worn down naturally, as overly long nails can cause pain and structural issues.

As a very active and athletic breed, the East European Shepherd requires lots of exercise for his physical and mental well-being. A dog who is not exercised enough will become frustrated and likely to develop undesirable behaviors. With a puppy, you can start with short daily walks, as well as play sessions in a safely fenced area. Remember to not let the dog off leash, as even the best-trained dog can become distracted and not follow every command. Participating in canine activities such as agility, herding, tracking, and dock diving provides excellent physical and mental exercise and is fun and rewarding for both dog and owner.

Early socialization and puppy training classes are vital, and continuing obedience training will help ensure that the pup will grow to be an adaptable and well-mannered adult. The East European Shepherd is a highly intelligent companion and an extraordinary worker. Consistency and positive, reward-based training will yield excellent results. He is extremely bonded to his people, so he is happiest when he lives with his family. He should be raised in the household and exposed to the family’s activities.

A high-quality dog food appropriate for the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior) will have all the nutrients the breed needs. Table scraps can cause digestive upset, so only give them sparingly, if at all, especially avoiding cooked bones and foods with high fat content. Small pieces of biscuit or the dog’s kibble can be used as treats for training. If you are feeding a high-quality food, vitamin and mineral supplements should not be necessary, although adding small quantities of yogurt, cooked vegetables, or eggs to the food can be beneficial. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.