Mioritic Sheepdog vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Mioritic Sheepdog vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed ComparisonMioritic Sheepdog is originated from Romania but Bulgarian Shepherd is originated from Bulgaria. Both Mioritic Sheepdog and Bulgarian Shepherd are of same height. Both Mioritic Sheepdog and Bulgarian Shepherd are having almost same weight. Mioritic Sheepdog may live 43 years less than Bulgarian Shepherd. Both Mioritic Sheepdog and Bulgarian Shepherd has almost same litter size. Both Mioritic Sheepdog and Bulgarian Shepherd requires Moderate maintenance.

History

mioritic sheepdog - historyThis is a large dog coming from the Carpathian mountain area of Romania.

He has always been an excellent working dog, guarding and protecting sheep. Farmers always kept these dogs as working dogs, with no written records being kept about the development of the breed.

The breed is ancient, possibly dating back to ancient Roman times. It was in the 20th century that interest in the breed was ignited, and in 1981 the first official breed standard was recorded. The breed was also registered with the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 2005.

bulgarian shepherd - historyThe Bulgarian Shepard Dog comes from the ancient line of Molossers of Central Asia and Tibet, and the shepherds of the Balkans, Turkey and Caucasus. Among the oldest and most valued of the working dogs of Europe, the Bulgarian Shepherd breed was created by mixing the Balkan breeds with the dogs from Central Asia by the proto-Bulgarians around the 7th century. The Karakachanskoto Kuche was introduced to Bulgaria and accepted by the sheep herders. Mixing this breed in with the Balkan and Central Asian mix developed the Bulgarian Shepherd we know today. In the long run the original Karakachanskoto Kuche became extinct, replaced entirely by the Bulgarian Shepherd even in places where the new breed is still called by the Kuche name. Although the breeds are not the same, most of the dog world does not know the difference.

In Bulgaria however the Karakachan is a national treasure and the history of the breed runs deep. One Kuche could run up to 1200 animals and hundreds were used by the herdsmen in the mountains of Bulgaria. There were many regional types of Bulgarian Shepherds with very little difference between those types. These dogs were so prized by the shepherds that the dogs ate first before the people. The dogs however ate a vegetarian diet of milk, wheat, water and oats. The Bulgarian Shepherd lives a long life of often over 20 years. The Bulgarian Army made good use of these dogs early in the 20th century.

Following World War II, the wolves were close to extinction and property in Bulgaria was nationalized. There was no longer a need for a large force of working dogs. The Communist government exterminated large numbers of sheep dogs including the Bulgarian Shepherd. Only those species on government owned farms and in remote regions survived. When the government farms were disbanded in the early 20th century, these dogs were exterminated as well. Only those in the mountains survived. Commercial breeding of the Bulgarian Shepherd in the end of the century has resulted in controversy as other breeds came into the breeding program.

Use of breeds such as Sarplaninacs, Caucasian Ovcharkas, St. Bernards, Central Asian Ovcharkas and Bosnian Tornjaks in these programs resulted in Bulgarian Shepherd or Karakachans that were a lot different from the original breed. There is therefore some concern about the future of the breed in Bulgaria, yet they received official Bulgarian national recognition in 2000. Today’s Bulgarian Shepherd is a guard dog for both property and livestock.

The official standard for the breed came about in 1991 and in 2005 it was recognized by the Bulgarian State Commission for Animal Breeds. Only those dogs that meet this standard are considered “true” Karakachans. The Bulgarian Shepherds are willing to fight bears and wolves in defense of its family and flock. The dog is brave and loyal, dignified and powerful. They are recognized by both the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA) and the Bulgarian Republican Federation of Cynology (BRFC) a member of the FCI.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Working dog
Origin:
Romania
Bulgaria
Height Male:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
63 - 72 cm
24 - 29 inches
Weight Male:
50 - 60 kg
110 - 133 pounds
45 - 57 kg
99 - 126 pounds
Weight Female:
50 - 60 kg
110 - 133 pounds
40 - 52 kg
88 - 115 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
45 - 57 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 9
5 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Mioritic Shepherd Dog
Karakachan Shepherd Dog, Karakachan
Colors Available:
cream or pale gray, White
BlackWhiteTricolor
Coat:
Long hair, double coat
Single
Shedding:
Moderate, Constant
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

mioritic sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe Mioritic Sheepdog looks very much like the Old English Sheepdog with his huge body covered with long hair.

His head is also large with a black nose and smallish to medium length floppy ears. The color of the double coat is usually white, cream or pale gray, and sometimes you will find patches of these colors.

The tail has always been traditionally docked, otherwise the tail is left long with a slight curl at the end. The height of the dog is 65 to 75cm and he weighs roughly 50–60kg. Below the thick coat is a muscular dog with strong, straight legs which can help him become quite agile and speedy when needed. Allowed to breed, they can produce anything from 3 to 9 of the most adorable looking puppies.

Temperament:

The Mioritic Sheepdog is a balanced dog, loving to be with his owners but being wary of strangers. He is a brave dog, willing to guard his human family with his life.

He is also a strong-willed and dominant so it will be to his benefit to be trained and socialized so that he becomes obedient and easy to have around.Training won’t be difficult as he is an intelligent breed and already naturally obedient.

He is an energetic dog too so he will need to have regular exercise and games. He therefore gets on well with children in the home, loving to join in with all their games. He will need to be supervised around small children just because of his cumbersome, large size.

bulgarian shepherd puppy - descriptionA massive, powerful and muscular Molosser, the Bulgarian Shepherd is strong, agile, powerful and fast. They are intelligent and reliable. They have a long, thick, harsh coat in white with patches of black. Their skull is massive and broad with a furrowed forehead. The muzzle is massive as well while the nose has wide nostrils and is fairly large. It has close fitting, thick lips with strong, scissor bite jaws. The Bulgarian Shepherd’s eyes are deep, oblique and small. They are either hazel or dark. They have an intelligent and confident, yet firm almost grim expression.

Their ears are low set, small and v-shaped. They sit close to the head which sits on a powerful but short neck. They have a broad back, well-muscled body with a deep chest and long, rough tail. Their gait is a trot with a spring in their step. There are two types of coats – longhaired and shorthaired with no undercoats.

Characteristics

mioritic sheepdog dog - characteristicsThe Mioritic Shepherd has always been used to guard and protect livestock, but even though he has always taken this role seriously, he is calm and loving around his human family, making a splendid family pet.

He also plays the role of guardian and protector of his human family seriously. He is a big strong dog and training and socialization will become necessary as he can become aggressive with certain people who he doesn’t trust.

Inviting one of these dogs into your home will ensure having a constant and loving companion at your side.

bulgarian shepherd dog - characteristicsThis is a working dog, intelligent and independent guard dog. Reserved around strangers but loyal and devoted with his family. Tolerant of children in their family if they were raised with them. Not only will she defend human family members, she will guard and defend household pets as well. He is quite capable of making her own independent decisions. These are very intense guard dogs that will respond aggressively if they think their people are being attacked.

Health Problems

mioritic sheepdog puppies - health problemsThe Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog is a truly hardy dog breed and with good care such as good food and exercise can reach 14 years of age.

There are always some common dog illnesses to look out for and because he is a large dog, hip dysplasia can be a problem.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a disease where there is abnormal growth of the hip joints. Smooth movement of the joint is hindered and this leads to inflammation and pain.

At first you may find your dog limping and then you may find that after lying down, he battles to get up again. The joint becomes thickened with less mobility and the dog is reluctant to play like he used to. He will certainly need to get to the vet for treatments to make him more comfortable.

bulgarian shepherd puppies - health problemsThe breed itself is known to be healthy but they do face some of the usual health issues of the massive, giant breeds. This includes knee and elbow dislocation; hip dysplasia; bloat; entropion and osteosarcoma. All of these conditions require medical intervention, but bloat and osteosarcoma are the deadliest. Bloat needs immediate attention and osteosarcoma is a deadly bone cancer.

Caring The Pet

mioritic sheepdog dogs - caringThe Mioritic Sheepdog’s long hair is coarse and will need to be regularly brushed to keep it free of tangles. It will certainly need to be brushed 2 or 3 times a week, while some owners of this dog will prefer to have the coat professionally clipped. Because of the long hair, while brushing him it is an excellent time to check for ticks and fleas.

Diet:

The food you give your pet plays such a critical role in his health and longevity. Always make sure that you’re giving your pet an uncomplicated diet to avoid stomach upsets.

Give him the best commercially manufactured kibble. To provide him with some variety, add in some boiled chicken, cooked vegetables such as potato, carrots and spinach to his kibble from time to time. He will also benefit greatly from having some raw meat added into the kibble occasionally.

Learn to know which human foods are totally toxic to him and avoid these. Make sure he is never without cool, fresh water.

Feeding

bulgarian shepherd dogs - caringThese are large dogs with large appetites, but you want to keep them lean and active. Feed them at least twice a day with a high quality large or giant dog dry food. Four to five cups of food per day is the maximum.

Health issues

Patellar Luxation – a floating kneecap or dislocated knee. Will cause lameness.

Bloat - distended or twisted stomach. Can cause death.

Osteosarcoma – bone cancer must be treated immediately as it is potentially fatal.

Entropion – eye issues when the eyelid turns inward and damages the eye.

Hip Dysplasia – May cause lameness and arthritis.

Exercise and games

The Bulgarian Shepherd needs a good amount of exercise every day. Remember this is a working breed and they need a job. Long walks every day are essential for his well-being.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Old English Sheepdog vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  2. Rough Collie vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  3. Saarlooswolfhond vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  4. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  5. South Russian Ovcharka vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  6. Mioritic Sheepdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  7. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  9. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  10. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  11. Mioritic Sheepdog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  12. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  13. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Huntaway - Breed Comparison
  14. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Breed Comparison
  15. Samoyed vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  16. Mixed vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  17. Presa Canario vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  18. Perro de Presa Canario vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  19. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  20. Saluki vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  21. Mountain Cur vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  22. Rajapalayam vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  23. Schnauzerdor vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  24. Samoyed vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. Great Pyrenees vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  26. Presa Canario vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. Labrador Husky vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Argentine Dogo vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Giant Schnauzer vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  30. Goldador vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  31. Dogo Cubano vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  32. Dogo Sardesco vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Central Asian Shepherd vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. Mackenzie River Husky vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  35. German Longhaired Pointer vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  36. Pyredoodle vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  37. Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  38. Lurcher vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  39. Maremma Sheepdog vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  40. Sarplaninac vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  41. Himalayan Mastiff vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  42. Mountain View Cur vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  43. Central Anatolian Shepherd vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Native American Indian Dog vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  45. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  46. Greenland Dog vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  47. Komondor vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  48. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds