East-European Shepherd

The East European Shepherd, also called Vostochno Evropeiskaya Ovcharka or VEO (Russian: Восточно-европейская овчарка or ВЕО) is a Russian breed of shepherd dog. It was selectively bred from the German Shepherd Dog to create a larger dog with better resistance to cold conditions, and was intended for military and guard work.[2][3][4]

East European Shepherd
Other names
  • Vostochno Evropeiskaya Ovcharka
  • VEO
  • Russian: Восточно-европейская овчарка
  • ВЕО
Origin
  • USSR
  • Russian Federation
  • Ukraine
Traits
Weight 34–48 kg (75–105 lb)
Height Male 67–72 cm (26–28 in)[1]
Female 62–67 cm (24–26 in)[1]
Kennel club standards
RKF standard
Dog (domestic dog)

History

In the 1920s a number of German Shepherds were imported from Germany into the Byelorussian SSR, where a breeding programme was established with the aim of adapting the breed to the harsher Soviet climatic conditions; over several decades of selective breeding, a distinctly different form of shepherd had been created from that known in the West.[2][3] While initially the breed was centred in Byelorussia, it soon spread throughout the Soviet Union, although the its fortunes suffered during the Great Patriotic War.[2][3] The East European Shepherd was used heavily by the military and police within the Soviet Union as a guard and sniffer dog. It was a favourite of the KGB, who only ever kept solid black examples; if a single non-black pup was born in a litter bred by the KGB the entire litter was destroyed and that breeding was not repeated.[2][3] The first standard which has formed the breed type of the East European Shepherd was approved in 1964 by the Cynological Council of the Ministry of Agriculture of the USSR. The East European Shepherd is now one of the most numerous dog breeds in Russia and several former Soviet countries.[3]

With effect from 1 January 2017 the Vostochno Evropeiskaya Ovcharka was recognised by the Nordic Kennel Union, and is thus recognised by the Danish Kennel Club, the Finnish Kennel Club, the Icelandic Kennel Club, the Norwegian Kennel Club and the Swedish Kennel Club.[5][6]

Characteristics

The East European Shepherd is significantly larger than western German Shepherd and it shows substantial sexual dimorphism: dogs typically stand 67 to 72 centimetres (26 to 28 in) at the withers although some can be as tall as 74 centimetres (29 in); bitches are typically 62 to 67 centimetres (24 to 26 in).[1][2] In colour the breed can be black and tan, solid black or sable, brindles or whites are rare, they have a medium-length dense coat with a well-developed undercoat, they often have longer soft hairs on their ears, neck, limbs and tail.[2][3] The eyes may be brown, amber or blue, odd coloured eyes are known; the ears are long and upright, and the paws are large with long toes, giving a snowshoe-like appearance.[3]

The breed is considered particularly intelligent, courageous, determined and tough, and owners often describe its temperament as similar to that of a Dobermann.[2][3]

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References
  1. Стандарт породы (in Russian). Национального Клуба Породы Восточноевропейская Овчарка = Natsional'nogo Kluba Porody Vostochnoyevropeyskaya Ovcharka. Accessed March 2020.
  2. Morris, Desmond (2001). Dogs:the ultimate guide to over 1,000 dog breeds. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square Publishing. pp. 446–447. ISBN 1-57076-219-8.
  3. Wilcox, Bonnie; Walkowicz, Chris (1995). Atlas of dog breeds of the world. Neptune City, N.J.: TFH Publications. p. 351.
  4. Немного истории породы ВЕО (in Russian). Национального Клуба Породы Восточноевропейская Овчарка = Natsional'nogo Kluba Porody Vostochnoyevropeyskaya Ovcharka. Accessed March 2020.
  5. [s.n.] (24 October 2016). NKU välkomnar tre nya hundraser (in Swedish). Svenska Kennelklubben. Archived 25 August 2018.
  6. Welcome to the Nordic Kennel Union!. Svenska Kennelklubben. Archived 3 March 2020.
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