[avietar]

I'm curious. Do you recognize this scenario:

You're talking about a dog breed you're really enthusiastic about and people just look at you like: Where on earth do you get this stuff from?

So I've noticed I like breeds most people have never heard about, or maybe they've heard the name but know next to nothing about the breed at all.

So, I'd like to invite you all to pick a (couple of) breeds you know, but most other people don't know. Also put down some lines, saying what kind of dog it is, main charicteristics, temperament, original function... whatever you think would be interesting for other people to know.

Main goal: to learn more about rare/uncommon breeds!

I'll go first!

Mastin de los Pirineos
Aliases: Mastín del Pirineo, Mostín d'Aragon, Pyrenean Mastiff
Use: Guard dog, livestock protection dog, companion dog
The Mastin de los Pirineos is closely related to the Great Pyrenees from France and the Spanish Mastín Español. In fact, the Great Pyrenees and the Mastin de los Pirineos used to be one and the same, but somewhere down the line the French decided to give their dogs a more 'refined' look to them, while the Spaniards kept their dogs more robust, more like their other native livestock protection dog, the Mastín Español.
The Mastin de los Pirineos is a calm, friendly and intelligent dog. He can tell the difference from 'the good' and 'the bad' people. He is gets along well with other dogs, pets and people in general. He is brave, very strong, and will not hesitate to protect you from danger.
His bark is very deep, like that of a Saint Bernard. And like the Saint Bernard, he also has a tendency to drool, though not as much as the Saint, and males tend to drool more than females.
Also, they get big. And when I say big, I actually mean huge.
Height males: minimum is 77 cm (30 in) with 81 cm (32 in) being the ideal height.
Height females: minimum is 72 cm (28 in) with 75 cm (30 in) being the ideal height.
For both males and females there is no maximum height. They weigh between 70 - 80 kg (154 - 176 lbs)

Mastín de los Pirineos within the herd

I wonder what breeds you lot will come up with!

 

[Zeroni]

I've got one.
The Akbash. My aunt owned 2 of these and nobody knew what they were!
It's a native of Turkey and is primarily used as a livestock guard dog. It is rather large & most people mistake them for a Great Pyrenees, however the Akbash is quite leaner and taller. They have medium to long coats and are always white.

As for temperament, they are generally calm and alert, not shy but not aggressive (however it can be quite suspicious of strangers). It's bred to be powerful against predators (coyotes in particular) but gentle with young lambs & geese. It is NOT a herding dog and though seems rather lazy has indredible endurance and loves to roam (NOT a town dog). It is rarely ever a companion dog and does no excell well in obedience classes as they think more independantly than most dogs and will ignore you if they dont want to listen. They were also bred not to chase their charges, so they don't take to fetch very willingly.

 

[Zylca]

Noah is actually Akbash/Pyr mix. It's always easier to just say he's a Pyr. Only once did someone ask me if he was Akbash. That was only due to the fact the man actually had one back in Turkey.

 

[natenqen]

Flat Coated Retriever

This beauty is named Eltjo of the Black Nature (tjoke)

My vet doesn't even know about flat-coated retreivers. I can tell you now, that this breed may not be rare in the lower 48 states or countries, but here in the rural part of alaska, they are very rare and most would call them a black retriever or a chocholate retriever. (I'm talking about golden here not the labs just fyi.)

Flat-Coated Retrievers are well built, medium sized dogs. They are black or liver in color.
They are bright, active, confident and kind dogs.

From reading the AKC, it says that the flat-coats were ancestors of the Retriever Proper. A cross-breed emerging from the large newfoundland, setter, sheepdog and spaniel-like water dogs. They were retreivers invalable to fishermen and often traded between Britain and nort america where they became known as the wavy-coated(subsequently flat-coated) retreiver appeared and became distinct to these Labrador dogs.

One calls them hunting dogs another calls em gun dogs soo... if they were used by fishermen back in the day they were discovered, wouldnt' they become fisher dogs? Anyways. There is more, but I figured since you said some Main points I'll leave it at that.

(Though I have to admit, I didn't do too much reading.)

 

[avietar]

Super responses!

Flatcoats aren't common here in Holland, but there are more Flatcoats here than there are Akbash. I believe the total of Akbash Dogs in the Netherlands is.... zero.
Interesting bits of information have been given. I already knew 'Akbash' was the Turkish word for 'white head', like 'Karabash' means 'black head', but not a lot more. There are Kangals and Anatolian Shepherds over here though, but not their white cousins... Too bad, I'd like to see them in real life.
And yeah, I knew the Flatcoat as a gundog, but didn't know anything about their history. Valid point there, about the fisher's dog. Wait, isn't there such a thing... um, let's see... Water dog! It's a type of Gun dog, so I guess problem solved?

I've got another one

Cão da Serra da Estrela

Aliases: Estrela Mountain Dog
This is a Portuguese breed. Portugal has three livestock protection dog breeds: the Rafeiro do Alentejo (Alentejo Mastiff) in the south, the Cão de Castro Laboreiro (Portuguese Cattle dog) in the north and the Cão da Serra da Estrela in central Portugal. Though all of these three breeds are rare, the Estrela is the most popular, also outside of its homeland.
Literally translated this dog's name means: dog of the Estrela Mountains. This breed is likely to be one of the oldest breeds of the Iberian Peninsula and is related to the Spanish Mastin Español (Spanish Mastiff)

The Estrela can come in both shorthaired and longhaired versions, both have a thick, double layered coat. The shorthair Estrela is very rare, even in its country of origin, enjoying far less popularity than the longhair Estrela. It's color can be brindle, fawn, red or grey and it has a black mask that may or may not extend over the ears, neck and chest.

This dog is one of the most reliable guard dogs out there. He is really calm and friendly with his own people, and good with other family pets and cattle if raised with them, but naturally distrustful of strangers and will defend what is 'his' if he thinks it necessary. He is also quite a noisy watchdog. There is this saying:

A Labrador retrieves, and an Estrela barks. :rockon:

 

[CallistoKaida]

Caucasian Ovcharka.

I will just link their wikipedia, as I don't like to copy and paste.
Caucasian Shepherd Dog - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They're super rare in the states as there are only a handful of breeders.

 

[avietar]

They're super rare in the states as there are only a handful of breeders.

Woah, Caucasian Ovcharka! Originally one of my fav breeds, but I don't think I'd be able to handle their temper. Their numbers are rising where I live, unfortunately. Because really, most people don't know what they're taking into their home... A shame, really. Thank goodness shelters are being honest about their character and request experienced owners for them.
Worst thing I saw recently: a nearby puppymill selling these dogs How dare they. I mean, it's bad enough they're able to sell puppies at all, but a breed of this caliber?

 

[natenqen]

I want to do another one. This one has been inspired to me by an elder gentlemen who used to have em to help guard and protect his sheep in the mountains.

Sarplaninac.

These dogs are amazing to me, but even with my experience in dogs, I think I would need tons of classes. Or better yet, marry an albanian... ha ha ha ha.. Just joking.

Other names as they are referred too.
Illyrian sheepdog, Yugoslav Shepherd, Sharr Mountain Dog, and Ovcarski Pas Srbije/Crne Gore... there are more.

Black, tan, white, and gray are their usual colors and can be solid or a blend of each is acceptable. They are not registered with any kennels threw AKC.

Sarplaninac History
The Sarplaninac originated in Macedonia where they worked with as a shepherd dog inside Shar Planina mountain range. In fact, the dog is named after those people mountains. In 1930, the Sarplaninac was recognized as a breed and is a single of only two puppies who have gained such recognition through the Yugoslavian Kennel Club. although not as common as it once was even in its home country, this breed has been brought to North America to protect herds from coyotes and has been raised for military uses as well.

Illyrian Temperament.
described as independent, reliable, protective but not snappy, incorruptible and devoted to its master, aloof with outsiders, and calm right up until a threat to the flock presents itself. an extremely protective nature. and when no flock is around, they protect and herd people. They are serene and majestic, gentle with youngsters and smaller dogs. They are also highly intelligent and bred to work without human supervision while guarding the flocks inside high pastures. young pups can kill small animals right up until educated to not hunt.

Well, like their mountain dog cousins, they are fairly serious and protective guard dog. Calm and gentle with family, but when it sense danger, it will bravely protect them without fear of itself. I was also told by the elder gentlemen I often talk to, he said that anything within the Illyrian's territory it will guard and protect. Other family pets including other dogs.

So there it is. I would love to own one, but I think it would not be the right breed for me. ^_^

 

[avietar]

So there it is. I would love to own one, but I think it would not be the right breed for me. ^_^

Ditto. There's only one kennel of Sarplaninec 'nearby' me (400 km away) and the owner has amazing stories on his kennel's website. Amazing dogs, but not for me either. I think the Mastin de los Pirineos (the first dog in this topic) would be more for me, also a flock guard, but calmer and friendlier by nature than the Sarpla or Caucasian, Estrela, or most of the other livestock protection dogs.

A quick other one:

Kraski Ovcar, also known as the Karst Shepherd.
A rare, Slovenian breed that serves as a guard dog, livestock protection dog and family companion. Its temperament is somewhat similar to the Sarplaninac. Even if socialised thoroughly, it may still have issues with other (unfamiliar) dogs. It won't obey commands like a GSD would do and only obey when they feel it's useful. It's very tolerant with 'his own' family.
These dogs are known for their ability to remember. If someone treats them bad, punishes them unrightfully of disrespectfully, it will always remember--and may possibly lead to dangerous situations. Even if the person that doesn't treat him right is his owner, the Kraski Ovcar can and will turn against him. He is undeniably loyal to his owner, but demands to be treated with respect.
He is quite a bit smaller than the Sarplaninac, males reaching only 55-60 cm (22-24 in) at the withers, females coming up to 52-56 cm (21-22 in).