Romanian Bălan Shepherd Dog

Breed Standard

Common CFCR – WDF nomenclature

__ORIGIN: __Romania.

__UTILIZATION: __Shepherd dog used to guard flocks (especially of sheep) or fixed perimeters.

__CLASSIFICATION: __Group I — Romanian Shepherd Dogs (national native breeds).

__Morphological type: __shepherd guard dog, lupoid type (pale coat).

__Working trial: __not compulsory.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY

The Romanian Bălan Shepherd Dog is an ancient, millennia-old endemic breed which, together with the Romanian Barac, represents the native shepherd breeds most often used in transhumance. Romanian shepherds used these dogs both in pendular transhumance — from the mountains to the lowlands or the wintering grounds — and in long-distance transhumance, directed mainly southwards across the entire Balkan area.

To the east — in the Crimean Peninsula, Russia and even the Caucasus Mountains — to the west and north-west — in Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia or Poland — and farthest north, Romanian shepherds herded for centuries, traded, leased vast areas, and even bought land and founded settlements, some of which enjoyed the autonomy of the Vlachs within those historical regions (for example, Moravia).

Thus, through transhumance from Transylvania into various other historical and geographical regions, the Romanian Bălan Shepherd Dog contributed directly to the formation of several other shepherd breeds in the neighbouring countries, where Romanian shepherds always took their dogs with them.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

A large dog (but not excessively large), very well proportioned, with a massive but not heavy body. It carries no undesirable surplus and always gives the firm impression of a successful combination of strength and endurance, becoming neither too massive nor of a fragile constitution.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS

The length of the muzzle represents between one half and 40% of the total length of the head. The length of the body is slightly greater than the height at the withers. The minimum length of the head is 35% of the height at the withers in females and 40% in males. The length of the limb is not less than 50% of the height at the withers, nor does it exceed 55%.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT

The Bălan is a balanced dog with a good innate guarding instinct. Harsh living conditions have shaped a powerful dog that knows how to conserve its energy. Before large carnivores it is particularly courageous and, being able to work as a team, also effective. Owing to its sometimes excessive courage, it was often used in bear and boar hunting. Like any shepherd dog, at night it becomes more alert, tending to patrol around the flock as though guarding a ration of food.

HEAD

Lupoid type, strong, never weak. It is fairly wide and high in the cranial region, narrowing clearly towards the muzzle so as to form a conical aspect.

CRANIAL REGION

__Skull: __Flat and long. The upper part of the skull — both the frontal and the parietal region — continues the muzzle smoothly and moderately towards the occiput. The upper line of the muzzle and that of the skull are not perfectly parallel, being slightly convergent. The occiput is not prominent.

__Stop: __Moderate. The zygomatic arches are suitably visible.

FACIAL REGION

__Nose: __Medium in width, light in colour, as well pigmented as possible. Fairly large, with wide nostrils, ranging from various shades of brown to a faded black on a brownish base. In summer the nose is lighter in colour; in winter it darkens.

__Muzzle: __Strong, truncated-cone shaped, narrowing gradually from the skull towards the nose without becoming pointed.

__Lips: __Thick, well closed, with a tight commissure. The flews are slightly visible without being excessive; the best possible pigmentation is recommended (over 80%).

__Jaws / Teeth: __Well developed and strong, with well-developed dentition. Scissor bite is preferred, but pincer (level) bite or reverse scissor bite is also accepted.

__Cheeks: __Moderately developed.

__EYES: __Small, well set and outlined, never bulging and giving no impression of any ocular problem such as entropion or ectropion. Chestnut-coloured or lighter; a yellow colour is undesirable and is penalised. Pigmented eyelids are preferred.

__EARS: __Small, fairly thin, triangular, not set too high relative to the arches.

__NECK: __Medium length, muscular and strong; the skin is looser on the lower part of the neck but never forms a dewlap.

BODY

Solid, sufficiently massive, without excess.

__Topline: __Approximately horizontal from the withers to the croup, which slopes slightly, almost imperceptibly.

__Withers: __Slightly visible.

__Back: __Muscular, straight in profile.

__Loin: __Muscular, suitably wide.

__Croup: __Of medium length, wide and muscular, slightly sloping, the angle difference between hip and tail being approximately 30°. In profile it is neither short nor narrow.

__Chest: __Wide and deep, well developed, the lower part reaching the level of the elbows. The rib cage is large and well developed; the false ribs are not prominent.

__Underline: __Fairly raised; there is a clear difference between the abdominal and the thoracic regions.

__TAIL: __Set medium, not too high. In length it reaches the hocks. It may be straight or slightly bent in the last portion. It is not carried curled.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS

__General appearance: __Strong, with fairly massive bone, characteristic of a shepherd dog. Seen from the front, they are straight and perpendicular to the ground.

__Shoulders: __Long and muscular, up to 25% of the height at the withers.

__Scapulo-humeral angle: __Approximately 100°–110°, reaching a maximum of 120°.

__Upper arm: __Long, up to 30% of the height at the withers, muscular and solid.

__Elbow: __Close to the chest and straight. The humero-radial angle is at least 140°.

__Forearm: __Straight, thick and vertical. Carpus: medium.

__Metacarpus (pastern): __Moderate in length; a slight slope is accepted provided it is only slightly noticeable.

__Forefeet: __Large, oval, with light-coloured nails.

HINDQUARTERS

__General appearance: __Solid, with strong bone and well-developed musculature.

__Thigh: __Long, slightly oblique, muscular; the rear part is never weak, the femoral region being well muscled.

__Stifle (knee): __The angulation measures approximately 110°.

__Lower thigh: __Slightly shorter than the thigh, solid and sufficiently wide.

__Hocks: __Fairly wide, set medium — neither too high nor too low.

__Metatarsus (rear pastern): __Vertical, fairly thick and robust.

__Hind feet: __Oval, covered with short hair; the phalanges are slightly longer than the front ones.

__GAIT / MOVEMENT: __Very good and fluid; the movement should give the impression of being performed with minimal effort, suggesting the dog’s ability to remain easily in constant locomotion.

__SKIN: __Thick, elastic, well applied, without a surplus of pink colour.

COAT

__Hair: __Of medium length, straight and fine, fairly harsh on the head, where the hair is shorter. The coat consists of an outer layer, harsh and relatively straight, and an inner layer, soft and dense, a good insulator. On the neck the hair is longer, forming a mane, but not a prominent one. On the back of the limbs the hair is longer, possibly forming feathering of medium length. Longer hair also appears on the tail, where it is permitted.

__Colour: __From pure white through various pale, light shades of yellow, up to the colour of butter and the colour of peeled acacia wood.

SIZE AND WEIGHT

Height at the withers:

• Males: minimum 65 cm.
• Females: minimum 60 cm.
• Maximum height: 77 cm.

The overall impression remains, however, always more important.

FAULTS

Any departure from the above descriptions is considered a departure from the standard and is penalised by the examining judges according to its seriousness.

• Too fine or too heavy body structure.
• Yellow eyes.
• Insufficiently pronounced sexual dimorphism.
• Hair too short (under 4 cm) or too long (over 8 cm), except on the tail and the mane, where evidently more is allowed.
• Incomplete pigmentation of the nose, the flews or the eyelids (under 80% on the flews).
• Presence of “trousers” (culottes) on the limbs.
• Nose, flews and eyelids pigmented completely black (solid black).

SEVERE FAULTS

• Expression foreign to the breed.
• Limbs not parallel to the body.
• Visibly wavy hair.
• Multiple dental losses.
• Erect ears.
• Heavy movement, lacking vigour.
• Dog giving the impression of lacking vitality.
• Absence of the tail, or carrying it curled in a ring over the back or on a flank.
• Excessively fearful or aggressive dog.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

• Cryptorchidism.
• Heterochromia.
• Lower or upper prognathism.
• Height under 65 cm in males and under 60 cm in females.
• Height over 77 cm.

N.B.

• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed-typical conformation, should be used for breeding.