Romanian Bucovina Shepherd

Breed Standard

Common CFCR – WDF nomenclature

__ORIGIN: __Romania.

__UTILIZATION: __Guardian for flocks and an excellent watchdog.

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

__Morphological type: __shepherd guard dog, mountain molossoid type.

__Working trial: __not compulsory.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY

It is a natural breed with its origin in the Carpathian Mountains (Romania). Special attention to the development of the breed arose in the regions of north-eastern Romania, the Bucovina Province: the well-known transhumance areas of the shepherds since time immemorial. Selection and improvement have led to the current type. The breed is successfully used both for defending the flocks and herds and as a watchdog for households in the mentioned regions.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Large-sized dog; commanding, haughty and proud. The breed has an obvious sexual dimorphism.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS

The length of the body is slightly superior to the height at the withers. The length of the skull is equal to the length of the muzzle.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT

Balanced, calm and loyal, he likes children. A very good guardian for flocks, courageous and a real fighter against the possible animals of prey (bear, wolf and lynx). It has a strong bark. When strangers or animals approach, its barking is very strong, with a low tonality. During the night it patrols around the household or the flock/herd.

__HEAD: __Massive but not heavy, carried slightly higher than the topline.

CRANIAL REGION

__Skull: __Moderately wide, slightly domed. The upper profiles of the skull and muzzle are slightly convergent. Viewed from the front the skull is slightly domed; seen from the side it is almost flat. Skull width: males 16–18 cm, females 15–17 cm; the zygomatic arches are moderately developed. The occipital protuberance is slightly evident.

__Stop: __Slightly pronounced.

FACIAL REGION

__Nose: __Large, well developed, black.

__Muzzle: __Blunt, of the same length as the skull; well developed, narrowing progressively towards the nose but never pointed; strong mandible.

__Lips: __Thick and tight, strongly pigmented.

__Jaws / Teeth: __Strong jaws; complete dentition, strong, healthy and white teeth, well set; scissor bite. Pincer bite is tolerated.

__Cheeks: __Not prominent.

__EYES: __Small in relation to the head; almond-shaped and oblique, brown or slightly light but never yellow. Eyelids well pigmented.

__EARS: __Relatively high set, “V”-shaped with a slightly rounded tip, pendent and carried close to the cheeks. Cropping is prohibited.

__NECK: __Medium length, large and strong, without dewlap.

BODY

Good stamina.

__Topline: __Horizontal.

__Withers: __Slightly evident.

__Back: __Strong and muscular.

__Loin: __Muscular and strong.

__Croup: __Muscular and moderately inclined towards the base of the tail.

__Chest: __Broad and deep, descending to the elbows; well-sprung ribs.

__Underline: __Slightly ascendant.

__TAIL: __High set on. At rest it is pendent, reaching to or lower than the hock; when the dog is alert or in action the tail is raised up to the level of the back or slightly above it, with a slight upward curve, but never curled over the back. Docking is prohibited.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS

__General appearance: __Upright, seen from the front or the side.

__Shoulders: __Long, oblique, well muscled and firmly attached to the body. Scapulo-humeral angle approximately 100°–110°.

__Upper arm: __Moderately long, muscular.

__Elbow: __Close to the body, free movement.

__Forearm: __Strong, not too long.

__Carpus (wrist): __Strong.

__Pastern: __Short, slightly slanting.

__Forefeet: __Oval, compact and massive, toes tight and arched, black or ashen nails.

HINDQUARTERS

__General appearance: __Muscular and strong, normal in stance.

__Upper thigh: __Medium long, wide, very muscular.

__Stifle: __Femoro-tibial angle approximately 110°.

__Lower thigh: __Moderately long, muscular.

__Hock: __Wide, viewed from the side, moderate angulation. Seen from behind, parallel to the median plane of the body.

__Metatarsus (rear pastern): __Strong and upright. The presence of dewclaws should not be penalised.

__Hind feet: __Oval, compact and strong, with black or ashen nails.

__GAIT / MOVEMENT: __Harmonious, elastic, well coordinated, giving the impression of effortless power. The preferred gait is the trot. Crossing over will be penalised.

__SKIN: __Thick, close-fitting, dark-ashen pigmentation.

COAT

__Hair: __The head and the front part of the legs are covered with short hair. On the body the hair is abundant, long (6–9 cm), flat, straight and rough. The undercoat is shorter, very dense and supple, and of a lighter colour. In the neck region the hair is much longer, forming a mane; on the back of the forequarters the hair forms fringes; on the back of the hindquarters the hair is longer and forms culottes. The tail is bushy.

Colour:

__Classical colour: __The main colour of the coat is a clear white or white-beige with distinct patches of grey, black, or black with red-fawn reflections. Black or grey ticks can appear on the legs. A brindle aspect of the patches is to be rejected.

__Solid colours: __Solid-coloured subjects (without patches) are accepted but not encouraged: white, white-beige, ashen-grey or black.

SIZE AND WEIGHT

Height at the withers:

• Males: 68–78 cm, ideal 71–75 cm.
• Females: 64–72 cm, ideal 66–68 cm.
• Tolerance: ± 4 cm.

__Weight: __In proportion to the height.

FAULTS

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault is regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect on the health and welfare of the dog.

• Lack of substance or too heavy.
• Insufficient sexual character.
• Absence of one tooth other than P1.
• Cropped ears.
• Docked tail.
• Overweight or weak subject.
• Faulty hair or short hair (under 6 cm).
• Hair too long (over 9 cm).
• Absence of mane or of fringes on the legs.
• Tail curled or carried in a ring.
• Flabby toes, toeing in or out.
• Elbows turning out.
• Heavy gait.

SEVERE FAULTS

• Untypical expression.
• Round, protruding eyes.
• Erect ears.
• Topline sagging or dipping.
• Hair too short.
• Curly coat or bad texture.
• Yellow eyes.
• Different colour of the eyes (heterochromatic).
• Cow hocked.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
• Not typical subject.
• Overshot or undershot bite.
• Absence of incisors or canines.
• Albinism.
• Naturally absent or atrophic tail.
• Height under 64 cm or over 82 cm (for males).
• Height under 60 cm or over 78 cm (for females).

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.