Μολοσσός της Ηπείρου

The name alone takes us back to the time of the tribe of Molossians. King Pyhrrus used these dogs as guardian dogs but also in the battlefield having them wear around the neck and chest a collar with sharp blades. Alexander the Great did the same thing. In our days we find Molossian dogs guarding flocks from big wild beasts such as wolves and bears. Lately we find Molossus as a companion and guardian dog in many house yards.

[img]http://www.molossos.gr/images/homep/agalma.jpg[/img]

Geographically Molossus’ place of origin is placed in Ancient Epirus and in the adjacent regions. From the 3rd century BC and on we find it interbred with other breeds all over the world. In spreading the Molossus, as we have already mentioned, contributed King Pyhrrus, Alexander the Great as well as the Romans.

[img]http://www.molossos.gr/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/10001/skyles.jpg [/img] Characteristic female specimen

In our pursuit for the authentic Molossus all these years, we found out that there are enough authentic specimens that have in their veins the blood of the ancient dog of Epirus. There are definitely important divergences of the primordial type and the few specimens have important differences. This is natural for a breed that until today was shaped by shepherds and nature while only the best and most powerful animals could survive. Having experiences from almost all stockyards of Epirus and Central Greece we met some stock- farmers, luckily they were the minority- who fed their dogs occasionally. These animals managed to survive either by hunting or by eating raw corn and wheat from the food of the sheep and goats having as a result not only to be unable to perform their duties but also to develop diseases that decimated the whole flock. Imagine a herd of scrawny starving dogs full of pests to try to deal with the beasts.

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According to ancient writers, there were more than one type of Molossian dogs in ancient Epirus and Macedonia. The archaeologist Marinatos, who described the Molossian dog of antiquity, believed that there were more than one types of Molossian dogs in Ancient Molossia. In Philip the 2nd’s grave in Vergina there is a wall-painting – maybe one of the few evidences- showing how the Molossian dogs of the era were. However it depicts a hunting scene and we can see the lightweight type of the Molossian dog, as it is certain that they used to use lighter dogs in hunting. Herodotus as well as Aristotle describes the heavier type of the Molossian dog with a big head and body. They both speak of short haired dogs in red-black colorings. There is also the statue of the Molossian dog in the Kerameikos Archaeological Museum, which is in accordance with the opinions of the historians. In the Acropolis Museum there is also the statue of the hunting dog, but it is a really long- headed dog. However from that time until today there is a gap of 2.300 years.

[img]http://www.molossos.gr/images/homep/mouseio.jpg [/img]

Today there are dogs that look like Cane Corso. Aemilius Paulus, after the occupation of Macedonia and Epirus in the Battle of Pydna (168 BC), returned in Rome and in his triumph in the “Eternal City” he paraded accompanied by at least one hundred Molossian dogs.

[img]http://www.molossos.gr/images/homep/a27.jpg[/img]

Some other Molossian dogs look like Rottweilers or in order to be more accurate Rottweilers resemble to our Molossians. Once in the past, during a dog show, where we presented a dog for recognition – here we must mention that the dog had black –red coloring with a white mark in the chest- a judge cried out: “Your dog looks like a Rottweiler”. An unfortunate moment! Let’s not forget that in the past Rottweilers had a white mark on their chests, a characteristic that even today shows up every now and then. As I have already mentioned almost all Molossian breeds have elements of the Molossian dog in the degree that it is possible after 2000 years of breeding or random yoking. However, the right thing is to mention that the spreading of the Molossian dog in Europe must be credited to Romans exclusively.

[img]http://www.molossos.gr/images/homep/31850023.jpg[/img]

Today we find it as a flock guardian dog devoted to its duty until death; more closely to the flock than to its owner (there are dogs that have not been touched by their owners since they were puppies). Moreover, we find Molossus often as guardian dog. It is a strong, corpulent dog, devoted only to one person with courage and intelligence that often defends its duty with its life.

Its working capability ensured its existence until today. Molossus is adjusted to any environment except form apartments and terraces. Watching him, it gives you the impression of a lazy and sluggish dog that is bored. However, a lot of times what you see is not what really happens. Entering in his territory things change, he is capable of moving as quickly as you could never imagine.

[img]http://www.molossos.gr/images/homep/a75.jpg[/img]

In the country one of his duties, except from guarding the flock, is to guard the stockyard or the farmhouse as well as the other domestic animals (such as pigs, chickens, cows etc). For all these reasons we believe that Molossus is an excellent guardian.

Today in the beginning of the third millennium, the Molossian dog, even if it was left aside in the country for many centuries, is reborn. People need a guardian for their property and family now more than ever. Molossus is the dog that fits in the role of the guardian better than any other dog. If you look for company, guarding and protection, the “Molossus of Epirus” is what you are looking for.

Morphological Model

ORIGIN: Its origin is Greek. More specific it comes from Epirus and the adjacent mountainous regions.
USE: Guarding and protecting the flocks from large beasts such as jackals, wolves and bears. This is the role of the Molossus for centuries.
CLASSIFICATION: T.G.I.: Group 2: pincher and snauzer – Mountainous Molossian type and Swiss Herding- and Cattle dogs.
Section 2: Mountainous Molossians
Without working trial
GENERAL APPEARANCE: A dog of big size and medium proportions with a massive, strong and heavy-boned body, a big head and a medium-sized coat. It has a steady character but it is energetic.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: Length of skull to length of muzzle = 4:6
Width of skull the same or larger than its length
Length of body bigger than the height at withers
BEHAVIOR/ TEMPERAMENT: Intelligent, loyal, devoted and attached to its flock and master, good-natured and friendly towards people familiar to him and capable of protecting the property or the flock he’s guarding.
HEAD: Big, strong and deep and parallelogram- shaped. Seen form above the skull and the muzzle have almost the same width and shape without important decrease between the width of the base of the muzzle and the width of the temple. The elongated axes of skull- muzzle are slightly divergent. When moving the line of the back appears straight.
CRANIAL REGION:

1. Skull: Big, strong, deep and slightly curved seen in profile. Skull width is bigger or equal to its length. The bones behind the eyebrows are pronounced. The furrow at the middle of the forehead is moderately pronounced. The occipital area is also pronounced.
2. Stop: Medium pronounced and obvious

FACIAL REGION:

1. Nose: big, black and wide
2. Muzzle: Seen in profile the line of the muzzle must be straight. Seen from above it looks like a medium parallelogram that narrows slightly in width from the side of the nose
3. Lips: full lips. The upper lip covers fully the other, which has loose membranes and forms in its connection with the upper a loose angle. The mucous membrane must be black.
4. Jaw/Teeth: Strong and wide jaws. Black gums, complete, strong and regular scissor bite. Strong white teeth with big canines.
5. Eyes: Almond- shaped and quite small. Hazel to chestnut brown, with sweet and friendly expression. Eye rims black. The down lid is loose, especially when the dog rests.
6. Ears: Of medium size, triangular and flat. Above the line of the eyes. In repose hanging flat and close to the cheeks but raised forward when attentive. You must not cut the ears of your dog.
7. Neck: Of conic shape, strong, muscular and agile. Not very long with thick and loose skin. Forms a double dewlap.

 

BODY:
General appearance: Strong, broad and parallelogram. Longer than its height at the withers
Above bodyline: straight and horizontal either the dog stands or moves
Withers: finely distinctive
Back: Moderately long, strong and straight.
Loins: Moderately long, broad and well- muscled.
Pelvis: broad, strong and muscular of medium length and medium slope from the hips to the base of the tail.
Chest: strong, broad slightly above the height of the elbows, muscular.
Belly and underline: almost flat underline that goes slightly up at the belly. Tail: Set- on harmoniously, thick; at her base reaches the level of the tarsus, The hair above is longer than in the rest of the body. Pendulous when in repose; when alert and in movement carried higher and slightly curved at the end.
LIMBS:
Forequarters: Straight and parallel when seen from the front, strong bones with strong metacarpus.
Shoulders: Shoulder blade long, well muscled forming an angle of 110º with the upper arm.
Forearm: Muscular and strong, slightly longer than the shoulders.
Elbows: well- set, near the thorax. The angle that forms the forearm with the prosthion ranges from 130º to 150 º.
Prosthion: straight, vertical and muscular with strong bones.
Metacarpus: strong, seen from the side slightly declining.
Front feet: Big catlike feet with, with well-knit, well- arched toes and strong nails.
Hindquarters: strong and muscular
Thigh: broad, strong and well-muscled
Stifle: The angle that forms the thigh with the shank is very open and it does not turn either inwards or outwards.
Shank: long, muscular and strong
Hock: strong and well angulated
Metatarsus: Seen from behind, well- stressed, straight and parallel. With double or single back nail. In dogs of the same value the one with a double back nail should be preferred.
Back Feet: same as the front feet slightly rounder
Gait/movement: Dynamic and free trotting. When striding the movement is slow.
Skin: plenty of thick and elastic skin, the mucous membranes are black.
COAT
Hair: Thick, tight, of medium length and straight. Very short at the skull, ears and legs, longer at the body (it can reach 5-6 cm). In the inner side of the tail it is slightly linger. With rich and soft undercoat
Color: One color is preferred, for example reddish, yellow, black, reddish-black, striped-black, wolf’s color, deer’s color with their tones and tints. With or without black mask. A small white patch on the chest and white at the fingers are tolerated but not desirable. The less white the better.
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
Height: Male: 66-75 cm, Bitches: 66-75 Weight in harmony with the size of the dog, giving the impression of a strong and muscular animal.
FLAWS
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a flaw and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Serious flaws: very thin or very long muzzle, one or two blue eyes, cut or too high set ears, not having all its teeth, long and thin neck, thin skeleton, the height of the pelvis bigger than the height at withers, length of the hair at the body bigger than 8 cm, wavy or curly coat, loose or hunched back, not muscular body, cow-like tarsus, tail curled on the back or too small, big patches of white color scattered in the body.
Eliminating flaws: Over- or undershot mouth, entropion, ectropion, anuria, main color white with flakes of other colors, decoloration of mucous membranes and absence of many teeth, fear or aggressive character

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.