Μολοσσός της Ηπείρου

However my experience as a dog owner of a Greek Shepherd Dog, not Molossus of Epirus, it’s not at all pleasant. I found my dog from a shepherd in my region (Epirus) in an effort to help with my little power to the preservation of that Greek dog breed. As a result of this choice I live eight years now with a problematic dog, with poor coat, and many behavioral problems. A dog that is fearfull, and as a result aggressive, noise sensitive and as a result unable for guarding. I Neutered the dog and the training from a professional dog trainer along with plenty of time that I devoted had the ‘‘ suprising ’’ result to just live by the dog with minor problems that still remain.

In an effort to figure out what the problem was, I discovered that the problem was more serious that at first I had evaluated. The dog was the offspring of a series of a close inbreeding mattings that the shepherd made at his premises. Judging from my personal experience along with all that I’ve read for the history of Molossus of Epirus I realized that the small number of purebred dogs to begin the effort of rescue of the breed is in fact a very serious problem. The co-operation of all breeders for the good of the breed should be not only desirable but needed. Surely every breeder should protect his work and at the same time get payed for his effort, even thought I’m confident that all of you at the present time spent money than gain from this occupation. However it is imposed to find a way of cooperation. Besides, the ignorance of some people on breeding subjects may worsen the problem. I have to point out that I’m not a dog breeder, neither I have any experience on dog breeding subjects and this is the reason I can’t propose any solutions, I just mention my worries and my experiences as stimulus for dialogue.

In the effort to gather material for this article I came up in a publication from the newspaper “The NEWS” that made my concerns to grow as long as the future of the Molossus of Epirus is concerned. This articles happens to refer a BBC documentary about purebred dogs and you can find it at this address : http://www.fatsimare.net/world/p2_articleid/11907. From my behalf, I want to stress out that animal breeding let alone is a very serious occupation that requires knowledge and patience. I understand though, that because the effort is still at the beginning, that in the process people may appear to seek immediate profit demanding immediate breeding results with catastrophic consequences for the future of the breed. As a result those that are really interested for the future of the breed and are occupied with it’s rescue through dog breeding should be very careful.

Expressing my personal opinion I mention that the Salvational Club of Molossus of Epirus on the specific matter, after dialogue and with the help of experts on dog breeding subjects, should form a universal thesis that all breeder members should follow. The breed of Molossus of Epirus should be protected from occasional breeders that may follow illicit breeding practices either for personal publicity or for profit or at the best case due to ignorance. There is no reason at all to make the same mistakes others did before us, when there is substantial knowledge to avoid the pitfalls and the mistakes of the past.

At the following links you will find useful information:
1. http://www.gpeppas.gr/ektrofi/ektrofi.html (Greek language)
2. http://www.gpeppas.gr/okade/ektrofi/ektrofi.html (Greek language)
3. http://www.dogstuff.info/incest_sharp.html
4. http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0192.htm
5. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/inbreeding.htm
6. http://www.omalmalamutes.com/omal/breedingmethods.htm
7. http://members.tripod.com/~Marge_S_2/nonframes/inbreeding.htm
8. http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/articles/breeding_to_the_great_dogs.html
9. http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/articles/breed_dilemmas_and_extinction...
10. http://www.labradors.gr/ektrofi.htm (Greek language)

I hope with this article to give you the stimulus for dialogue on the crucial matter of dog breeding practices. I look forward for your comments and your opinion.