Μολοσσός της Ηπείρου

 With regret and sorrow I notice the ironic comments some people make about Molossus of Epirus. The most difficult think for me is to accept that this comments come from people with greater education as dog show judges , vet etc. The most tragic of all is that this people breed dogs.
The last few years in our country quite a few people show interest for the Molossus of Epirus and among them is me with a few friends. I decided to write this article in an effort to save the fame of the dog I breed from the unjust comments that receives every day.
Unfortunately I can’t refer to specific individuals but I describe some of the greeks in the dog-lovers’ community that have their animals abandoned in the fields without proper care, having as a home a pallette and dirty plastic bucket to drink water from, or in cages full of stool. My objective is not the negative judgement but if some people wish conflicts will do so. I want to inform you thought that I ‘‘fight’’ all my life and never lost a battle. I steam up when known dog-lovers try to make as silent writing articles in papers and magazines with negative comments about the breeds’ standard and the quality of our animals in an effort to diminish the image of Molossus of Epirus.
The best they have to do is to hide in their shell and attend their breeding program that went wrong. In the last dog show I saw a mixture of dogs that met no standard and none looked like the other. I have to say that the owners have no responsibility for this. The blame is for the breeders that hide behind the curtains and use the dog owners like puppets.
For me the quality dog is a dog with excellent morphology and excellent ability to work. In our country they have been recognized three different shepherd breeds. The Greek Shepherd Dog, the Molossus of Epirus and the Greek White Shepherd Dog. To make some comparison you can look at this link www.molossos.gr
The people I was referred earlier claim that only one breed exists. I will pose some new questions presenting new information that may interest you, and will set fire among dog-lovers’ community.
 
Molosser dogs in the modern Greek History
 
Molosser Dog 1
Scripture from "Dogs the Ultimate Dictionary of over 1000 Dog Breeds" , Desmond Morris, 2001, Random House UK, page 618.
 
"Also known as the Suliot Boarhound, this extinct breed was employed as a property guard and, during wartime, as a protector of military outposts.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Suliots were a tribe inhabiting the mountains near Parga in what is not th extreme north-western corner of modern Greece, and this dog was their impressive guardian. It was a local form of the ancestors of the breed which today we call the Great Dane.
Described as ' full in mouth, fierce, coarse in aspect and rugged in coat' this huge guard dog is reputed to have been the largest canine that ever existed, standing 4ft (121 cm) tall. As a guard dog, its ears were traditionally cropped. Writing on the history of the mastiff in 1886, M.B.Wynn comments: '...the true Molosser...identical or almost so, with the modern Suliot Boarhound' ".
 
Molosser Dog 2
David Hancock in his article on "Dogs Monthly" magazine, August 2001, and in his book "Mastiffs, Large Game Hunters" refers to the Dog of Soulioton in accordance with a testimony of lord Trouro.
"Hancock writes" page 10.
"the German boarhounds were around 28" at the shoulder for the medieval hunt, the extra size came later from the Suliot Dogs intoduced as Parade dogs for continental regiments.
Lord Truro intriduced one of these dogs to Britain, it was a huge hound. The Suli Mountains are in what was Molossia, an area famed for its giant hounds and fierce flock guardians. The pursuit of a giant dog led the German boarhound being bred with these Suliot Dogs and not subsequently for their greater soundness or activity".
 
Molosser Dog 3
Juliette Cunliffe, scripture from "The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds", Parragon Publications 1999,US Edition 2003, Barnes and Noble Books Page 185

"The Suliot dog, which is also known as the German Boar-Hound, was one of the largest breeds known in the 1840s, thought likely to be the Molosser of Antiquity. It was full in mouth, fierce, course in aspect, and rugged in coat. None had been seen without ears which were cropped and the tail was always rough, with straggling hair. In colour they were tan, with brown of black on the back, shoulders, and about the ears, althought these colors described do not tie in at all with those portayed in the accompaying drawing.
 
In the wars between Austria and the Turks, Moslem soldiers employed many such dogs to grand their outposts, and in the course of the campaign many were captured and secured by officers as their private property, or even adopted by the Imperial Forces as regimental pets. One such dog was presented to the King of Naples and was reported to have been the biggest dog in th world-4 ft (122 cm) high at the shoulder. The few that had been seen were described as being little smaller than Shetland ponies. The head of the dog resembled that of the large Danish Dog (now known as the Great Dane), than that of the Mastiff of today".
 
Referrals to the Molossus of Epirus in late Greek sources
 
Hunter & Nature Magazine January 2004 page 40
Article of Chris Chatzioti “ Taxation of dogs” – A threat that troubles hunters for 70 years.
 
The author refers among others an older article of “Hunting News” Magazine July 1960. In this article there was a coverage of the 3d National Dog Show that the Greek Kennel Organization set up in Kifisia were the support of Greek Breeds was announced in order to help in their rescue and development. The ministry of Agriculture after expostulation of the Greek Kennel Organization decided to fund prize for the Greek breeds, the Greek Hound, the Cretan Hound, the Greek Shepherd Dog and the Molossus of Epirus.
“We hope for a massive participation in the national dog shows of the Greek Hound, of the famous but unknown in the main land Cretan Hound, of the Greek Shepherd Dog and of the Molossus of Epirus aiming at the development and utilization of the very good national breeds. For the first time this year took part on the dog show one Greek Molossus Dog out of competition and gathered the attention of the people.”
 
Magazine “The EYE” June-July 1998 issue 5
Mister Mpasourakos (president of Greek Kennel Organization at the time) in his interview to the magazine refers in three different points the Molossus of Epirus, the Greek Molossus and the Greek Shepherd Dog as three different breeds. He also claimed to have some old photos of Molossus of Epirus.
 
Comments:
The first three sources refer to the Dog of Soulioton and point that is a breeded and very specific type Molosser Dog known in North - West Greece at least until the end of 1800. Furthermore describe the black/tan colour as characteristic of the type. Even though the Dog of Soulioton as separate breed is considered to be extinct , the type or the genes of Molossus continued to exist in a certain degree in the broader region of Epirus and mountain west Thessalia mainly as a working herding guarding dog.
Even though the above references seem to be convincing, some reservation should be held for their accuracy. No at all satisfying is the description of the texture of the dogs hair.For example the hair of the Dogs of Soulioton is described as “messy and coarse” when the Great Dane has short and smooth coat. The modern samples of Molossus of Epirus have short but dense coat. We can’t say for sure if it can be characterized as coarse but the tail has longer and coarser hair. We can assume that the Dogs of Soulioton gave their great height to the German Molossus. It is also possible the hair of the Dog of Soulioton not to be so coarse as it is referred but a little shorter that that of the German Molossus.The German breeder should continue choose the short hair dogs that traditionally characterize their breeding programs. Very important is the fact that he Dog of Soulioton was user in the hunting of wild boar. The first German Molosser dogs were also used the same way. This coincidence cannot be ignored. We notice that the German breeders seems to have used the blood of a foreign breed not only for its greater height but also because it was used for the same purpose. The frequent black-tan samples of Molossus of Epirus should have some kind of relation with the black-tan colour of the Dog of Soulioton.It is most likely that existed other colours too that were not mentioned. The working breeds usually have a variety of colours, but many authors refer to the most common.
It should be stated that in the modern population of Molossus of Epirus exist sporadic samples with very short coat of greater height and lighter bone structure. In a degree they suggest a giant, heavier hound, exactly as it is mentioned by lord Trouro. It is interesting that David Hancock refers two separate breeds of Molosser dogs in Epirus, one used in the hunt of wild boar and one for guarding the live stock. Very important is the remark that the dog of Soulioton had always cropped ears (it should be examined its relation with the wolflike moloss of Ancient Epirus* See note (1)). This type is morphologically closer to the first German Molosser Dog. It is not difficult to suppose that the two breeds were thought appropriate for crossing. There is no evidence that the German Molosser Dog had any effect on the Dog Of Soulioton but the other way around.
Inevitably we come to the conclusion that until the end of 19 century they survived two different breeds of Molosser dogs in the broader region of Epirus. The ones that were used for the hunt of wild boar and the ones that were used for guarding the livestock. Those with specialisation to the hunting were led to extinction. The other ones that were used as a shepherd dog survived. In reality maybe the two breeds were incorporated as dogs guarding the livestock with the shepherd type to predominate today. The ancient sources refer clearly to the hunting and shepherd Molosser dogs in Epirus. Is this something we should ignore or a clue that deserves our attention ;
The hunting, short-coated, taller type maybe extincted due to its lack of usage to the hunt or due to overall changes in the conditions (decline) of hunting, of prey, survival etc. Even so, still on occasion appears as a “genetic reference to the past (throwback)” in the population of Molossus of Epirus. According with the existing pictures the relatively shorter coat appears more often than the taller height. This is easily explained as the last centrury the breeding doesn’t demand tall dogs of this height. The shorter coat is compatible with the work of the dogs and wasn’t excluded from breeding.
Clifford Hubbard in 1947 was referred indirectly in three types of shepherd dogs in the Greek territory one of which has clear Molosser characteristics and is linked with the region of Epirus. The fact that he is referred to dogs of the region Peloponesse shouldn’t disorientate us. Inevitably the genes of Molossus of were widespread in Greece in their pure or not type in different local versions.The references of Hubbard doesn’t satisfy the Greek reader because they seem to confuse the Greek and Albanian origin of the dogs. Similar confusion existed for the identity of Soulioton.Geographically speaking Hubbard is accurate for the origin of the fathers of these dogs, that is Epirus **.Note(2)
Schneider-Leyer in 1960 presents the spartian dog on the surface very differently than Hubbard does. Despite the synonymy he doesn’t locate it only in the region of Peloponesse, as Hubbard does, but in Greece generally.This is a characteristic example how reference of foreign authors are refuted and unreliable. This type of dog is unknown nowdays. Interesting is the description of small naturally erect ears, narrow nose and deep stop. All this characteristics makes the reader suspect that maybe there is a relevance with wolflike shepherd dogs or crosses with pure Molosser dogs (the heavy type). This type of dog either extincted or is a product of false information and never existed. On the contrary the different type of Molosser shepherd dogs of Peloponesse were known until nowdays and few samples still exist.
The article of the “Hunting News” Magazine in 1960 in three different places referres to Molosser dogs and specially to the Molossus of Epirus.In the third case there is a reference to the “Greek Molossus”.We are not sure what the author with the term “Greek Molossus” ment, if it was a simple synonymy with Molossus of Epirus or it was referred to another Molosser dog type in Greece. That is if were noted two pure molosser/mastiff types and the Greek Shepherd Dog (more or less of Molosser type). Only one thing is for sure that the article separates clearly the Greek Shepherd Dog from the Molossus of Epirus in either cases where the names appear in the same sentence. None the less this source of 1960 reveals clearly that the Molossus of Epirus was wittingly known as a separate entity from the Greek Shepherd Dog, in the dog-lovers community of the time. The first breeding attempt of Molossus of Epirus was 47 years ago, but there was no succession until the recognition of the breed from official Greek Kennel Club in 2006.
Mr Mpasourakos interview 38 years later doesn’t enlight us more. In reality bypasses the discrimination of Molossus of Epirus, of Greek Molossus and of the Greek Shepherd Dog. Nevertheless there is no doubt for the discrimination of the first two from the third one.
The fore mentioned source are valuable as they help to bridge the gap of information between the ancient and modern times. Provide clues for the last two centuries but they don’t answer all questions. The foreign authors couldn’t have a clear impression of the Greek dog breeds. Informations came indirectly from non dog-lovers like travelleres, soldiers, reporters at war. Especially as long as the colours, the texture of coat, and details of morphology, work and geographical data, are concerned the knowledge of European experts could not be assumed fulfilling or accurate. We shouldn’t forget that even nowdays the approach of mountain areas makes the enquiry extremely difficult. This should be the case even in 19th century with the primitive means of transportation at the time.
Our knowledge remains fragmentary and questionable. On the contrary new questions raise :

1. What is the relation of the dog of Soulioton and the Molossus of Epirus ?
2. What is the morphology of Greek Molossus that is mentioned in the source of 1960 ?
3. What is the relation between the dog of Soulioton and the Greek Molossus ?
4. What is the relation / difference between Molossus of Epirus and the Greek Molossus ?
5. Is there possible to exist some correspondence between the herding and hunting Molossus of ancient times and the herding and hunting Molosser type of dogs of 19th century and their modern remains.
6. What is the real identity of the Spartian Dog and it’s relation with the Molosser and wolflike dogs of central Greece ?

 
Answer may lie in unknown Greek source of the Byzantine times (400-1453) and of the last two centuries (1800 – 2000). At the time of Turkish dictatorship (1453-1821) only west-european travelers in Greece have sporadically and partially referred various types of Shepherd – Molosser dogs that encountered.
 
* Note (1)
Erect eared Wolflike Shepherd Dogs in Greece
We are not sure if the ancient erect –eared Molossus seen in sculptures had naturally erect ears or they were cropped. Max von Stephanitz a founder of the German Shepherd Dog in his preface on his book "Der Deutsche Schaferhund in Wort und Bild", 1921, devoted to the breed presents similar population with the German Shepherd Dog and locates them in world map. In the Balkans testifies the existence of wolflike shepherd dogs with naturally erect ears in Serbia, Dalmatia, Albania, Montenegro, lake Doiranh – geygelh, Italy, North and South Greece. The samples of Italy and Greece looked like those in Dalmatia. Wolflike shepherd dogs were transferred in Germany/Wurttenberg by the refugees of Northern Greece (specific historical data is not known. Probably due to the Balkan wars). Thei colour were spotted red - yellow and their height 22 inches. The samples around lake Doiranh looked like those of South Greece and Italy. The dogs in the region between Montenegro and Albania looked like wolfs, short coated and tall.
 
** Note (2)
Clifford Hubbard presents the Greek Shepherd Dog as a white , with medium size coat, wolflike Molossus, with dropped ears, and some brown/orange or yellow stamps primarily on the head and rarely on the body. Widespread in Epirus, Central and South Greece, Macedonia and the breeding grounds of Parnassus.
 
( I want to thank Mr Vasileio Lekka member of the border of Amaltheia for the information he provided me )
 
Chris Chatzis
Molosser Dog Breeder