4 Romanian Dog Breeds

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There are hundreds of dog breeds around the globe, and Romania too has its breeds. Check out this article to see common breeds from Romania.

These are some of the most common Romanian dog breeds:

  1. Carpathian Shepherd
  2. Bucovina Shepherd
  3. Transylvanian Hound
  4. Romanian Mioritic Shepherd

As you read on, you’ll find out about each of these unique Romanian dog breeds. You’ll learn about each breed’s history, appearance, personality, and common health issues. Each breed is different from the other and they’re sure to pique your interest.

1. Carpathian Shepherd

The Carpathian Shepherd Dog is a breed that existed for hundreds of years. These dogs have been protecting the Carpathian mountains ever since they’ve existed. They primarily belong to farmers and protect livestock against bears, wolves, and eagles. This breed was originally found to travel in packs and will often call in their pack when they detect a threat against the livestock that they’re protecting.

The Carpathian Shepherd Dog is a large or giant-sized dog breed, growing up to be 23 to 26 inches in height and weighing about 70 to 100 lbs. It is believed that these dogs are closely related to the Carpathian wolf because of their similarity in appearance and build. These dogs are extremely popular in Romania but remain rare outside of their homeland.

The Carpathian Shepherd Dog has a heavy and strong build. Both Male and Female Carpathian Shepherd Dogs are powerful dogs that are graceful rather than stocky. These dogs are longer than they are tall with sickle-shaped tails. The Carpathian Shepherd dog has almond-shaped eyes They have squarish and strong heads with short but powerful muzzles. This breed has triangular ears that flop down and rests alongside their cheeks.

This breed’s fur is thick and has two layers, a soft and warm undercoat to keep them warm, and a long and straight outer coat to protect them from the elements. Their fur’s coat colors generally mimic the fur patterns of the wolves from the same mountains. The Carpathian Shepherd Dog has fur that is normally a pale fawn color or gray fur that has varying shades.

This breed is intelligent and independent because it’s primarily used as a working dog. The Carpathian Shepherd Dog is extremely loyal towards its family and will be wary towards strangers and unfamiliar animals. They are also known to be extremely patient towards children but they must always be supervised when around children because their large size can lead to some accidental bumps.

Like most large breeds, the Carpathian Shepherd Dog is prone to elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, arthritis, and other joint conditions. These conditions tend to naturally occur as they age because of the sheer size of the breed placing pressure on their joints. They can also be prone to bloating and gastrointestinal problems because this breed is prone to overeating or eating too quickly.

2. Bucovina Shepherd

Just like the Carpathian Shepherd Dog, the Bucovina Shepherd Dog is another breed that was bred primarily to be a shepherd dog that protects the livestock of shepherds and farmers in the Carpathian mountains. Today, this breed is a popular guard dog that protects its home and family.

The Bucovina Shepherd Dog is a giant-sized breed that grows up to be 25 to 28 inches in height and weighs a whopping 60 to 120 lbs. This breed is extremely popular in Romanian but is rare anywhere else in the world. This breed is built to adapt well to the rugged terrain they’re normally found in.

This breed has a large and well-proportioned body shape. The Bucovina Shepherd Dog has a lighter build compared to other Romanian mountain dogs. These dogs are a bit longer than they are tall and stand on sizable and powerful paws. They have massive heads and a tapering muzzle that meets in a scissor bite. They have triangular ears that fold over and hang at the sides of their head. This breed’s head is flat on top and in proportion to its large body.

The Bucovina Shepherd Dog has small round eyes that have a naturally kind expression. Their eyes can be either brown or hazel in color. It also has a floppy jowl and lips that sometimes drool. They have a black nose that usually contrasts their common coat colors.

This breed has a coat that is long, dense, and harsh to the touch. Unlike other Romanian mountain dogs, the Bucovina Shepherd Dog has a wide array of possible coat colors. Their coats can come in black, brindle, brown, pied, and white. Their thick coat keeps them warm and protects them from the harsh weather on the Carpathian mountains.

This breed is known as a gentle giant, with a calm and even temper. The Bucovina Shepherd Dog is known to be protective of its territory and family while being kind and gentle towards young children. It is a dedicated breed that has the initiative to think for itself and act independently to get its job done.

The Bucovina Shepherd Dog can be prone to joint problems, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and bloat. They can also be prone to ear infections due to the long fur in their ears. This breed is also prone to eye infections because their eyes normally tear up.

3. Transylvanian Hound

The Transylvanian Hound is a breed that originates from Hungary. It was developed in the 9th century when the Hungarian Magyar tribes migrated to Hungary and brought Asian hounds with them. This breed was developed as a hunting dog with a talent for finding prey through scent tracking. Today, this breed is now prevalent in Hungary and Romania as a hunting dog that can also be a great pet companion.

This breed is a medium-sized dog that grows up to be 18 to 21 inches in height and weighs around 66 to 77lbs in weight. This dog is similar to the Rottweiler in appearance but it has a longer muzzle and thinner build.

The Transylvanian Hound has a lanky build with a straight back and long legs. They have a distinct black and tan coat. This breed has a primarily black coat with tan markings around the muzzle, eyebrows, chest, and paws. This breed also sometimes has a white patch on its chest. Its coat is short and dense with a coarse and shiny topcoat and a dense undercoat.

This breed has medium-sized almond eyes that can either be brown or black. It has ears that hang close to its cheek that flop down but don’t fold. The Transylvanian Hound also has a large black nose with wide and open nostrils.

The Transylvanian Hound, like most scent dogs, makes for a great family companion with enough training. These dogs are smart, loyal, and playful. Since it’s a scent dog, it can become highly curious about interesting smells and will fixate on the scent until it finds the source. These dogs will need to be kept indoors or fenced in to prevent them from following a scent without you around.

This dog is also great with kids and will enjoy playing with your children for hours. The Transylvanian Hound is also highly sociable and loves to meet other dogs. Your Transylvanian Hound will love to take trips to dog parks for both exercise and playing with its furry friends.

This breed is an extremely healthy dog that isn’t particularly prone to any health conditions. On a rare occasion, this breed can experience joint problems once it reaches old age. However, those conditions have nothing to do with the breed and instead happen naturally as a result of growing older.

4. Romanian Mioritic Shepherd

The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog is a breed with a mysterious history. Studies show that this is an ancient breed that has been identified in carved images from ancient Rome. The images found depict this breed engaging in battles with the Romans against the Daci. The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog is believed to have descended from the Molossus Dogs of ancient Rome.

This breed is a giant-sized dog, standing at 25 to 28 inches in height and weighing around 100 to 130 pounds in weight. It has an appearance that’s similar to the Old English Sheepdog. This dog is large, muscular, and covered in long and shaggy fur.

The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog has a domed skull and a medium-length muzzle that is a bit shorter than its skull. They have round eyes that are normally hazel or brown in color. It also has v-shaped ears that are long and flop down along the sides of its head. They have deep chests that lead to a slightly tucked belly. They have thick and powerful bones that support their large and robust bodies.

This breed can have one of three fur colors which are gray, pied, and white. They have long, dense, and straight coats that keep them warm. The topcoat is thick and long and an undercoat that’s dense and soft.

This dog is intensely loyal with a lot of affection for its owners. They enjoy receiving pets, cuddles, and hugs regularly. They are also intelligent and independent as former warrior dogs. These dogs love to run around in yards and dog parks to exercise and socialize.

The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog’s only common health issues are elbow dysplasia and ear infections. It becomes more prone to elbow dysplasia when it reaches senior age. The ear infections are caused by the long fur that grows in and around its ears.

Final Thoughts

Romania has some of the most historically interesting dog breeds in the world. These dogs are still incredibly rare outside of Romania but their popularity in their homeland is unmatched. Each dog has its own unique history from being livestock guardians to fighting alongside Roman warriors.

Every breed is intelligent and loyal to its owners and families. These dogs are sure to become the main protector of your home while being a wonderful family companion. They are loving, affectionate, and independent.

If you’re a pet haver that’s looking to have a unique and gentle giant in your home, consider one of these impressive Romanian dog breeds. With one of these dogs, your life is sure to change for the better.