History Attempts to create this breed began in the early 20th century when active work was undertaken to select a new breed, whose ancestor would be the German Shepherd. Cynologists sought to create a more resilient, more social and more massive breed. Despite this, serious attempts to select new specimens of this breed were not made until after World War II. The breed was considered the Soviet version of the German Shepherd. However, with the collapse of USSR, work on the selection of this breed suddenly ceased and even began to be condemned due to the population's fear of being associated with the era of Stalinist repression. In fact, the general procedure to eliminate this breed began and did not end until the beginning of the 21st century. General Appearance The Eastern European Shepherd is significantly larger than the Western German Shepherd and shows substantial sexual dimorphism. The eyes can be brown, amber or blue; the ears are long and upright. The fur of the coat is dense, rough, of medium length. The undercoat is thick, but it is shorter than the topcoat. BREED TRAITS & CHARACTERISTICS Russia Large or giant 10-14 years Black, black and tan, blue, white Male: 66-76 cm / 26-30 inches Female: 61-72 cm / 24-28 inches Male: 35-60 kg / 77-132 pounds Female: 30-50 kg / 66-110 pounds 4-10 puppies Determined, intelligent, loyal, playful, protective, tenacious, distrustful Despite their combative appearance, dogs of this breed are distinguished by their good-natured, loyal and hard-working temperament, thanks to which they become true members of the family. Eastern European Shepherds will do well in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. They can easily live outdoors, even in cold climates. Occasional. This breed is not ideal for children, if only due to its massive size. They are wary and very protective dogs towards their owners, so they may howl or bark in the presence of a stranger. Excellent guarding skills: with good training they can become professional guardians and guides. The Eastern European Shepherd is a working dog and must be kept constantly active. Moderate maintenance: Brush regularly with a stiff bristle brush and only bathe if absolutely necessary, as bathing removes what makes their coat water-resistant. It is a very intelligent breed, capable of carefully obeying the owner and protecting him in dangerous situations. Hypoallergenic: No. One of the main reasons for the development of this breed was to eliminate hip and elbow dysplasia, a common disease in German Shepherds. PRODUCTS MAINTENANCE SEASON CHANGE TREATMENT