East-European Shepherd

The East European Shepherd, also called Vostochno Evropeiskaya Ovcharka or VEO (Russian: Восточно-европейская овчарка or ВЕО) is a Russian breed of shepherd dog. It was selectively bred from the German Shepherd Dog to create a larger dog with better resistance to cold conditions, and was intended for military and guard work.[2]

East European Shepherd
Other names
  • Vostochno Evropeiskaya Ovcharka
  • VEO
  • Russian: Восточно-европейская овчарка
  • ВЕО
Origin
  • USSR
  • Russian Federation
  • Ukraine
Traits
Height Male 67–72 cm (26–28 in)[1]
Female 62–67 cm (24–26 in)[1]
Classification / standards
Other
Dog (domestic dog)

History

The breed was created in 1930-1950s as a working dog adapted for service in the Army and police as guard dogs and sniffer dogs in various climatic conditions. The first standard which has formed the breed type of the East European Shepherd was approved in 1964 by the Cynological Council of the Ministry of Agriculture of the USSR. The founder of the first line of the East European type of the German Shepherd was Abrek (owner Osmolovskaya, VRKSS #1). The USSR used only pure-blood German Shepherds in the development of the East European Shepherd and, despite popular misconception, no other breeds were used.

With effect from 1 January 2017 the Vostochno Evropeiskaya Ovcharka was recognised by the Nordic Kennel Union, and is thus recognised by the Danish Kennel Club, the Finnish Kennel Club, the Icelandic Kennel Club, the Norwegian Kennel Club and the Swedish Kennel Club.[3][4]

Characteristics

The East European Shepherd is larger than a German Shepherd, and shows substantial sexual dimorphism: dogs stand 67–72 cm (26–28 in) at the withers, and bitches 62–67 cm (24–26 in).[1] Along with a short coat of dense fur, they have strong (but not coarse) bones and well-developed muscles. Their coat is medium in length with a well-developed undercoat. The standard colors for these dogs include well-defined sable gray, sable red and addled that can be saturated to give an almost black-and-tan or black-and-red appearance with a black face mask and solid black.

The head of an East European Shepherd is of a 'wolfish' appearance resting on a long neck in rather massive collar fur and is proportional to the rest of the body. It is triangular and wedge-shaped with a slightly rounded forehead. The muzzle is equal in length to the skull and the lower jaw is well-developed. With large teeth in full complex and powerful jaw muscles, the dog is capable of a very strong hold and scissor-cutting bite. Their ears are medium in size and pricked. Their eyes are medium, oval and dark with close-fitting, well-colored eyelids.

Their backs are straight, strong, wide and long. They are 10-17% longer than their height at withers. The loins are long and wide, well-muscled and slightly arched. Their croup is wide, long and slightly sloping towards the tail. The tail is long, bears thick fur, erected in a form of a sword when the dog is excited. The chest is moderately wide, while the belly is reasonably tucked up. The chests are scimitar in form, reaching the hocks or slightly longer in some cases. The legs are strong and straight and feet are oval and compact. The dog's pace is of a trotter rather than of a skid, sliding just above the ground so typical to other German Shepherds' cousins.

References
  1. Стандарт породы (in Russian). Национального Клуба Породы Восточноевропейская Овчарка = Natsional'nogo Kluba Porody Vostochnoyevropeyskaya Ovcharka. Accessed March 2020.
  2. Немного истории породы ВЕО (in Russian). Национального Клуба Породы Восточноевропейская Овчарка = Natsional'nogo Kluba Porody Vostochnoyevropeyskaya Ovcharka. Accessed March 2020.
  3. [s.n.] (24 October 2016). NKU välkomnar tre nya hundraser (in Swedish). Svenska Kennelklubben. Archived 25 August 2018.
  4. Welcome to the Nordic Kennel Union!. Svenska Kennelklubben. Archived 3 March 2020.
  • "RKF National Breed Club for the East European Shepherd breed". RKF NKP VEO. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  • "The official Catalog of purebred East European Shepherds". RKF NKP VEO catalog. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
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