Molossus of Epirus

The Molossus of Epirus (Greek: Μολοσσός της Ηπείρου) is an ancient livestock guardian dog breed from Greece.[3][4][5][6][7] The breed has been bred since the age of Alexander the Great to protect livestock from carnivorous mammals including the wolf, the European jackal and the brown bear[3] in the mountainous regions of Greece, especially in Epirus.[3]

Molossus of Epirus
Molossus of Epirus dog, cropped ears
Other namesEpirote Molosser Dog
Epirus Mastiff
Epir Moloss
Molossos Tis Epirou
Mollosus
OriginGreece
Traits
Weight Male 45–65 kg (99–143 lb)
Female 40–60 kg (88–132 lb)
Height Male 66-75 cm[1][2]
Female 64-74 cm[1][2]
Coat Fine, smooth
Color uniform colours
Life span about 15 years
Dog (domestic dog)

The Molossus of Epirus is a pure Greek breed and is believed to be one of the main ancestors of today's mastiff breeds.

Because of its long existence and development, the breed is extremely healthy and enduring. Few examples live outside Greece, mainly in the Balkans.

The breed is closely related to the rare Greek Shepherd and is the sole surviving remnant of the "extinct" Molossus.[8][9]

Molossian Hound statue, British Museum

Recognition

The breed is recognized by the Kennel Club of Greece (Κυνολογικός Ομιλος Ελλάδος, translitered: Kynologikós Omilos Elládos).[1][2] The breed standard have been published and the dogs in Greece compete in Greek dog shows.

A Greek breed club called the Molossus of Epirus Rescue Organisation (Διασωστικός Όμιλος Μολοσσού της Ηπείρου, translitered: Diasostikós Ómilos Molossoú tis Epeírou) was founded in 2006[10] with the aim of recovering the breed and establishing a healthy population.

History

The Molossus of Epirus was developed by the Molossians, a Greek tribe living in the mountainous Epirus region found in modern north-western Greece and south-western Albania.[11][2] The breed was developed as a war dog as well as a livestock guardian. Later, during the classical era, Alexander the Great had been taking these dogs to his expeditions to enlarge the country's size.

See also

References
  1. Μολοσσός Ηπείρου (in Greek, Molossós Epeírou, "Molossus of Epirus"). Κυνολογικός Ομιλος Ελλάδος (Kynologikós Omilos Elládos, "kennel club of Greece"). Accessed December 2015.
  2. User, Super. "Μολοσσός Ηπείρου" [Molossus of Epirus - Breed standard - Greek Kennel Club]. www.koe.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  3. "Μολοσσός της Ηπείρου" [Greek Molossus of Epiros] (in Greek). Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  4. "Μολοσσός Ηπείρου: Ο μοναδικός σκύλος που παλεύει με την αρκούδα" [Molossus of Epirus - The only dog that fights the bear]. DOGMAGAZINE (in Greek). 26 June 2016.
  5. "ρατσα Μολοσσός Ηπείρου" [Molossus of Epirus]. Ράτσες (in Greek).
  6. "Μολοσσός της Ηπείρου" [Molossus of Epirus - Breed's origin and official standard]. Κατοικίδια εν δράσει (in Greek). 27 September 2016.
  7. "Ελληνικά τσοπανόσκυλα: Οι πιστοί σύντροφοι των κτηνοτρόφων" (in Greek).
  8. "Hellenic Mastiff". molosserdogs.com. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  9. "Epir Moloss". molosserdogs.com. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  10. [AMPE] (03 April 2014). Προσπάθεια διάσωσης της φυλής των μολοσσών της Ηπείρου (in Greek, Prospátheia diásosis tis fylís ton molossón tis Ipeírou, "Rescue attempt of the Molossus of Epirus breed"). SKAÏ. Accessed December 2015.
  11. "History and Origin of the Molosser Breeds (Mastiff breeds)". www.bulldoginformation.com. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
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