Schillerstovare vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

The Bulgarian Shepard Dog comes from the ancient line of Molossers of Central Asia and Tibet, and the shepherds of the Balkans, Turkey and Caucasus. Among the oldest and most valued of the working dogs of Europe, the Bulgarian Shepherd breed was created by mixing the Balkan breeds with the dogs from Central Asia by the proto-Bulgarians around the 7th century. The Karakachanskoto Kuche was introduced to Bulgaria and accepted by the sheep herders. Mixing this breed in with the Balkan and Central Asian mix developed the Bulgarian Shepherd we know today. In the long run the original Karakachanskoto Kuche became extinct, replaced entirely by the Bulgarian Shepherd even in places where the new breed is still called by the Kuche name. Although the breeds are not the same, most of the dog world does not know the difference.

In Bulgaria however the Karakachan is a national treasure and the history of the breed runs deep. One Kuche could run up to 1200 animals and hundreds were used by the herdsmen in the mountains of Bulgaria. There were many regional types of Bulgarian Shepherds with very little difference between those types. These dogs were so prized by the shepherds that the dogs ate first before the people. The dogs however ate a vegetarian diet of milk, wheat, water and oats. The Bulgarian Shepherd lives a long life of often over 20 years. The Bulgarian Army made good use of these dogs early in the 20th century.

Following World War II, the wolves were close to extinction and property in Bulgaria was nationalized. There was no longer a need for a large force of working dogs. The Communist government exterminated large numbers of sheep dogs including the Bulgarian Shepherd. Only those species on government owned farms and in remote regions survived. When the government farms were disbanded in the early 20th century, these dogs were exterminated as well. Only those in the mountains survived. Commercial breeding of the Bulgarian Shepherd in the end of the century has resulted in controversy as other breeds came into the breeding program.

Use of breeds such as Sarplaninacs, Caucasian Ovcharkas, St. Bernards, Central Asian Ovcharkas and Bosnian Tornjaks in these programs resulted in Bulgarian Shepherd or Karakachans that were a lot different from the original breed. There is therefore some concern about the future of the breed in Bulgaria, yet they received official Bulgarian national recognition in 2000. Today’s Bulgarian Shepherd is a guard dog for both property and livestock.

The official standard for the breed came about in 1991 and in 2005 it was recognized by the Bulgarian State Commission for Animal Breeds. Only those dogs that meet this standard are considered “true” Karakachans. The Bulgarian Shepherds are willing to fight bears and wolves in defense of its family and flock. The dog is brave and loyal, dignified and powerful. They are recognized by both the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA) and the Bulgarian Republican Federation of Cynology (BRFC) a member of the FCI.

The Schillerstövare originated in Sweden, being named after a Swedish farmer, Per Schiller. After he died, the dog was named Schillerstövare in 1907, and was Sweden's first native dog breed.

The Swedish Kennel Club recognised this dog in 1907 and it is also recognised by the Federation Cynologique Internationale as well as a number of minor kennels and dog clubs.

The dog has always been used as a hunting dog and the English Foxhound is the e foundation for this breed.

A massive, powerful and muscular Molosser, the Bulgarian Shepherd is strong, agile, powerful and fast. They are intelligent and reliable. They have a long, thick, harsh coat in white with patches of black. Their skull is massive and broad with a furrowed forehead. The muzzle is massive as well while the nose has wide nostrils and is fairly large. It has close fitting, thick lips with strong, scissor bite jaws. The Bulgarian Shepherd’s eyes are deep, oblique and small. They are either hazel or dark. They have an intelligent and confident, yet firm almost grim expression.

Their ears are low set, small and v-shaped. They sit close to the head which sits on a powerful but short neck. They have a broad back, well-muscled body with a deep chest and long, rough tail. Their gait is a trot with a spring in their step. There are two types of coats – longhaired and shorthaired with no undercoats.

The Schillerstövare is a medium to large sized dog. They’re athletic and muscular.

Standing at between 53–61cm in height and weighing in the region of 18–25kg, the coat of the dog is fairly short and harsh, with the color being black and tan.Sometimes you’ll see some white markings on the chest and paws.

The head is domed, the eyes brown, bright and alert and the ears of the dog are broad, medium length and floppy. The long tail is carried low or held out when running or alert.

If you allow your Schillerstovare to have puppies, you can expect between 3 to 7.

Temperament:

The Schillerstovare is a calm dog but he can get petty lively when there’s a game to be had. He gets on well with well disciplined children who have been taught to be kind and respectful to animals. He also gets on well with pets in the home. Just like with most other dogs, he will need to be trained and socialized as he is a strong willed, confident, dominant dog.

He is friendly and active but will be somewhat reserved around strangers.These dogs will require a lot of exercise and will need quite a bit of space too. They aren't well suited to small properties in the city. He will need a daily walk but also a chance to get off his leash and run free in the park. Other forms of exercise such as hikes, ball game and swimming will delight him.

This is a working dog, intelligent and independent guard dog. Reserved around strangers but loyal and devoted with his family. Tolerant of children in their family if they were raised with them. Not only will she defend human family members, she will guard and defend household pets as well. He is quite capable of making her own independent decisions. These are very intense guard dogs that will respond aggressively if they think their people are being attacked.

Schillerstovares are social, loving, friendly, loyal dogs who enjoy being around their human family. He’s going to need a lot of exercise, both mental and physical to keep him from boredom and frustration.

He will rely on you for at least a daily walk. He is strong-will and confident and will do well in a family where they are active and where they are firm, patient, kind and consistent in their behaviour towards him because then he ticks all th right boxes for being a splendid pet.

The breed itself is known to be healthy but they do face some of the usual health issues of the massive, giant breeds. This includes knee and elbow dislocation; hip dysplasia; bloat; entropion and osteosarcoma. All of these conditions require medical intervention, but bloat and osteosarcoma are the deadliest. Bloat needs immediate attention and osteosarcoma is a deadly bone cancer.

Even though your Schillerstovare is a healthy dog breed, hip dysplasia is a common dog disease that many dogs get.

This is a skeletal disease when a dog’s hip joints become partially dislocated. It can be very difficult for your dog to get around, and he can also develop arthritis. It gets very sad when your dog doesn’t even want to participate in games anymore.

Feeding

These are large dogs with large appetites, but you want to keep them lean and active. Feed them at least twice a day with a high quality large or giant dog dry food. Four to five cups of food per day is the maximum.

Health issues

Patellar Luxation – a floating kneecap or dislocated knee. Will cause lameness.

Bloat - distended or twisted stomach. Can cause death.

Osteosarcoma – bone cancer must be treated immediately as it is potentially fatal.

Entropion – eye issues when the eyelid turns inward and damages the eye.

Hip Dysplasia – May cause lameness and arthritis.

Exercise and games

The Bulgarian Shepherd needs a good amount of exercise every day. Remember this is a working breed and they need a job. Long walks every day are essential for his well-being.

With his short coat, the Schillerstovare is considered a low maintenance dog and requires a minimal amount of grooming. Brushing should be done twice a week to remove loose hair. The harsh outer coat seems to repel dirt and dust.

Trim your pet’s nails, check inside his ears for signs of redness, make sure his eyes are bright and clear and make sure he doesn’t have any unusual lumps on him.

Make sure his vaccines are up to date to avoid deadly canine diseases. Take him to the vet when you suspect he isn’t his normal self.

Diet:

Dogs, just like humans, do well on good, nutritious diets. Feed a human lots of junk food and sweets and they’ll grow up to be obese and unhealthy. That's exactly how it is with dogs too. Some of the best commercially manufactured dog foods are convenient and they can be good if you look at the top brands. Look for ones that cater for your dog’s age, size, breed and activity levels. This dry kibble can be made more inviting for your pet when you include some homemade food.

Dogs just want simplicity so that they don’t battle with digestive problems. Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be wonderful for him when you chop the food up and add it into the dry kibble twice a week. See his tail wag and his brown eyes light up when he smells this treat. Some raw meat added up occasionally will also contribute to your pet’s heath.

Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.