THE ROMANIAN CARPATHIAN SHEPHERD

THE ROMANIAN CARPATHIAN SHEPHERD

GENERALITIES

The Carpathian is a massive, large dog, derived from the  “MOLOSSUS” group, used by the Romanian shepherds from the Carpathian  Mountains, for many centuries for guarding the herds and their personal protec-  tion against large predatory and villains. It is a calm and balanced nature but irre-  sistible to attack and protect. It has a robust physique and resistant to the most  harsh conditions. The general impression is of a vigorous, imposing and towering  dog, very aggressive when needed. The sexual disposition is well expressed, in the somatic way.

THE HEAD 

is massive, with wide forehead but very little cambered, the stop is  smooth, the muzzle is strong, a little shorter or at most equal in length with the  forehead, does not thin out too much toward the big, wide and black snout. The  lips are thick, well closed on the strong jaws with extremely well developed teeth,  with correct molecule and complete numerically.

THE EARS 

in the shape of V with round peaks, not too large, are inserted up, are  leaned over the cheeks.

THE EYES 

are almond-shaped, pretty small, disposed skew, dark colored, brown-  chestnut shaded. They are not preeminent (stand out).

THE BODY 

is vigorous and thickset, the withers is easily apparent, short back,  wide and straight, also the loins and the croup. The thorax, pretty wide and deep,  goes down until the ribs, adherent to the body, the ribs are well arched, and the ab-  domen is easily ascendant.

THE ANTERIOR TRAIL

the scapula inclined toward the back forms with the mas-  sive arm a ninety degrees angle; the forearm is very strong, straight and not too  long. The carpal bones are short, very slightly inclined, the paws slightly oval, com-  pact and massive. Looked from the front or sideways, the anterior limbs are per-  pendicular on the ground.

THE POSTERIOR TRAIL.

The posterior limbs are very muscular and strong.  Watched from behind, they descend parallel toward the ground. The knee articu-  lation and the heel’s are slightly opened (125 degrees-130 degrees); the portion  under the knuckle stays perpendicularly on the ground; the paws are oval, com-  pact, and massive. The possible spurs are removed at birth.

THE TAIL

inserted pretty up, goes until the knuckle; in repose it hangs down, with  the tip slightly curved, in action it is elevated until back’s level, in excitement even  higher, but never crooked.

THE HAIR.

 except the head and the anterior faces of the limbs, where it is short  and smooth, covers the whole body abundantly. The tector hair is formed from  long threads, straight and harsh; the undercoat is soft and dense. The longest is  the one around the neck (the mane), from the back of the superior sides of the  limbs, where it forms plumes and pants and the tail.

THE COLOR.

The most frequent is the one of the wolf, with different shades, often  with black mask on the muzzle and, frequently, with white markers on the head,  chest and limbs. The white can extend more, forming the background color, in  which can exist different color spots (black, gray, black and blue, yellow, reddish).  All colors are admitted except for brown-chocolate.

THE PIGMENTATION.

The skin is, usually, homogenous pigmented, the snout is  dark grey, the margins of the eyelids and lips must be black, even though the skin  is sometimes pink. The nails are preferably black or gray. The brown color of the  eyes must not be a too lighter shade (yellow).

THE WAIST.

The minimum height for males is 65 centimeters, and for the females  62 centimeters.

THE WALK.

Casual, with big steps, the members moving, not deviated, on a  straight line.

THE PSYCHIC CHARACTERISTICS.

The Carpathian is very restrained and bal-  anced, calm 

and devoted to his master until sacrifice. Does not know fear, faces  the bear, the wolf and the lynx, protecting the herds and the master. Aggressive on  his territory against strangers, it is calm and disciplined along the masters in popu-  lated places.

THE ELIMINATORY FLAWS.

The presence of certain morphological elements for-  eign to the breed, prognathous, hipognatism that exceeds five millimeters, multiple  dental lacks of incisors, canines and molars, monorchism, cryptorchidism, albino  with general lack of pigments, the presence of the brown-chocolate pigment in the  skin, hair and under the skin, congenital anuria, severe behavior vices (excessive  aggressiveness or shyness). The waist under 60 centimeters (males), under 57 cen-  timeters (females).

FLAWS THAT EXCLUDE THE GRADE “EXCELLENT”.

Lack of vigor in constitution,  or brutish constitution, constitution atypical for the sex, pincers shaped bite, the  lack of a tooth P1, P2, M3; insufficient waist, slightly elongated or a little subsided  body, small lacks of pigmentation, small defects of the head, hair and self-  confidence.

FLAWS THAT EXCLUDE THE GRADE “VERY GOOD”.

Too light or too brutish  constitution, big eyes, round, the lack of some teeth, too big ears, placed or worn  wrong, the tail worn too high, the lack of mane or other decorative elements of the  fur, curly or unwanted texture hair, paws too long, soft or extended, protruded el-  bows, cow elbows, too long or too subsided back, rigid posterior trail, sluggish  walk.