Sulimov vs Alopekis - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The courageous Alopekis is said to have run with and fought with bulls. To this day they escort bulls in Greece. They were used by the Greeks to contain the vermin populations, guard the chickens and ducks, and assist larger dogs in working with sheep. At one time it was thought that they originated from breeding of dogs and foxes, but this proved not to be true. It was also once considered to be the same breed as the Small Greek Domestic Dog, but it has since been declared its own breed.

The Alopekis is not a recognized breed with any of the current national or international dog organizations. The Kennel Club of Greece will recognize them once their population is large enough. They cannot be recognized by the AKC, IKC, or International groups until they are a much larger group.

Another name for the Sulimov dog is Shalaika.

This Russian jackal-dog-hybrid is thought to have developed from golden jackals and Lapponian Herders. In fact the dog was developed by a certain Klim Sulimov to be a robust security- and sniffer dog at Aeroflot, a Russian airline.

Jackals were used because it is believed that they have a better sense of smell than any domesticated dog there is. The Jackal can also perceive things at a distance. Later on, other dogs were also bred into the line, making it an intelligent dog with an excellent sense of smell.

There aren't many of these dogs available.

The Alopekis is a small, fox-like dog with pricked ears on a head that is wedge shaped. They have large eyes, a deep and tapered muzzle with a broad nose. They are short but have long backs and a deep, wide chest with strong legs and feet. They have a beautiful tail that cures upward and a double coat.

Th Sulimov looks like, and also has characteristics of jackals and huskies. The body is large, the ears are triangular and erect, the eyes bright, alert and enquiring and the muzzle is long.

The legs of the dog are slim but strong, like the Jackal and the tail is long and bushy. The coat is fairly long, smooth and thick and can be in a range of colors such as tan, fawn, grey, white and black.

The Sulimov is a medium sized dog and stands at between 40 and 50cm in height and weighs between 12 to 15kg.

Temperament:

This hybrid dog is brave, confident, wily, robust, loving, affectionate and loyal. They are intelligent too and you won’t have any trouble training him.

The truth is, there isn’t much information on the personality of this breed, but they are eager to please, are full of energy and can be cheerful and feisty, even in extreme temperatures.

They’ve been bred for work and aren’t a typical family pet. Because of their wild side, they aren’t recommended for the first time dog owner or for a family pet where there are children.

If you were to keep one, it would be far better suited to life on a farm where it could have a role to play. Life in the city for this active hybrid is out of the question.

Children – fine once socialized

Special Talents - These are herding, watch dog, loyal and brave dogs.

Adaptability – They are very adaptable and highly intelligent.

Learning Ability – Alopekis are highly intelligent and very trainable.

The Sulimov makes an excellent working dog and in fact he loves to be busy. They've got an unusual feature - their tails, which are normally curled up and over the back like a husky, hang down limply when tired. Their handler know when these dogs are ready to call it a day.

They are essentially working dogs, being loyal and devoted to their handlers, but wouldn't be considered as an ideal family pet.

The Alopekis is an endangered species of canine due to a variety of factors. Traditionally this has been a healthy gene pool and the breed has been an example of the evolution of small canines. Factors such as farm pesticides, urbanization and cross breeding have affected the breed’s future.

This is made worse by the fact that the female Alopekis only breeds once a year, the litters are small, and the puppy mortality is high. In addition, the dogs are regularly neutered as part of a program to control strays, despite their status as an endangered species.

There is ongoing debate about the health of hybrid dogs against that of purebred dogs. Hybrids inherit genetic dispositions that their parents would have, including certain heath issues.

Parasites:

Parasites are a huge cause of disease in dogs. Apart from ticks and fleas, internal parasites live inside the gastrointestinal tract and can be things like hookworms, tapewarms and roundwarms among others.

Parasites are usually transmitted when the dog ingests parasite eggs in contaminated water, food, feces or soil.

It’s important to get your dog treated as these parasites can cause weight loss, swollen abdomen, malnutrition, diarrhea, vomiting and anemia. Apart from this, they can affect people too. Fortunately these parasites are treatable and easy to prevent.

Other common dog ailments to look out for include bloat, obesity, cancer and hip dysplasia.

Feeding the Puppy

This is a high energy dog and the puppies need to be fed a high-quality puppy food. Feed about 1/3 of a cup twice a day.

Feeding the Adult

Feed high- quality dry dog food and dog treats to this active dog. Feed about ¼ of a cup twice a day – more if below average weight and less if overweight.

Points for Good Health

Keep them active and away from pesticides if possible.

Games and Exercises

This is a very active dog that needs a lot of exercise, games and if possible – a job.

▪ Diet:

This is a medium sized dog so you can buy a high quality dry kibble for him manufactured for medium sized energetic dogs.

Try and avoid the low quality dog foods which come with lots of ingredients that are plain ordinary bad for your dog, and can jeopardize his health.

Try and feed him some home-made food too – boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some nutritious vegetables such as spinach,sweet potatoes and carrots. Chop it all up and add some of it to the dry kibble twice a week.

You can also provide him with some raw fish and raw red meat occasionally as this keeps the skin and coat healthy. Make sure he always has fresh, cool water available.

▪ General

Provide your Sulimov with a nice, warm, dry place to sleep.

Brush him twice a week to keep the fair shiny and free of loose hair.

Keep his vaccines up to date. Get him to the vet if he is sick.

Have him trained and socialized. As it is, for the job he does as a security dog, he is trained and socialized.

Provide him with lots of exercise – walks, ball games, exercises that stimulate mind and body.