Schillerstovare vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

This is a large dog coming from the Carpathian mountain area of Romania.

He has always been an excellent working dog, guarding and protecting sheep. Farmers always kept these dogs as working dogs, with no written records being kept about the development of the breed.

The breed is ancient, possibly dating back to ancient Roman times. It was in the 20th century that interest in the breed was ignited, and in 1981 the first official breed standard was recorded. The breed was also registered with the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 2005.

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.

The Mioritic Sheepdog looks very much like the Old English Sheepdog with his huge body covered with long hair.

His head is also large with a black nose and smallish to medium length floppy ears. The color of the double coat is usually white, cream or pale gray, and sometimes you will find patches of these colors.

The tail has always been traditionally docked, otherwise the tail is left long with a slight curl at the end. The height of the dog is 65 to 75cm and he weighs roughly 50–60kg. Below the thick coat is a muscular dog with strong, straight legs which can help him become quite agile and speedy when needed. Allowed to breed, they can produce anything from 3 to 9 of the most adorable looking puppies.

Temperament:

The Mioritic Sheepdog is a balanced dog, loving to be with his owners but being wary of strangers. He is a brave dog, willing to guard his human family with his life.

He is also a strong-willed and dominant so it will be to his benefit to be trained and socialized so that he becomes obedient and easy to have around.Training won’t be difficult as he is an intelligent breed and already naturally obedient.

He is an energetic dog too so he will need to have regular exercise and games. He therefore gets on well with children in the home, loving to join in with all their games. He will need to be supervised around small children just because of his cumbersome, large size.

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.

The Mioritic Shepherd has always been used to guard and protect livestock, but even though he has always taken this role seriously, he is calm and loving around his human family, making a splendid family pet.

He also plays the role of guardian and protector of his human family seriously. He is a big strong dog and training and socialization will become necessary as he can become aggressive with certain people who he doesn’t trust.

Inviting one of these dogs into your home will ensure having a constant and loving companion at your side.

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 Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog is a truly hardy dog breed and with good care such as good food and exercise can reach 14 years of age.

There are always some common dog illnesses to look out for and because he is a large dog, hip dysplasia can be a problem.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a disease where there is abnormal growth of the hip joints. Smooth movement of the joint is hindered and this leads to inflammation and pain.

At first you may find your dog limping and then you may find that after lying down, he battles to get up again. The joint becomes thickened with less mobility and the dog is reluctant to play like he used to. He will certainly need to get to the vet for treatments to make him more comfortable.

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.

The Mioritic Sheepdog’s long hair is coarse and will need to be regularly brushed to keep it free of tangles. It will certainly need to be brushed 2 or 3 times a week, while some owners of this dog will prefer to have the coat professionally clipped. Because of the long hair, while brushing him it is an excellent time to check for ticks and fleas.

Diet:

The food you give your pet plays such a critical role in his health and longevity. Always make sure that you’re giving your pet an uncomplicated diet to avoid stomach upsets.

Give him the best commercially manufactured kibble. To provide him with some variety, add in some boiled chicken, cooked vegetables such as potato, carrots and spinach to his kibble from time to time. He will also benefit greatly from having some raw meat added into the kibble occasionally.

Learn to know which human foods are totally toxic to him and avoid these. Make sure he is never without cool, fresh water.

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.