Molossus of Epirus


The Molossus of Epirus is an ancient livestock guardian dog breed from Greece. 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 in the mountainous regions of Greece, especially in Epirus.
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.

Recognition

The breed is recognized by the Kennel Club of Greece. 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 was founded in 2006 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. 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.