Overview
The Bucovina Shepherd Dog comes from the north-east of Romania, where it guards sheep and cattle against wolves and bears in the Carpathian mountains. It is a massive dog with a thick, mostly white coat marked with grey or black patches, bred to live with the flock and act on its own judgement when a threat appears.
Livestock guardians are not herders. They do not want to work for you; they want to protect what is theirs, and they decide for themselves what counts as a threat. A Bucovina on a British street is rare, and it needs an owner who understands the type and a walker who has been properly introduced.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour or so of steady walking a day in two outings is enough. Guardian breeds patrol slowly and conserve energy; they are not built for running or fetch.
Growing dogs should be kept to short, gentle walks. The breed carries a great deal of weight and the joints take years to mature.
On the walk
- Control: This dog can outweigh its walker. Use a harness or headcollar the owner has trained and a strong fixed lead. Never let it off lead in public.
- Strangers: The guardian instinct reads approaching strangers and dogs as potential threats. Keep distance, stay calm and do not let anyone come over to pet it.
- Other dogs: Often intolerant of unfamiliar dogs, especially large ones. Walk alone, on quiet routes, at quiet times.
- Weather: The coat is made for mountain winters. Heat is the danger; short, shaded walks in summer and plenty of water.
Tips for professional walkers
- Meet the dog several times with the owner present before walking it alone.
- Pick routes with few people and no narrow passing points where strangers must come close.
- Keep the walk unhurried; the breed moves slowly and resents being rushed.
- Confirm your insurance covers large guarding breeds before accepting the booking.
What to ask the owner
- How does the dog react to strangers and other dogs, and what does it look like just before it reacts?
- What equipment does it wear and how was it trained to walk on a lead?
- Has it ever been walked by anyone outside the family?