The breed you see at the top is native to the Carpathian Mountains of Central Europe in an area divided between modern-day Romania and Ukraine. Bred to protect sheep flocks and herds of cattle, this large, robust breed is called the Bucovina Shepherd Dog, said by some to be related to the Tornjak (which we think it strongly resembles), the Karakachan, and the Hrvatski Planinski Pas.

Some experts believe the Bucovina Shepherd Dogs were used by the Dacians and Romans in Dacia and Moesia to guard flocks and hunt; after selective cross-breeding, the breed was improved to where we have the Bucovina Shepherd Dog of today.

This is a Tornjak, not a Bucovina Shepherd Dog

The first standard was written in 1982 and updated in 2001 by the Romanian Kennel Club. The present standard (from March 29, 2002) was written and updated according to the model established by the 1987 FCI General Assembly from Jerusalem.

The Bucovina Shepherd is provisionally accepted by the FCI.