Dogs have been a part of human society for longer than any other domestic species. Archaeological evidence indicates that the domestication of dogs started as early as the last Ice Age (12000 to 14000 years ago) when societies still depended on hunting, gathering, and foraging. As societies developed a more organized form of living dogs were bred for other more sophisticated tasks, such as; home and livestock guarding, sheep herding, transport(sled-pulling), war, as well as entertainment
(1).
The most renowned dog breeders in the continent of Europe, is recorded, to have been Illyrians, a people who inhabited Balkan peninsula since prehistoric times. Dogs bred by Illyrian tribes; the Panonnians, the Dalmatians and most famous of all the Molossians, left a permanent mark on the accounts of many ancient writers for their extraordinary skills as hunters and sheepherders. The ancient writer Aristotle in 350 BC writes that 'the sheepdogs of Molossia are superior to any other breed of dogs in size and in courage with which they face wild animals'
(2). The ancient roman writer, Pliny, also noted down that a dog of the same breed and reputation, was given to Alexander the Great by the King of Albania, for his military expedition to India. The dog once put to the test, in amphitheater, managed to kill a lion and an elephant
(3). Besides courage and strength, fidelity and strong attachment to their masters is another remarkable feature of this breed. The dog of the Molossian king Pyrrhus is recorded to have kept watch over his master while he slept, and when Pyrrhus died, being inconsolable at his death, it leaped upon Pyrrhus's funeral pile and was consumed with his remains
(4). Such was the Molosser's high reputation for strength, courage, faithfullnes and intellegence, that as soon as Illyrian lands were invaded by Romans, Molossers became a crucial element of Romes military strength.
During the XIX century the Molosser was also called 'The Albanian dog' by European cynologists and historians
(5), attributing this autochtonous breed to the people of the Balkans who traditionally have been breeding it since Illyrian times. The naturalist, Edward Griffin, in 1827, writes about the Albanian dog:
Quote:
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The Albanian dog has been noticed by historians, naturalists and poets, even since Europe began to be raised into consequence and importance. A supernatural origin and infallible powers have been attributed to it. Diana is said to have presented Procris with a dog which was always sure of its prey, and to this animal the canine geneaologists of antiquity attributed the origin of the celebrated race of the South East Europe, particularly of Molossia and Sparta. The very fine breed of dogs now found very plentifully in this corner of Europe, particularly in Albania, accords with the description existing of its progenitors, indegenious in the same countries, and does not seem to have degenerated. They are as big as a mastiff; their thick fury is very long and silky, generally of different shades of brown, their tail is long and bushy (6)
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Illyrian sheepdogs - Deltare Ilir
courtesy of FKK (Cynological Federation of Kosova)
The Molosser continued to be known as 'the Albanian dog' until 1939, when FCI (International Cynological Federation) recognized it with a new general name, 'the Illyrian shepherd dog', which name the dog carried officially until 1957. However, in 1957, under the request and political pressure by Yugoslav authorities, who attempted to deny any link between Albanians and Illyrians, FCI changed the official name of the dog into; 'Yugoslav Mountain Sharr dog' (Yugoslovenski Sarplaninac). The Mountain Sharr, the dogs usual habitation, at the time was mainly under Yugoslav administration but overwhelmingly inhabited by Albanians.
Nevertheless, three years later (in 1960), 'the Yugoslav Institute of the Dog' filmed the first documentary on 'Sarplaninac' nowhere other than in the Albanian villages of the Sharr mountain, showing Albanians as the original breeders of this great dog. (
watch the documentary of priceless cultural importance -
The film shows real images of fight with wolves)
Part 1 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EvCTAcOEeo
Part 2 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPC0Wtaxtkc
Part 3 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z0ejOP3Kec
After the break up of Yugoslavia the dog was yet again politicized, but this time by the authorities of the newly formed state, Macedonia or FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). In 1996, on the request by Macedonia, FCI made a new modification to the name of the dog, this time; 'Macedonian-Yugoslav Sharr Mountain dog'. And Albanians, yet again, were ignored.
Today, after years of injustice, Albanians have taken an initiative to return the original name of the dog - 'Illyrian sheepdog'. In 2002 they formed the 'FKK' (Cynological Federation of Kosova) whose main aim is to achieve recognition for their 'Illyrian sheepdog' -
http://medlem.spray.se/deltariilir/newpage2.html. The group has issued even its own magazine - 'Deltari Ilir' :
http://medlem.spray.se/deltariilir/newpage1.html.
Besides, FKK, numerous associations of Albanian villagers have risen their voice, too, for the return of the original name of the dog. Albanians strongly feel that the cultural identity of the dog belongs to them (
watch video by Reuters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq1Y0i-iXVE)
Photo: An Albanian shepherd in Opoje - Kosova
Nevertheless, despite the current crisis on the cultural identity of the dog, the fact remains that this 'fine breed' has been bred by Albanian villagers according to ancient handed methods since antiquity. Methods, such as exposing the dogs to wolf blood or engaging them in fight with one another in order to maintain that certain untamed core of them, as well as improve their strength and overall health, are not known when they were first applied. In addition, Illyrian sheepdog has been so well integrated in the Albanian social life, that in many Albanian villages, marriage practices and ceremonies are followed with dog fights. Moreover, many Albanian villagers, to this day, see the dog as a prophetic animal whose habits can signify fortune or missfortune upon people. In the villages of the highlands of Tetova, (an overwhelmingly Albanian city in what is today Macedonia) it is thought that when the Illyrian sheepdog howls with head risen this brings good fortune upon the people of the village, especially upon the owner of the dog. Where as, when the dog howls while keeping the head down this could bring disease, poverty or death upon people, especially upon its owner
(7). These practices and beliefs have their roots nowhere other than in the Illyrians of ancient times.
1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S24phu0RE4Q
2.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LwXrKUVTzGY
References:
Top photo - Figurine; 'an Illyrian shepherd holding a sheep', Albania - 3rd century
(1)James Serpell & Priscilla Barett 1995 'The Domestic Dog - Its evolution, behaviour and interactions with people'.
(2) Aristotle - 'History of animals' book IX
(3) Pliny the Younger - 'The History of Nature' book VIII,
chp XL ,'Of Dogges':
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/holland/pliny8.html.
(4) Thomas Smart Hughes et al 1820 'Travels in Sicily, Greece & Albania', page 484.
(5) Oliver Goldsmith 1862 'A History of earth and animated nature'; William Smith & Charles Anthon 1847 'Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities; Delabere Blaine 1841 'Canine Pathology, or a full description of diseases of dogs'; Captain Thomas Brown 1829 'Biographical sketches and authentic anecdotes of doges'; Edward Griffin 1827 ' The animal kingdom in conformity with its organization'.
(6) Edward Griffin 1827 'The Animal kingdom in conformity with its organization' page 327/8.
(7) Fadil Sulejmani 2005 ' Lindja, martesa dhe mortja ne malsite e Tetoves' (Birth, marriage and death in the highlands of Tetova).
Illyrian sheepdog breeding
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