Some believe this ancient Molosser breed is the direct descendant of Epirian and Alawite dogs, but there's a good chance it's the result of numerous crosses between Greek, Yugoslav and Albanian breeds. Often mistaken for the Albanian name Wolfhound, the mighty Qen Stani is not bred to a strict standard, but rather for hard work and resilience. Like most Balkan dogs, this hard worker is used for a number of tasks, from herding and guarding sheep to being a village watch and fighting dog.
The Albanian Sheepdog is quite intelligent and responds well to obedience training, although it is rarely seen outside rural environments where it requires minimal handling. Smaller and not as aggressive as the other three Albanian molosses, the Qen Ujk Zagar, Qen Gjedhe and Balioushi Sharplanina Dog, this robust mountain dog is nevertheless very wary and cautious of strange people and dogs. The Albanian Qen Stani is available in a variety of types, from lupoid specimens to mastiffy examples, often with cropped ears and sometimes even docked tails.
The rich rough coat comes in all shades, full and particolored. Average height is around 61 centimetres. |
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