Pastore della Lessinia e del Lagorai

		Pastore della Lessinia e del Lagorai
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Triveneto Alps, Italy
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

The Lessinia and Lagorai Sheepdog is an ancient herding breed that has always been used in pastoral activities in the mountainous and pre-alpine regions of northeastern Italy and, through the transhumant herds that descend from the plains, even in contiguous regions. Descended from the ancient dog that probably came to the Alps following the migration of nomadic populations from Paflagonia through the eastern Alps. Populations who in turn had knowledge of domestic animal breeding techniques and the Natufiani dog. The breed spread to a region known since antiquity for its flourishing wool industry and sheep farming, through the nomadic practice of seasonal transhumance from the mountains to the plains and the sea, and vice versa. Dog breeders arrived in the Italian Alps from the east, accompanying the prehistoric migratory waves of shepherds from Anatolia and Eastern Europe 4,500 years ago. In the Mesolithic, populations from the Naturian culture developed on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, having acquired the art of animal domestication, particularly of the dog. Evidence of dogs from the Neolithic period can be found specifically on rock engravings and bronze situlae from the Venetian culture.

Like other indigenous genetic types (such as the Burlina cow, Redena or gray Adige Valley, the Brogna sheep, Lamon, Foza, the Alpagota, the Tingola, the Plezzana, the Carsolina mochene or goat), or cultural represented by the Cimbres language and traditions, the particular physical characteristics of the Triveneto territory, island of real cattle, has allowed to hold, almost total, natural skills, morphological characteristics and rustic nature of this dog. So much so that today it is still normally used by transhumant herds and in the management of cows or horses on rural farms.

And an ongoing project to improve and protect by the Italian Shepherd Society Lessinia and Lagorai (SIPaLL), which in 2017 advanced to Enci an official request for breed recognition in order to register the dogs in the supplementary register. Opening of the Herd Book dedicated to endangered native breeds.

The Lessinia and Lagorai Sheepdog has a lupoid, mesomorphic appearance of medium size. Slightly longer than they are tall, with straight, triangular, semi-small and sometimes drooping ears. Their distinctive feature is that they are slightly open.
The elongated muzzle, diverging from the skull, gives it a particular expression of sympathy and docility. The general anatomical construction suggests the idea of a dog usually destined for work and practical use, with more than enough stamina to keep up with herding for days on end. In fact, they are tireless walkers and excellent jumpers. The look denotes intelligence and promptness.
It is therefore agile, but at the same time strong and resistant. The hairs are generally semi-long with a thick undercoat, and can be black, chocolate brown or fawn, whereas they have a clearly distinct color in merle subjects due to the random dilution of the base colors.

The fruit of a very difficult selection process in symbiosis with the hard life of shepherds, its hardiness enables it to work in extreme climatic and environmental conditions. Hunger and thirst, flat pastures and steep slopes, streams and natural obstacles, snow, rain, winter frosts and summer heat are all handled with equal ease. Always ready if the job calls for his intervention, he responds quickly and decisively to the shepherd's orders. He has a lively, inquisitive, docile temperament, but even when the necessities demand it, especially when working with cows and horses, he's capable of shrewdness and combativeness. With bite or voice contact, or both combined, a single subject with average skills is capable of leading over a hundred items. It is naturally predisposed to the proximity of other pets, dogs with which it must collaborate and humans. However, if necessary, it is a discreet guardian.

Medium-sized, mesomorphic, lupoid. The height at the withers is slightly less than the length, sometimes with registered subjects in the square. Skull length even slightly exceeds muzzle length.
The hair is normally semi-long, with a thick undercoat, sometimes wavy, but always such as to enable it to work easily in all conditions and to protect itself from atmospheric agents.
Typical colors are black, chocolate brown, fawn, sometimes with darker focus and mask. Gray, black and white with spots or white, suede and chocolate in merle subjects, who often have characteristic white spots, also large.