I love dogs and when I am on holiday I always notice dogs.

My next trip is either going to be to Greece or to Portugal. They both have equal appeal to me for many reasons.

On my last trip to Europe while it was not at all intentional regarding dog popularity, I went to countries that really do like dogs, very dog friendly place mostly. We went to part of Italy, France Germany and England. And when I say parts I mean parts, as it was only three weeks. A sample tour I call it.

Only of interest to me no doubt are all the different dogs I met. They may be subject for my art work, at the very least as I did get a few pictures.

In thinking about Greece or Portugal I wondered which is more dog- friendly, and also how many breeds of dogs come from Greece, and from Portugal.

Well, one of my favourite from Portugal is the Portuguese water dog, but we will leave Portugal for now and talk about Greece.

Greek dogs

What kind of dogs will I find in Greece?

Will I be looking for Greek dogs, or Greek gods.

What will I find in Greece.

Well, there is the small Greek domestic dog. Meliteo Kinidio

In the pictures I have looked at he is black and tan, and looks the size of a cocker spaniel maybe.

The dog is long haired but it seems they do come on long and short hair.

It is said that images of a dog that look like him be found on ancient pottery and other art forms this go back to ancient times.

This dog is imported out of Greece. Yet I have not found any.

 

The name means Honey (small) dog. I am guessing that is because the might be sweet as honey.

 

The Alopekis is another Greek dog. The name means fox so I it would be logical to assume they look like one, or maybe are as smart as one.  

 

Dog Breeds is a good web site where you can read more about these two dogs. go to Dog Breed Info

Then there is the Creton hound. You guessed it, from Crete.  He is called Kritikos Lagonikos

He is more the hunting breed of dog. So what is he hunts on Crete?

Well, according to Wikipedia, it is hares.

Not what I would be hunting if I were in Crete.

 

 

And then there is the Greek hare hound. He only comes in black and tan.

The ones in Crete are blonde in colour based on any pictures I have seen.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Dog_breeds_originating_in_Greece

 

Then there is the Greek Sheperd. Hellenikos Poimenikos.  He is a sheepdog and like any sheep dog, he has a job to do. Best doing it-. if you are not a sheep farmer, best to not get one of these.

 

 

My research on Greek dogs, lead me to wonder about rescue groups and I found this one.

greek animal rescue

http://www.greekanimalrescue.com/

 

Then I looked at the pictures of the rescue dogs. I am too far away to rescue them, but with faces like these, I hope they have already homes.