The Alopekis is a great breed for just about any family. They are small in size, only bark occasionally, and are adaptable to most environments. Better yet, they get along great with children and other pets, making them a great family dog as well.

Breed Overview

Of course, the Alopekis is not the best dog for all families. For example, they need frequent activity and runs, making them unsuitable for inactive homes. This means that this overall adaptable dog needs to be purchased after careful consideration. To find out if an Alopekis is right for your family, read on.

In this guide, we give you a complete overview of the Alopekis breed. This includes the price, their temperament, and fun facts. You will likely be surprised at everything you learn in this article. Let’s get started.

Alopekis Characteristics

Alopekis Puppies

If you want to buy an Alopekis puppy, you might need to have patience since they’re quite rare. This is not one of the most popular breeds, which is why they are more on the expensive side.

The Alopekis has a distinct, foxlike look. In fact, their name goes back to the ancient Greek that refers to their foxlike appearance. Their body is long but short. They tend to have a wedge-shaped head with a deep and broad-based muzzle. They also have large eyes, broad nose, and triangular ears.

When you bring an Alopekis home, you will have a blast with your new pup. Alopekis are low-maintenance dogs, they need regular exercise, occasional grooming, and lots of love, but asides from that, it is an easy dog to take care of.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Alopekis

The Alopekis tends to be a great dog in terms of temperament and intelligence. They get along great with most people, children, and animals, although they can be a bit aggressive to small rodents and exotic pets. In terms of intelligence, they pick up on tricks and commands really fast, making them one of the most trainable breeds around.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🧑‍🧑‍🧒

Yes. The Alopekis is good for families because they are child friendly. This breed is known for being energetic, playful, and affectionate, especially around young children. You don’t really have to worry about them hurting or nipping at the child either.

As with any other dog, you should supervise any playtime between an Alopekis and a child. Even though this breed tends to be incredibly great with children, you never know how an individual Alopekis will react among rowdy children.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Alopekis are great with other pets. They are affectionate, high-spirited, and playful with other dogs and cats. They especially get along with other friendly breeds who like to play. For example, Retrievers and Alopekis are known to get along really well.

If you have a farm, Alopekis are great with farm animals too. They will help protect chicken and ducks, but they won’t bother your horses or cows either.

The only animals you should be wary about pairing with Alopekis are small exotic pets, such as mice or guinea pigs. Because these dogs are so trained to kill off vermin, they may be too aggressive to small exotic pets. We recommend going with a different breed if you have these sorts of pets in your household already.

Things to Know When Owning an Alopekis:

Alopekis are relatively easy to own. As we have already mentioned, they can fit in just about anywhere because of their high adaptability. Plus, the breed does not have any specific food and diet requirements, and they don’t have any breed-specific health conditions either. You will need to exercise them regularly and groom occasionally, though.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Alopekis do not eat special food and diet, but you need to feed the breed food that has high amounts of protein and fats and low amounts of carbs. It is best to select dog foods with real animal protein. Fish, turkey, chicken, and venison are the best options. You can always talk to your vet for food recommendations if you suspect your Alopekis has special needs.

Exercise 🐕

The one area where the Alopekis can be a bit higher maintenance is exercise. This breed is incredibly playful and energetic, meaning that they need daily long walks or playtime. This makes them a great dog for farms and large yards. If you do not have a large yard, you need to take them on long walks every day.

Training 🎾

Alopekis are highly loyal and want to listen to their owner. Because of this fact, this breed is one of the most trainable around. It takes much less effort and time to train this breed than other dogs, making it perfect for homes that don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to training.

You want to leash train your Alopekis early on so that they get accustomed to walking on a leash. You may also want to teach your Alopekis certain hurting and driving skills if you live on a farm, though this training is optional.

Grooming ✂️

Alopekis do not require as intensive grooming as some breeds, but you will need to vacuum often and brush routinely. They shed moderately, but you can help to prevent the shedding by combing their hair. Other than that, grooming is kept to a minimum.

• See Also: 11 Best Dog Shampoos: Reviews &  Top Picks

Health and Conditions 🏥

Probably because this breed has been around for so long, they actually have no known breed-specific health issues. This allows them to live a long and healthy life, making them perfect for homes that want a dog to grow up with their children. Especially if you feed them the right diet and exercise them regularly, you shouldn’t have any issues with your Alopekis.

Male vs Female

There are not many differences between male and female Alopekis. The main difference is in size, but their sizes do not vary dramatically. For example, females tend to weigh about the same amount as males, but they may be 1 pound lighter. Similarly, females may be 1 inch shorter.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Alopekis

1. The Breed Is Very Old

One of the most interesting facts about the Alopekis breed is that it is very old. It is believed that this dog evolved from a primitive species that was native to Greece during the proto-Hellenic era. There is even some evidence of the breed existing in the Paleolithic age in Thessaly.

At the time, the ancient Greeks referred to these dogs as “alopecis,” which means “small and foxlike.” There are certain Greek sculptures that even seem to depict this type of dog. This breed originally roamed the street freely, but it is now specially bred.

Interestingly, the number of Alopekis dropped significantly during the 20th century. In fact, the breed is actually close to extinction in comparison to other breeds. The rarest of the Alopekis types is the wirehaired Alopekis.

2. They Are Great Working Dogs

If you get an Alopekis, know they are great working dogs. It is believed that this breed was used traditionally for ratting and catching small vermin. At the same time, they were used to protect ducks and domestic chickens from fox attacks.

This makes them a great working breed. Whether you have vermin or a flock, this breed will fit in great, making them perfect for homes that want a small-sized watchdog.

3. They Fit in Anywhere

Because this breed has been alive for so long, they are highly adaptable. They can easily fit in in the city or in the country. Likewise, they will fit comfortably within an apartment or a mansion. Really, this dog can fit in anywhere, so long as they get to run and play daily.

In Conclusion

Even though there are very few Alopekis left today, it is still a great breed. This dog is a great option for most households because it is highly adaptable, loving, trainable, and affectionate. Whether you have children or another dog, an Alopekis is likely to get along well. The only exception is if your household already contains small exotic pets, like guinea pigs.

Other than that exception, an Alopekis can be a great addition to your home. Just make sure to provide your Alopekis proper nutrition and exercise, and they should live a long and happy life.

Related Reads:

• 10 Working Dog Breeds (with Pictures)
• 12 Most Loyal Dog Breeds (with Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: An Min, Pxhere