The origins of the Alopekis can be traced back to Ancient Greece, the name Alopekis translates into Greek as small and fox like. In archaeological searches, remnants of art such as vases and paintings have been found depicting Alopekis dogs. In Greece today, many Alopekis live on the streets as stray dogs, many families keep them as pets, they also bred in some circles and shown competitively.

There are many Alopekis in Greece, however their numbers around the world are much fewer. Interest in the breed is growing currently; the happy and loyal nature of the dog is seeing them become a popular family pet. The small size of the Alopekis as long as its’ easy to care for coat also means that more and more people are choosing an Alopekis to take home with them and make part of their family.

Appearance

The Alopekis is a small sized dog, standing at between 8 and 12 inches high. An adult dog will weight between 3 and 7 kilos. It has a triangular shaped head, a slight, agile body and a slightly bushy tail. The Alopekis is often described as fox like in its appearance. It has a short coat which is smooth to the touch. Its large bushy tail is often set high. You can always tell how your Alopekis is feeling by what they are doing with their tail.

Temperament

A small and active dog, the Alopekis is just as happy living in an apartment than on a farm. They adjust well to almost any environment. They are loving and loyal companions. You may feel like your Alopekis never seems to run out of energy, it is a good idea to have regular walks and activities planned for them. While not known to be a destructive dog, when left alone without anything to do for long periods of time, this may occur.

Often described by their master as courageous, the Alopkesis will never hesitate on instruction once well trained. Most Alopekis’ take well to training, they will do both well in obedience training and have also compete in mini-agility in some instances.

Working and Tasks

For many years the Alopekis has been used on farms in Greece as a watchdog of both stock and crops. It has also been a much loved companion to many over the years.

While not specifically bred for it, many Alopekis’ demonstrate a strong hunting instinct. They are quite alert dogs, making them good security for homes, apartments and farms. Alopekis’ are known to show great endurance, and can cover long distances without growing tired.

Health

There are no health problems which are associated with the Alopekis breed. Like with any pet, it is advisable to monitor their health at all times. As there are a large number of Alopekis in Greece, there is a substantial gene pool available which has cut down the risk that other pedigrees face such as hip dysplasia. They are easy to care for and require a minimal amount of grooming and maintenance. They can live to around 14 years of age.