The East European Shepherd, or Vostochno Evropeiskaya Ovcharka (VEO), was developed after World War One in Russia and Ukraine as a bigger, more cold-resistant relation of the German Shepherd Dog with a thick coat and level topline. Bred for military and guard work, you can see VEOs in many Soviet military films, most of which can now be watched online. From TV, VEO fanciers will enjoy the Polish shows Czterej pancerni i pies (1966-70) and Przygody Psa Cywila (1970-71).
Belyj Klyk * AKA: Belyy klyk * AKA: The White Fang * Year: 1946 * Country: Soviet Union * Breed content: See note
This adaptation of the classic Jack London novel follows the book more closely than any other movie version in many ways. There are real wolves in the beginning, with the adult White Fang played by what looks like a GSD or VEO mixed with Siberian Husky. However, in the dog fight scene (with a Boxer) he is played by a very differently colored black and tan pure VEO, or possibly GSD. You can watch it online, but be warned: It’s hard to find a movie with more on-screen animal abuse than this one. Among other issues, most of the wolves and wolf puppies look terrified in all their scenes, a lynx is thrown on a wolf to fight and killed, and the dog fight is entirely real, without either dog wearing a hidden muzzle—which was the Hollywood standard for dog fights at the time.
Brodyagi severa * AKA: Tramps of the North * Year: 1983 * Country: Soviet Union * Breed content: Low
Unusual sled team of East European Shepherds. They are in a single scene in this film based on the James Oliver Curwood novel Nomads of the North, also made into a Disney movie starring an Alaskan Malamute, Nikki: Wild Dog of the North (1961). In this version the main dog, “Mika”, who is tethered to the bear cub “Neeva” as a pup, is a mixed-breed. The puppies in the opening credits may also be VEOs.
Day lapu, drug! * Year: 1967 * Country: Soviet Union * Breed content: High
Starring a clever East European Shepherd and a little girl. An extremely unusual film for the time and place, in which a dog was allowed to play a pet rather than a wild animal or a working animal that served the state. The title means Give Me Your Paw, Friend!
Dzhulbars * Year: 1936 * Country: Soviet Union * Breed content: High
The title is the dog’s name. About a working sheepdog who must defend his people from an attack. Remade in 2020 into a TV series.
Dzikun AKA: The Wild One * Year: 1988 * Country: Poland * Breed content: Medium
Looks like a combinations of both GSDs and VEOs in this movie. Several dogs and puppies involved.
Gaychi * Year: 1938 * Country: Soviet Union * Breed content: Medium
With VEO sled dogs and a main dog.
Ko mne, Mukhtar! * Year: 1965 * Country: Soviet Union * Breed content: High
The title means Come Here, Mukhtar! and follows a military dog. Another movie that features GSDs as well as VEOs.
My s Vulkanom * AKA: Wir und Vulkan * Year: 1969 * Country: Soviet Union * Breed content: High
Starring the VEO “Vulkanom” or “Vulkan” and probably the closest thing to a Soviet Rin-Tin-Tin or Lassie.
Pogranichnyy pyos Alyi * Year: 1979 * Country: Soviet Union * Breed content: High
The title means Border Dog Scarlet and the film follows military border guards. Based on the short story Alyi (or Alyy) by Yury Iosifovich Koval.
Psy * AKA: Stray Dogs * Year: 1989 * Country: Soviet Union * Breed content: Low
This horror film features dozens of dogs who turned on people and started eating them in a now abandoned ghost town. When a team of men are sent in with rifles and shotguns to clear them out, the dogs still try to fight back. Lots of tripwires and dogs injured or drugged to get these shots. A Kangal Dog leads the pack, while German Shepherds and many others have brief screen time.
Zhizn i priklyucheniya chetyrekh druzei * AKA: The Life and Adventures of Four Friends * Year: 1980 * Country: Soviet Union * Breed content: High
Adapted from a Soviet TV show into home-movie releases in the 1990s, including a sequel, the story follows a forest ranger’s dogs, Bubrik (East European Shepherd), Fram (Airedale Terrier), and Toshka (Finnish Lapphund), and their friendship with a cat.
Know more East European Shepherd movies? Please send info to [email protected]. Thank you!