though shorter, the more powerful build of balkan wolves sounds like even more a reason for the Sar to be a larger dog. Timber Wolves and their southern variants have long legs for covering wide tracts. Think about the danger they present. The topography of the Balkans sounds like it makes for more robust creatures. Also, while 2,000 years means a lot more for dogs than it does man, LGDs of that region used to also contend with bears, as well as lions. Add to the fact that it's much more competitive in Europe than NA, and you realize what a bad ass that "little" dog is.