The History of the Sila Highlands and Its Dogs

Tucked away in the mountainous heart of southern Italy lies a rugged, forested plateau known as the Sila Highlands—a land of ancient paths, wild terrain, and centuries-old traditions. It’s here, in the remote and beautiful region of Calabria, that the Sila Shepherd was born. This region not only gives the breed its name—it gave the Sila Shepherd its purpose, temperament, and identity.

A Landscape That Demands Resilience

The Sila Highlands (Italian: La Sila) form part of the Apennine mountain range and stretch across Calabria’s central interior. With altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 feet, this plateau is marked by deep forests, open meadows, steep ridges, and unpredictable weather—ranging from snow-covered winters to dry, hot summers.

Farming and herding in this terrain has never been easy. For centuries, Calabrian shepherds and goat herders relied on transhumance, moving their flocks between highland summer pastures and lowland winter grazing areas. These migrations exposed livestock to wolves, wild boars, and human threats, demanding a guardian that could protect the herd without direction—and survive in isolation for days or weeks at a time.

The Dogs of the Sila: A Unique Genetic Heritage

The Sila Shepherd’s ancestry is believed to be a blend of two ancient dog populations:

1. Livestock guardians brought by Indo-European settlers, possibly thousands of years ago.
2. Working dogs introduced by Greek colonists, who settled in Calabria during the classical era and brought their herding and guarding dogs with them.

Over centuries, these bloodlines mixed and adapted to the specific needs of the region. Only dogs that could think independently, endure harsh conditions, coexist with livestock, and manage predator threats were kept and bred. The result is the dog we now call the Sila Shepherd—a breed shaped more by function than form, and refined through generations of hands-on, practical work.

The Role of the Sila Shepherd in Traditional Calabrian Life

In the highlands, the Sila Shepherd isn’t just a tool—it is a partner. The dogs travel alongside herders during seasonal migrations, guard night corrals, and raise their litters alongside the flocks. They are often left with the animals for long stretches, expected to operate without supervision and make critical decisions on their own.

Interestingly, due to the rise in tourism and hiking in parts of the Sila region during the 20th century, the dogs also had to learn to tolerate human presence. This may be why many Sila Shepherds today display a more people-social temperament than some other LGDs.

From Calabria to the U.S.: A Rare Breed Crosses Borders

Despite their deep roots in Italy, the Sila Shepherd remained virtually unknown outside of Calabria until very recently. It wasn’t until 2022 that the first Silas were imported to the United States. Today, there are still only a few dozen in the country, but interest is growing—especially among homesteaders, ranchers, and small farmers who value both the working ability and thoughtful temperament of this rare breed. The Sila Shepherd Club of America was founded to preserve this legacy, protect the breed’s working instincts, and support responsible growth in a new country.