Croatian sheepdog

Croatian sheepdog – is a medium-sized black Spitz dog, used in her homeland as a herd dog, but also guarding them. Smart, busy, willing to work and learn. A close cousin of the Hungarian shepherd, to whom he is very similar. Shows distance from strangers.

Nature

This medium-sized, agile, black Spitz dog is a Croatian sheepdog, intended for herding sheep and other farm animals.

Skills

The Croatian sheepdog is brave and loyal to his master. To this day, many representatives of this breed perform traditional work in their homeland. Above all sheep, but also great at cattle.

These fearless dogs can force even an adult bull to obey. In the past, pigs and even more dangerous horses than cattle grazing.

Currently, the division into working and exhibition lines is slowly taking place – although the difference in appearance is still small, the shepherd’s instinct is weakening in the exhibition line.

Training and education

Like many shepherd dogs, this shepherd dog has a tendency to bark, which is why you should take this into account when raising a puppy. He is not a difficult dog to pose, although he requires some knowledge and sensitivity. He also needs careful socialization, because he is distrustful of strangers by nature.

However, he is well socialized and is friendly towards people who his master accepts. He is most connected with his guide, but he is sensitive to the whole family.

Because the dog’s character combines hardness (especially for cattle) with sensitivity, both firmness and consistency as well as gentleness and sensitivity are required in training. He learns quickly and willingly and performs the tasks entrusted to him with visible pleasure. He often looks into your eyes as if asking, “What are we doing next?”

Has excellent psychological and physical predisposition to dog sports, such as agility, frisbee, flyball or obedience. In the circles of dog athletes, Croatian sheepdogs were made famous thanks to their excellent start in the agility world championships, where they have been representing their homeland since 2000.

When nothing interesting happens, the dog of this breed can lie down and relax. However, a job deprived of it for a long time can be destructive.

Who is this race for?

The Croatian sheepdog can be recommended to people who want to have an active companion or sportsman, who, however, will not be overly absorbing and easily adapt to urban conditions.

Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• requires a lot of movement and attachment
• requires careful socialization due to distrust of strangers
• has a tendency to bark

Advantages

• willing to cooperate
• suitable for dog sports
• healthy and resilient
• easy to care for
• watchful watchman

Health

Croatian is generally a very healthy and resistant breed. There is no information about trends for specific diseases.

Feeding

The Croatian has no particular nutritional requirements. It can be fed with ready-made food as well as food prepared at home.

Care

The care of a Croatian sheepdog is not troublesome – just brushing once every 10-14 days, more often during molting – quite abundant – twice a year.

From time to time, it is worth paying more attention to the care of soft hair behind the ears, which can feel under the influence of moisture.

History

The breed was particularly widespread in the Slavonia region. The first mention of it comes from 1374. It came from the pen of the diocese bishop Djakowo Petar Horvat, who wrote about the “Croatian sheepdog dog”: “almost three hands tall (about 45 cm), with medium length curly hair, standing or with semi-erect ears, a great pet guardian. “

Subsequent descriptions come from the same diocese of 1719, 1737, 1742, 1752 and 1854. They all sound so similar that there is no doubt that they speak of the same local race.

One hypothesis assumes that its representatives came to this area in the 7th century with Croatian tribes. However, there is no evidence of this. Prof. Stjepan Romic. He found the first record of her, collected dogs from around Djaków and in 1935 began breeding systematically. FCI recognized her in 1969.

The breed is most popular in its homeland. Although in the native Slavonia fewer and fewer shepherds work in a traditional way, they are increasingly settling in other regions of Croatia. Everywhere else is rare.

Few representatives of this breed can be found in Austria, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Finland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Italy, Hungary, the USA and Canada. 

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Croatian Shepherd – group I FCI, section 1, reference number 277

• Country of origin:  Croatia
• Character:  active but balanced dog; loyal, intelligent and willing to cooperate; brave, alert, excellent guardian and shepherd dog
• Size:  dogs and bitches 40-50 cm
• Weight:  dogs and bitches 13-20 kg
• Coat:  thick and dense, wavy or twisted, two-layer, with an abundant undercoat; on the trunk 7-14 cm long, on the head, back of the ears and front of the limbs – short; on the back of the limbs and tail forms flags
• Color:  black; slight white markings on the chest and throat acceptable; white markings on toes or legs acceptable but undesirable
• Lifespan:  12-14 years
• Vulnerability to training:  very high
• Activity:  high; needs a daily dose of exercise and mental activities
• Resistance/susceptibility to diseases:  very resistant

Interesting facts

Croatian Dogs and Hungarian Shepherds have a very close relationship. Some individuals are indistinguishable even for professionals.

According to the model, Croatian Shepherds may be larger than mudi, but in practice some mudi are also large. In addition, the Croatian may have soft ears (broken at the ends), and mudi should always have upright ears.

For Croatian, only black ointment is allowed, and mudi can also be marbled, brown, gray, fawn and white. Both breeds have naturally shortened tails.