Croatian Shepherd

The Croatian Shepherd is a breed originating from Croatia. They are strong, muscular dogs with a short, thick black and white or white and brown coat. They are known to be intelligent, energetic and loyal, and make excellent working dogs, herding dogs and companions for outdoor sports.

General details

The Croatian Shepherd is a medium sized dog breed, usually weighing between 13 and 20 kilos and measuring between 40 and 55 centimeters at shoulder height. The average lifespan of this breed is 12 to 14 years. According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), it belongs to Group 1, which includes shepherd dogs and cattle dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs).

Breed history in brief

The Croatian Shepherd is a breed of dog that originated in Croatia centuries ago, and is believed to be one of the oldest breeds of sheepdogs in Europe. Its oldest record dates back to 1374. It developed from several local sheepdogs and has historically been used in herding and as a working dog on Croatian farms. In addition, it has also been used for hunting and as a guard dog. The current standard is considered to have emerged in 1935 and was registered by the FCI in 1969.

Breed characteristics

The Croatian Shepherd Dog is a breed of dog with a robust and muscular appearance. The head is strong and broad, with a muzzle slightly shorter than the length of the skull. The eyes are oval and dark brown, and the ears are triangular and drooping. The tail is of medium length and is carried low at rest, but is raised when the dog is alert or excited. It is usually docked, although when not docked it is curled. It has a short coat on the head and legs that gives it a slight fox-like appearance, while the rest of the body is longer. It is dense and soft to the touch, in addition to being highly resistant to the elements. The basic color is always black, although it may have white spots on the feet and / or chest, of very small size. They are intelligent and cunning dogs, full of energy and require a lot of time with their owners and human contact. Due to their long history as herding dogs, they have an amazing ability for this task and it comes instinctively. It is considered one of the best breeds for working with livestock.

Common health problems

Like all dog breeds, the Croatian Shepherd Dog is susceptible to certain health problems. Some of the most common health problems in the breed include volvulus-gastric dilatation, patellar luxation and hip dysplasia.