Šarplaninac

From an early age, the dog chooses its master and obeys only him. Šarplaninacs love and protect other family members, but they will not follow their commands. Therefore, it is vital that the owner was a strong, confident dog. Not for nothing in their homeland; the dog is a symbol of loyalty. It is very loyal to its master, ready to protect him at any cost.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The Šarplaninac was used as a herd guardian and guardian for the farm. The dog was first registered in 1938 as the Illyrian Shepherd Dog. After World War II, scientists began actively distributing, cross-breeding, and increasing dogs in Yugoslavia.

After successful attempts, the Šarplaninac became actively used in the Yugoslav people’s army. For a long time, there was even a ban on taking the dog out of Yugoslavia. The first time the dog was sold abroad was in 1970.

For a long time, the dog was called the Illyrian, and two types of dogs were identified in the breed: slightly larger and smaller. Since 1969 the Yugoslavian shepherd dog, now named the Šarplaninac, was separated from the Krashian shepherd dog and the two breeds began to develop separately. In Macedonia, the dog is considered a traditional pride and is depicted on a coin.

Appearance

The Šarplaninac has a large, muscular build and a long, thick coat. The dogs have excellent musculature, large heads, triangular ears set high. Despite its large size, the body is harmonious and proportional, rectangular shape.

The tail of the dog is a little thick, narrowed at the end. On the belly, tail, and paws, the coat is very lush and thick. The color comes in a variety of colors: solid white, gray, steel-gray, black. There is a dense undercoat.

A dog’s muzzle is slightly darker than the body. Spotting is unacceptable for purebred dogs. There are hairs on the tail and the paws.

Character

From an early age, the dog chooses its master and obeys only him. Šarplaninacs love and protect other family members, but they will not follow their commands. Therefore, it is vital that the owner was a strong, confident dog. Not for nothing in their homeland; the dog is a symbol of loyalty. It is very loyal to its master, ready to protect him at any cost.

They may look threatening and often scare away strangers with their looks alone, but they are very gentle and affectionate with children. They can easily be left with them to play with; they will tolerate all children’s antics.

The Šarplaninac is very free-spirited, independent. In Macedonia, people do not even put collars on them because they consider them their friends. It is important to remember that they grow up quite late, and even though they are significant in appearance, they are still children at heart.

Care

These dogs will find it very difficult to live in a city apartment; they love to run around a lot and play in large spaces. It is best to keep the dog in a yard and an aviary.

It is important to remember that your dog needs a lot of exercises. If he doesn’t get enough exercise, he may have a bad mood or even a bad temper.

To keep the coat looking good, it needs to be brushed regularly. The Šarplaninac has a very long coat, so be prepared for a lot of hair in the house during shedding.

It is not recommended to bathe often because their hair can clean itself. Twice a year during seasonal shedding is enough. Once every two weeks, you should clean your dog’s ears because dirt can accumulate there.

Training

The primary skill of the Šarplaninac is the protection of property. It does not need much and extended training for this because it understands it very well.

When training, it is essential to remember that you need to show him who’s boss from his first days in the house. With leadership qualities, the puppy will always want to dominate not only other animals but also people.

Training should be based on trust, not on obedience or intimidation. If your dog trusts you completely, he will obey you in everything.

Common Diseases

Due to their origin, the Šarplaninac has a robust immune system and is not prone to genetic diseases. They tolerate the changing weather well and do not feel discomfort even in the bitterest cold. Like all large dogs, they can suffer from hip dysplasia, so the diet should contain a lot of components containing calcium.

Nutrition

There are two ways to feed – dry food or natural food. If you choose to provide natural foods, half of the ration should consist of meat.

It is vital to add cereals, vegetables, dairy products to the diet. For small puppies, it is recommended to add special vitamins to strengthen the bones. Adult pets need to be fed twice a day.