Croatian Sheepdog

The Croatian Sheepdog will be a loyal, loving, willing, and gentle canine companion for the right owner. This breed behaves better when it has an authoritative leader. Good behavior comes with time spent in obedience training, using reward-based methods. Two significant aspects of the Croatian Sheepdog’s character are their need for exercise and their tendency to be shy. So, for an owner who enjoys outdoor activities, this breed is a great fit.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The history of the Croatian Sheepdog is very ancient. Its origins go back to the VII century. Written mentions about the breed remained mainly from the fourteenth century. The Croatian Sheepdog was used to shepherd the flock, which local shepherds highly valued.

In the early twentieth century, the number of these working dogs declined, as did many other niche breeds. Vet Romick’s farsightedness in the 1930s and his selective breeding program saved the breed’s numbers. The numbers of the species are now stable.

Appearance

The Croatian Shepherd has a distinctive appearance. Partly because of its wavy, curly hair. It is a medium-sized, athletic-looking dog with an elongated body. Both males and females are almost the same height and weight.

The muzzle is quite massive, and the triangular ears create a curious appearance. The tail is slightly curved. Croatian Sheepdogs are usually black or black and white. They have an unusual coat that resembles a woolly terrier and a curly poodle. The coat provides excellent waterproofing for the working dog.

Character

The Croatian Sheepdog will be a loyal, loving, willing, and gentle canine companion for the right owner. This breed behaves better when it has an authoritative leader. Good behavior comes with time spent in obedience training, using reward-based methods. Two significant aspects of the Croatian Sheepdog’s character are their need for exercise and their tendency to be shy. So, for an owner who enjoys outdoor activities, this breed is a great fit. Likewise, a well-socialized puppy will bond with his family and is distinguished by loyalty.

The lack of these two aspects occurs if the breed’s need for exercise and socialization is not met. This energy must somehow manifest itself, and the Croatian Shepherd will happily entertain himself and his surroundings with a loud cacophony of barking. Either that or he will scrape the wallpaper off the walls and ruin the couch.

That said, the well-adjusted Croatian Shepherd is a loving soul who readily accepts children and other pets. They will stay close to their human owners, who will be protected in case of need.

Care

The breed is noted for its desirable health and vitality. Under the right conditions, the dog does not give the owner much trouble. Hair, despite curls, is not prone to tangle and form tangles. Claws, with good walking, are chipped on their own. Ears and eyes are easy to look at and should be treated only when necessary. The curly hair should also be brushed and bathed when necessary.

Training

The Croatian Shepherd is an intelligent dog. When trained with a confident instructor, it learns quickly and tends to obey. However, just like other working dogs, it tends to think independently and make its judgments.

For the inexperienced owner, this independence can be problematic. If the Croatian Shepherd feels indecisive, he will fill the gap by doing what he thinks is best. Successful training should be rewarded.

Common Diseases

The Croatian Sheepdog has good health. Nevertheless, it faces specific ailments, listed below:

• dysfunction of the kneecap;
• birth difficulties;
• testicular retention;
• bloating.

Nutrition

The Croatian Shepherd can be fed similarly to other sheepdogs. There are many dietary rules: there should be at least 30% protein in the diet every day. Also, you should not feed your dog only meat. Do not allow an overdose of calcium, vitamins A and D in your dog’s diet. A feeding regimen is a must, and overfeeding should be avoided. The main foods should be meat, fish bones, boiled eggs, cheese, thick cereal porridge, buckwheat, bread, finely chopped vegetables (carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, cabbage), fruits. The Croatian Sheepdog diet should exclude the following foods: flour (pastry, vermicelli), boiled potatoes, legumes, sweets, sausage, tubular bones, spices, salty, smoked, pickled foods.