Croatian Sheepdog

The Croatian Sheepdog is a small black herding dog from the Slavonian plains — quick, curly-coated and closely tied to the cattle drives of eastern Croatia.

History

It is described in Croatian records going back to the fourteenth century, working cattle and pigs on the plains around Đakovo. Its modern standard was written in the twentieth century from dogs that had been doing the same job continuously.

Temperament

The breed is known for being alert, energetic and quick to learn, strongly bonded to one person and reserved with strangers. It is a genuine herding dog with the nipping instinct that implies.

Care and training

It needs a lot of exercise and mental work, and it excels at herding, obedience and agility. The short curly coat needs little grooming. Without a job it becomes noisy and inventive.

Health

Generally robust, with hip dysplasia among the known tendencies. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.