Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog

The Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog — the Šarplaninac — is a heavy livestock guardian from the Šar mountains of the southern Balkans.

History

It guarded flocks across the mountain borderlands of what is now North Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania, and was formally recognised under Yugoslavia, which is where the international name comes from. It is one of the older European flock guardians and was used by the Yugoslav military as well as by shepherds.

Temperament

The breed is known for being calm, immovable and profoundly independent — a dog bred to make its own decisions in the dark, devoted to its family and reserved to the point of hostility with strangers.

Care and training

It needs space, secure boundaries and early socialising, and it is restricted in some countries. Training must respect its judgement; it does not take direction well and was never meant to. The dense double coat sheds heavily.

Health

Generally hardy for its size, 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.