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In 1374, Petar Horvat, Bishop of Djokovo, wrote that the Croats had taken a shepherd dog to their new land. He called the dog Canis pastoralis Koticus – Croatian Shepherd Dog.
The bishop of Djakovo, Peter Basic, has also written about the Croatian Sheepdog and its surroundings in 1719 in his 1719 manuscript “”On the Life of the People and Rising of Stock in Zakovo””. He quoted words written by Bishop Petter in 1374 and, providing his own description of the dog, stated that the Croatian Sheepdog had not changed since the record (from 1374 to 1719) and did not change from what was described by Bishop Petar. 1374.
A systematic selection breeding program was initiated by the “”father of the breed”” – Veterinarian Professor Drs. Steppen Romik in the area of Djokovo with dogs in 1935. The breed was recognized by the FCI in 1969, after 34 years of work.0
The Sheepdog of Croatia was developed over several centuries in the Republic of Croatia. He is a working sheep and cattle dog. The earliest written document about the Croatian sheep, Canis rustic Kroticus, found in the archives of the Diocese of Djakovo by the “father of the breed” – Veterinarian Professor Dr. Steppen Romik – dated 1374.
Croatian Sheepdogs are a medium to small, muscular breed. Male and female dogs should be 16 to 21 in height. Both sexes should weigh between 29 and 43 pounds. The body shape is slightly rectangular, because the length of the dog’s torso should be more than about 10% of its height.
His coat has a base color of black; Some white hair is mixed. Small white marks are acceptable on the throat and forehead; Also permissible, but not desirable, are small white marks on the leg or foot. No white markings are allowed on the head, body, or tail. In a dog show, if a Croatian sheepdog has white legs up to his or her pastor, it will count unfavorably.
Croatian Sheepdogs have double coats. His undercoat is dense; Their outer coat is curly, somewhat soft, but never woolly. The outer coat length is 2 of and 5. Varies between . The hair on the obverse is always short. The hair on the outside of his ear is short, but it is long inside the ear. On the backsides of the forelegs the pestern has long hairs, which are feathers. On the hind legs, the hair has different wings from the buttocks to the buttocks. Short hair on the head and feet are typical features of Croatian sheepdogs.
Their fox-like heads are lean and wedge-shaped and about eight in length. Their slightly rounded skulls may have a distinct oat. Scalp marks on the side of the nose; The stop is slightly pronounced and the cheeks are round. The ratio of the snout to the skull is 9:11. The Croatian Sheepdog’s lean snout is neither square nor pointed. When viewed in profile, the nasal ridge is straight and the wedge-shaped muzzle is expanded. His black nose corresponds to the crack of the nose.
Their medium-sized eyes are almond shaped and chestnut is brown to black in color. They are set horizontally, with vibrant expression in them. The rims of the eyelid are dark and tight, close to the eyeball. Their medium-sized ears are triangular in shape and some are on the side. They can be columns or semi-columns, although column ears are preferred. Ear cropping is not allowed. Their lower jaw is well developed; They have a strong, complete set of teeth and the mouth is closed at the bite of a scissor. The outer lip pigment is black; The lips are closed fitting and the corner of the mouth is tight.
The neck is moderately long, muscular and well-rounded. It rises just above the posterior line; Both the upper and lower lines of the neck are straight. There is no deallap of skin on the neck and it is covered with thick hair. The transition from the neck to the shoulders is gradual and the shoulders are not pronounced.
The line from neck to forehead is straight. Their chest is deep, broad and medium length. The ribs are uprooted, the first being somewhat pronounced. The small, muscular back is straight. There is a mild tuck in the stomach; The full, strong lion is also small and strongly coupled. The broad, muscular group of dogs has a slight downward slope.
The Croatian Sheepdog’s tail is covered with medium-high and thick, long hair. In repose, their tails either hang down or they are moved backwards. When cautious, they move their tails above the back line. Some dogs of this breed are either born with a short tail or none at all. Their tails are usually quite short; Adult males of this breed have a tail cut of about one and a half long. If left natural, their tails are bent backwards.
The forelegs of the Croatian Sheepdog are medium long; They are straight and parallel when viewed from the front. The upper arm is proportionally smaller; The foreskin of the muscle is long with light bones. Their pastures are small, inseparable and not completely vertical. Their hind legs have a moderate angle; When viewed from the back, they are parallel. They have long lower thighs and low set hawks. The well-raised fleshy thighs are medium wide; The shocks at the hindquarters are distinct and well nosed.
They have short, strong legs that are rabbit-like; The hind legs are somewhat longer than the front. Their well-knit toes have strong cushions; The toenails are black or brown. Declaves are removed. The Croatian Sheepdog moves in a fast pace, with a medium long stride.
The gestation period in lasts for 60-64 days The primary period of the reproductive cycle of the female is called Proestrus and goes on for around 9 days. During this time the females begin to draw in males. The subsequent part is the Estrus when the bitch is receptive to the male. It goes on for around 3 to 11 days. The third part is the Diestrus. Usually, it happens around day 14. In this period the bitch’s discharge changes for distinctive red and reaching its end. The vulva gets back to average, and she will no longer allow mating. The fourth part called the Anestrus. The time span between heat periods ordinarily keeps going around a half year. The litter size ranges between 6 to 8 puppies at a time
Croatian Sheepdogs are bred for work, not for their appearance. So they only require minimal grooming. They only need topical brushing and combing to remove dead hair. These dogs shed an average amount.
Their weather-resistant coats push water and dirt back, so wiping them with a damp towel should be enough to keep your Croatian sheepdog clean, most of the time. Bathe your dog only when necessary, and then always use mild soap. Too much bathing and / or the use of harsh shampoos can clog up the dog’s skin and coat of natural oils that keep them healthy and protected.
As with all breeds, initial socialization and puppy training classes are recommended. This breed has a reputation for being difficult to house. However, in every other case, it is very easy to train them. For example, They like to perform tricks and learn new ones quickly. They respond very well to training based on positive rewards rather than harsh or negative methods. This breed is required to live with his family and is likely to result in undesirable behaviour if he is regularly left alone for long periods of time.
This breed is classified as “”somewhat active””, but is average. Long segments of quiet activity are often spread with brief bursts of high activity, often simply moving around the house or yard. In addition to walking, daily play sessions are required. Another dog can be a good exercise partner, but they will still need quality playtime with his owner. A fence-backed backyard is a good idea; Bichons are surprisingly fast, and if someone makes a dash for freedom, it can be difficult to catch or call you back. They enjoy obedience, agility and participating in rally competitions.
They should perform well on high-quality dog food, whether it is commercially manufactured or prepared with the supervision and approval of your vet. Any diet should be appropriate for the age of the dog (puppy, adult or senior). Some dogs are at risk of being overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treatment training can be an important aid, but giving too much can lead to obesity. Know which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. If you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet, check with your vet. Clean, freshwater must be available at all times.
Croatian sheep are generally healthy dogs. They have no known breed-specific genetic issues. In fact, they have developed resistance to many diseases. You can expect your Croatian sheepdog to live for thirteen to fourteen years.