Do you have a soft spot for large, unusual working dogs? Then you are certainly interested in the Sarplaninac. Somehow he looks like a shaggy wolf with kind eyes. Unfortunately, in our latitudes he has the reputation of being a dangerous dog. Yes, he is one of the centuries-old dog breeds that were allowed to guard their herd quite independently. But it is exactly this independence that fascinates so many.
Character of the Sarplaninac
If you think with the word herding dog that this dog would be very dominant and maybe even aggressive, you are wrong. His social group, his herd, i.e. in modern times his family is extremely important to him and he is loyal to it.
Courage and innate dominance are still in him today. It is in his nature to be alert and self-confident. Thus he places himself protectively, but only threateningly, between a supposed danger and his family, his herd.
He has always been used to making his own decisions. A special quality of his is his self-will.
The historical background of the Sarplaninac
Actually, this dog breed is already quite old, because it has not only been bred for centuries in a mountainous region in former Yugoslavia, the Sar Planina mountain range, but has also been successfully used to guard the flocks of sheep. However, records only go back to the beginning of the 19th century. Since then, their breeding, although not yet conforming to any standard, could be concretely traced. Nevertheless, it took until 1956 for the Šarplaninac to be recognised by the FCI as an independent breed. Before that, it was often lumped together with other herding dogs of the region.
It is not apparent to this dog, but its abilities as a “protective colossus” with the herds has enabled it to take on exactly this role again with the police, the military and protective organisations. It takes some dog experience and even more skillful dog handling to train this stubborn, workaholic dog in this respect. And yet it can be done.
He is often kept as a guard dog and also as a family dog. If you are considering him as a family dog, you should read this article to the end in order to be prepared for him.
The colours of the Sarplaninac
The Sarplaninac has a very luxuriant, dense coat. He also has a very dense undercoat. The colours grey, white, black and brown occur, individually, but also mixed.
Due to the dense coat, which enables him to be outdoors even in the worst weather, he needs regular grooming. A coarse comb should be used for the undercoat. A special brush, used for very long and very dense coats, will also do well in grooming him.
The coat is water repellent, so the undercoat and skin will remain mostly dry, even if the dog is in the rain for a long period of time. This is also the reason why this dog should only be bathed in an absolute emergency. Dog shampoo should also be avoided as much as possible. The reason is simple: A bath and especially the shampoo would destroy the natural skin protection.
Because of the coat and its tendency to spend the days outdoors, ears, teeth and claws should be checked regularly. However, the claws usually wear down on their own. But control is better as usual.
What are the requirements of the Sarplaninac?
This dog has an intelligence that it does not openly display. Since he was used to making independent decisions for the good of the herd, he still feels the need to control and guard his herd, his territory. He is more dominant than aggressive. So if you can already socialise him well as a puppy, you will also do well with the lessons of “guard and protection dog” in your dog.
As a former herding and guard dog, the urge to move is quite great, so be prepared to spend a lot of time outdoors with the dog. He needs long walks and many tasks that challenge and encourage his intellect, his independence. If you are not confident enough to do this on your own, you should have an appropriate dog trainer at your side who can help you in this respect. If this is not possible, you are not the right person for this great dog.
The Sarplaninac and its health
Basically, we are dealing with a quite robust representative. He is used to spending a lot of time outdoors. Cold is no problem for him. In summer, however, a cool, shady place should be available for him, so that he can avoid the heat, which he does not like very much.
You have to protect him from sporting feats. It is his size that prevents him from sporting pursuits such as agility. However, he still needs long, but quiet walks to master his urge to move. If he does not get enough quiet exercise, he tends to get fat.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Sarplaninac
The Sarplaninac is very independent and self-willed. At the same time he is willing to work to work hard. Like all herding dogs, he has an irrepressible urge to herd creatures. In the past it was animals. Today it is mainly the members of his family. Only rarely can he still be allowed to herd a flock under optimal conditions. The conditions would be about 200 sheep in a barren, vast mountain landscape for which he would be independently responsible. And therein lies his problem.
The eagerness to work as well as the strong tendency to herd and the urge to move must be steered into solid channels because of the stubbornness and independence. Since this dog likes to move around, but long jogging or playing are not his, calm but long walks should be offered to satisfy this urge.
It is also important to find a way to accommodate his independence. In this regard, use dog sports disciplines that require intelligence, but the physical demands are appropriate to his nature.
As stubborn as this dog may be, he is also adaptable. He has no difficulty with children and can even adjust to the quieter lifestyle of senior citizens. Since he is not a sporting dog, a well-socialised and well-trained Sarplaninac can be a wonderful companion for sprightly seniors.
The better you can meet the dog’s demands, the higher his stimulus threshold will be. The higher the stimulus threshold, the easier it is to maintain a normal family and social life even with this dog by your side.
If you cannot offer him sufficient exercise and intellectual stimulation, please leave the Šarplaninac alone. This would lower his threshold of irritation to such an extent that he might blow up at every little thing.
The perfect human for a Sarplaninac
The perfect person for this dog owns a large flock of sheep that needs to be herded. He also owns some land that the dog can guard – well fenced, of course.
It is true that only a few dog owners can still do this. So, for the time being, we limit ourselves to a large garden that is well fenced, but freely available to the dog. Long walks and intellectual stimulation, which can be found in various dog sports such as obebience, mantrailing, must be part of his everyday life.
In many regions there are clubs of herding dogs, where they regularly have to herd real sheep and do appropriate tasks. He will feel very much at home in these, as these are exactly the tasks for which he was originally bred.
As workaholic as he is, he wants his owner’s attention very much. His surrogate herd, the family, is sacred to him. However, he is not a dog to play fetch with or to be cuddled for hours. If he wants more attention, he will come on his own. Otherwise, leave him quietly alone in the garden or with the option of being able to go back into the house at any time through a dog flap (a very large dog flap!). He will be grateful for being allowed to spend a lot of time outdoors.
Buying Sarplaninac puppies
Not many reputable breeders can be found on the internet. Instead, you should put out feelers for good breeders via the various forums about shepherd and herding dogs, also on Facebook. In these forums, you can ask questions about the dog, husbandry and breeders and thus find the breeding line of your imagination. Let the breeder tell you in detail about the characteristics of their dogs so you know exactly what to expect.
Always remember that it would neither be a lap dog nor a “normal” family dog like a Retriever or Bernese Mountain Dog. Before deciding on a puppy of this dog breed, you should meet the breeder several times and of course have already met the puppies.
First equipment for the Sarplaninac
- Dog collar
- Dog harness
- Dog leash, in addition possibly a drag line
- Water and food bowl, if possible easy to clean
- Dog bed / blanket for the resting place
- Long hair brush
- Undercoat brush
- comb / lice comb
- Possibly clippers (but these should only be used if you really know how to use them).
- Dog food
- possibly toys
- possibly treats
Dog food for the Sarplaninac
In former times, this dog had to get along alone with the herd in the rather barren mountains. This meant that he had to make do with whatever he could find in terms of food, unless he got something from the owner’s meagre supplies. So he got by on extremely little food.
Even today one should be very disciplined about diet, as this dog will quickly put on fat from too much food. Food plus treats should not exceed 1kg. You should always pay attention to this in order to keep the dog fit.
Conclusion
The Sarplaninac has special needs that must be met. A little dog sense is necessary not only to integrate this dog into the family, but also to be able to manage him adequately. He has many talents which he can display when called upon, but also unbidden.
All in all, you have found a wonderful, calm companion in this dog who prefers to take things a little easier. Whoever knows this dog as a loyal partner will be able to show everyone that this dog definitely does not belong on the list of dangerous dogs.
FAQ
How tall is the Sarplaninac?
This dog has a height at the withers of 60 – 62cm.
Does this dog need a lot of food?
No, the Sarplaninac can easily manage with a maximum of 1kg of food and treats per day. Too much food will quickly make him fat.
Can this dog be kept together with other dogs?
If the dog is well socialised from an early age and used to other dogs and small animals, there should be no difficulties. However, he also needs his time to be able to withdraw. You should always allow him this time.
Are there any health problems with this breed?
Basically, this is a robust dog breed that is used to being outdoors even in the cold. It should be protected from the summer heat. Only there is a tendency to hip dysplasia, which is already detected in breeding. Animals with HD are not admitted for breeding.
Do I have to fence my garden high for this dog?
The garden must be fenced in any case, as the Sarplaninac is quite territorial. For safety reasons, this fence should be very sturdy and higher than for other dogs. However, whether this is really necessary or merely done to calm the neighbours depends on the dog and its basic training. And of course on the neighbours. Because not everyone likes big dogs.
How much does a Sarplaninac cost?
The acquisition costs for this dog breed start at £800.
Where does the Sarplaninac come from?
The original home of the Sarplaninac is in Serbia and Northern Macedonia.
How old does the Sarplaninac live?
The life expectancy is between 10 and 12 years.
How big and heavy does the Sarplaninac grow?
The males of this dog breed reach a height of 58 to 62 centimetres. The bitches are only slightly smaller.
In terms of weight, the males range between 35 and 45 kilograms. The bitches reach a weight of 30 to 40 kilograms.
How many puppies does the Sarplaninac have?
An average litter of between 4 and 6 puppies can be expected.
Is the Sarplaninac a hunting dog?
No, the Sarplaninac is not a hunting dog.
Is the Sarplaninac a family dog?
As stubborn as the Sarplaninac may be, he is a great family dog. He is calm and patient with children, adapted to seniors and absolutely loyal to all family members. If he has been accustomed to other small animals as a puppy, he can become “best friends” with the cat.
This dog will keep his small flock together and guard them. No, he does not yelp. He only straightens up to full size. That’s enough.
Can the Sarplaninac be kept in a (city) flat?
Due to its size and its special needs for exercise and being outdoors, a clear NO must be pronounced at this point.
