Sharplaninsky shepherd: description of the breed and contents

One of the peculiar shepherd breeds of shepherd dogs is considered Sharplaninskaya. This representative of the fauna is an excellent guard and protector of not only a specific person, but also the whole family. The ancient shepherd breed is closely related to the Macedonians. To date, anyone can have such a pet, however, it is worth remembering some difficulties in its maintenance.

The Sharplaninsky shepherd is also called the Sharplanins, Yugoslav, Macedonian, Illyrian shepherd. Archaeologists have found that this large dog was originally discovered in the Balkans. The second theory is also known, which states that the ancestor of the animal is the Tibetan mastiff or “northern dog”. The Macedonians say that the sharplaninets is the ancestor of the wild wolves that people raised and raised.

The breed of the Illyrian Shepherd became officially recognized in 1939. When the Second World War ended, monobreed kennels appeared on their native lands, which bred the Sharplaninsky shepherd.

For a long time, purely representatives were recognized as purebred, which were bred in the city of Gary. In the 60s, this institution was closed, after which the cost of puppies of a Macedonian dog increased.

Later, dog kennel employees drew attention to dogs, in which representatives of service dogs were bred. In the 90s, sharplanintsev began to be actively involved in service in the Yugoslav army. At one time, there was a ban according to which it was impossible to export representatives of this breed outside the native lands.

The external description of the Sharplanin Shepherd Dog remains the same as a century ago. This is a strong, strong dog with a proportional physique. It has some similarities with the Caucasian Shepherd, as it relates to representatives of the giant breed. Due to the fact that it is a working animal, it has a thick, dense fur and abundant undercoat, which allows the Illyrian to dwell in harsh climates.

The female can be easily distinguished from the male, as the female is characterized by elongation of the body and smaller size. In height, the male can reach 0.6 meters, and the female - 0.58 meters, according to the table of the weight of the Sharplaninsky shepherd. At the same time, an adult male gains weight up to 45 kg, and a female - up to 40 kg.

Sharpplan Shepherd Dog Weight Monthly Table

The animal has the following characteristic features.

• Large head proportional to the body. The frontal lobe is elongated, the muzzle is characterized by elongation without tapering. The occiput is moderate, the frontal lobe is wide, there are deep dividing grooves on it. Flat muscles are located throughout the muzzle, it is expanded at the base and narrowed to the nose.
• Lips Simplicity, lack of dampness, dense pressing and pigmentation are characteristic. The lower lip is almost entirely covered by the upper.
• Teeth have large sizes, elongated fangs, scissor bite.
• Nose nose the animal is large, with the presence of black pigment.
• Eyes have a rounded shape, the distance between the organs is average. They are not recessed and slightly raised at the base. The expression of the eyes of the shepherd is calm, smart and confident. The iris has a brown color.
• The ears Medium in size, low set and raised at the base. An adult dog has hairs on the organs of hearing.
• Body characterized by strength, has a square or rectangular shape. The neck is oval, there is a smooth transition to the withers. There are no folds in the frontal section. The hair on the neck is long and thick, so the impression of a “collar” is created.
• Back straight, wide, with a transition to the lower back of a shortened type. It has well-developed muscles. The groin line is characterized by shortness and fit.
• Limbs inherent proportional size, harmony and proportionality of location. Legs firmly pressed to the body. Relief muscles are located on the hips. The fingers are large, oval in shape, they have strong and elastic claws.
• Tail position concentrated in the hock joint at the border with the back. Its base is thick, and the ending is narrowed. The tail is set freely, during raising it resembles a saber. The adult representative has a magnificent tow.

The hair on the head, ears, anterior lobe of the legs is short, and on the neck, croup, back lobe of the legs and tail, the fur is elongated, rough and straight. Sharplanin shepherd dogs have a thick and soft undercoat. The color of the coat of the Yugoslav Shepherd Dog is solid, its color can be any - from white to dark brown, almost a black shade is also found. In preference, several colors are gray with steel shimmer and dark gray.

The presence of spots or blotches of white color is considered unacceptable. However, according to the standard, small white marks may be present on the chest and fingers. The upper lobe of the head and body are darker; on other parts of the body, the color smoothly turns into dirty whitish or yellow-gray. Due to the smooth transition, the wool does not look spotty.

Signs of defects in the Macedonian Shepherd:

• elongated muzzle;
• irregular bite;
• shortened wool;
• the presence of obvious spots on the coat of the animal;
• short tail.

Puppies of Sharplanin or Illyrian breed are born fluffy and soft, their weight can be up to 500 grams. The color is the same as that of the adult representative. The kid has a large physique and a serious facial expression.

The Illyrian Shepherd dog is characterized by calm and poise, as well as good nature and obedience. The animal prefers to be near the family, greatly appreciating the attention of each person. However, the owner of the sharplaninets is only one whose commands are executed implicitly. Of course, in order to translate into reality such submission, a person will have to try and prove his authority. Despite the specifics of behavior, the pet is reliable and very attentive.

These dogs are distrustful of strangers and constantly monitor their behavior. In case of danger, the dog will always come to the aid of his master, being unusually brave and courageous. Since Macedonian shepherds belong to the shepherd breed, they are able to keep an eye on the children without harming them. With small children, the shepherd is very neat, careful with active entertainment, steadily endures all the pranks and insults from the child.

An animal of this breed can be considered an excellent companion in games, it is hardy and friendly. Domestic animals do not cause aggression or negative reaction in a large pet, only positive. However, this only happens if the Yugoslav dog is raised and trained.

Relations with brothers are not so positive, as males often conflict over bitches, territory, or showing superiority. Therefore, in the case when it is planned to purchase several animals, it is better if they are females or heterosexual creatures. The sharplaninets is a straightforward dog; it can react negatively if an attack occurs on its territory. That's why, choosing this breed, you should know about responsibility to others.

The Illyrian Shepherd is a companion pet, she likes to be near her owner, but does not impose her society. The dog does not need supervision, he does not need to be called, forced, he is pretty smart. Sharplaninets is not the best option for a beginner, as this strong and independent dog needs a strong, imperious hand and training.

In order for the Yugoslav shepherd to grow and develop normally, it needs to provide the proper conditions. Since sharplanintsy are naturally strong and hardy creatures, they will need a lot of space for a comfortable life. Provided that they are kept in a private house for a pet, it is possible to equip a booth that will have a direct or slightly sloping roof, which will be used by the dog to monitor the territory. It is not worth building a house that is too big, but for the winter it needs to be insulated with bedding from hay and a dense curtain at the entrance.

Sharplaninskaya shepherd is a working breed, so she needs to be in business constantly. Keeping a dog in a city apartment is not the best solution. The best option for this creature would be living in a farmstead near livestock. A street dog needs constant access to fresh air. Being a long time in 4 walls, the animal will feel discomfort.

Walking with a pet should be daily, in the morning and evening, while the second walk should be about 90 minutes. During the walk with the animal it is worth actively having fun, playing and running. Caring for the Illyrian Shepherd Dog consists of the following activities.

• Combing wool. During molting, the dog combing process occurs using a furminator, which easily removes dead hair from the animal’s fur.
• Bathing. It is recommended to wash the dog once every 12 months or before the show. Frequent procedures are not required for this breed, as their fur coat is capable of independently repelling impurities and moisture. In the process of bathing, it is worth thoroughly wetting the pet's hair, and then lathering it with special shampoo. At the end of the procedure, the sharplanin must be blotted with a towel and sent for drying in a warm place on the bedding.
• Teeth cleaning. To keep the jaws healthy, they should be cleaned every 7-14 days. An alternative to this procedure is to give the dog veins and cartilage, which he will gnaw on.
• Ear care. To prevent sulfur and dirt from accumulating in the ears of the pet, it is necessary to clean the ear canals. Once every 14 days, a special cleansing agent should be instilled into the dog’s ears and then wiped with a dry cloth.
• Checking the condition of the eyes. Each time after a walk, the owner should check the health of the eyes of the Sharplanin shepherd for the presence of specks of grass, blades of grass in it. Sometimes an animal develops scratches, cuts, suppurations, and eye irritation. With minor suppurations, the organs are wiped with a cotton swab dipped in a special tool. If the situation is difficult, it is best to consult a veterinarian.
• Claw trimming. The claws of the Illyrian shepherd are adapted for self-stabilization, this is facilitated by the activity of the animal. In a situation where the claws have grown larger than the required size, the owner should use a claw cutter to cut them.

The average life expectancy of a charplanter is 12 years. The pet belongs to dogs of late maturity and has strong immunity. For the uniform physical development of the shepherd, it is constantly necessary to load the pet with running and work.

The diet of Sharplanin shepherd dogs should include the following components:

• 30 to 50% of meat;
• from 25 to 35% cereals;
• from 20 to 30% fermented milk products;
• 15% vegetables.

At the same time, it is better to give preference to fish and meat than vegetables. Do not feed the animal vegetables and dairy products at one time. Kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt is preferably served after the main meal. Provided that the meat products are of good quality, they can be given raw. If the meat is dry, then you can add a little vegetable oil and greens to it.

When feeding boiled meat stew, boiled vegetables or cereals should be added to it. The frequency of feeding a sharplaninets depends on his weight and age. Small puppies should be given food 4 times a day, due to the fact that their stomachs cannot digest a large amount of food. An adult pet is fed twice a day, provided it is full. If the dog licks the bowl and eats the food very quickly, then he should give more products.

If the animal usually lies near the booth and leads an inactive lifestyle, then he does not need a lot of food. Animals working throughout the day should be given much more food. Diseases that can occur in a charplanin have a direct connection with the nutrition of the animal, so feeding should be given due attention. It is definitely worth giving your pet extra vitamin and mineral nutrition to provide the body with the missing elements.

Some owners prefer industrial dry food. In this case It is worth buying a high quality product designed specifically for large dogs.

The socialization of the Macedonian Shepherd should be carried out at an early age, because the genetics of this animal is aimed at living in solitude.If the owner does not take the baby for a walk, acquaint him with the environment, people, other living things, then the pet will grow up to be incredulous, aggressive and inadequate in relation to strangers.

The main aspect in the process of training a charplanter is confidence. To man Do not train your dog with the help of force or psychological pressure. In this case, the pet will refuse to obey and cooperate with the owner.

Since ancient times, this breed of dogs has become accustomed to independence, as well as to grazing and protecting artiodactyl animals. For this reason, the Illyrian shepherd has decisive disposition, and a person will have to defend his leadership position.

Sharplaninskaya Shepherd is considered an amazing creature and a symbol of fidelity, love for his family. This animal is depicted on a coin with a face value of 1 dinar. This is an ideal pet for the owner who has a herd of sheep or other ungulates. An energetic pet can be bored if he does not have work, so the decision to get such a dog should be balanced.

In the next video, you will find more information about the Sharplanin Shepherd Dog.